Horslips – The Book Of Invasions ‘A Celtic Symphony’
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 925mb – 16bit/44kHz: 272mb
Genre: Progressive-Folk | DJM Records / DJLPA-10 | Demo Pressing | US Release: 1976
With this LP, I finish my pilgrimage through the extensive discography of Horslips, because they discography are long.
“The Book Of Invasions” is a collector’s item, oriented more progressive-rock genre. Anyway, my love for this group is reflected in his two early works, for me is worship: good rock, good folk.
Fran Solo, MMXIII
After the lacklustre Unfortunate Cup of Tea, the next album was going to be a watershed for Horslips. In the end, they returned broadly to the formula that had brought them so much acclaim for The Tain and produced a concept album based on Irish mythology and full of great songs based on Irish traditional tunes. And it works just as well as The Tain, having brought them enormous critical acclaim. If anything, they show their amazing musicianship off even more, with Charles O’Connor’s fiddle and mandolin swopping riffs with Johnny Fean’s scything lead guitar and Jim Lockhart’s flute,whistle, pipes and keyboards. The vocals of bassist Barry Devlin and drumming of Eamonn Carr have improved beyond recognition from their first album. Fean also contributes some of the best rhythm guitar licks on any album. Sword of Light is another classic in the broad style of Dearg Doom and there are no fillers or low spots. The Rocks Remain is a beautiful song, Trouble with a Capital T and The Power and the Glory are powerful anthemic songs and the whole second side is simply magical. This is Celtic Rock at its best. It isn’t really true prog rock: it’s too traditional and actually far, far better than all but the very best in the prog rock field. It is also one of only 3 concept albums which really work, along with their own The Tain and Camel’s wonderful Snow Goose. If you haven’t got this album, you really are missing out – big time. It really deserves 6 stars.
progarchives.com
Horslips – Dancehall Sweethearts
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 919mb – 16bit/44kHz: 266mb
Genre: Progressive-Folk | RCA Victor / CPL1-0709 | US Release: 1974
Thugamar fein an samhradh linn has a haunting melody which has never left me. To hear it in We Bring the summer with us was moving.
There is a stangre raw beauty to this album which transcends The Tain and stands in stark contrast to the polished feel of the seminal Book of Celtic Invasions.
As I’ve said before this is neither Planxty nor the Bothy Band but the Horslips filled an enormous void in irish music. this was 1974 there may have been mayhem on the streets in the north but: Thin Lizzy had already brought out Vagabonds and Nightlife; Rory Gallagher was touring; the nadir of politically sentimal folk would not been reached for a good few years (Moving Hearts).
Dancehall Sweethearts was an irish answer to Jethro Tull. Steeped in folk but breaking away from the shackles of traditional and introducing a 70s rock feel.
An essential for any folky prog types.
progarchives.com (more…)
Read moreGene Page – Hot City (1974)
Vinyl rip @ 24/96 | FLAC | Artwork | 774 Mb
Soul, Funk | 1974 UK LP | Atlantic K50105
The first of two albums arranger/conductor Gene Page (1939-98) waxed for Atlantic Records, Hot City dates from 1974 and was made at the height of Barry White and Love Unlimited Orchestra’s success. Page, who had already scored the funky Blacula (1971) and helmed many Motown sessions as well as any number of others for The Everly Brothers, The Righteous Brothers (You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling), Barbra Streisand, The Mamas and the Papas and Dionne Warwick, was providing the ultra-lush arrangements for White and his various groups at the time, when they were scoring their biggest hits. White repays the favour by providing Page with half an album’s worth of songs – including a slightly rougher edged take on Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “Satin Soul” – and front-page production (“Gene Page Produced by Barry White”). Hot City features much of what makes so much of the composer and arranger’s work so interesting. While Page could get unnecessarily syrupy – particularly on soulful ballads – his arrangements, more often than not, spring forth with dynamic ideas, inventive counterpoints and some of the most deliciously jazzed-up flourishes heard in popular music. It’s a majestic combination of everything from R&B and jazz to orchestral soul and classically-influenced easy listening – something Page was doing before those folks in Philadelphia got famous for the same thing.
On board here are many of the same musicians who played on Stanley Turrentine’s Pieces of Dreams (Fantasy, 1974), which was produced the same year by Gene and Billy Page, and include Ernie Watts on flute and sax solos; Clarence McDonald, Gene Page and Barry White on keyboards; Ray Parker Jr., Dean Parks, Melvin (Wah Wah) Ragin and David T. Walker on guitar; Wilton Felder (of The Crusaders) on bass; Ed Greene on drums; Joe Clayton on congas; Gary Coleman on percussion; and strings arranged and conducted by Gene Page. Doug Payne, Sound Insights.
Read moreGalliard – Strange Pleasure (1969) plus bonus
Vinyl rip @ 24/96 | FLAC | Artwork | 873mb
Jazz, Folk, Rock, Psychedelia | 2007 EU reissue | Tapestry TPT 245
Galliard were formed in Birmingham, in the summer of 1968. They cut two albums, “Strange Pleasure” and “New Dawn”, both of which were produced by Phil Wainman, drummer and future Bay City Rollers manager. In my humble opinion these are two of the best, most powerful, most vibrant albums of the era.
Much of Galliard’s albums are like a Happening. A pop band who’ve gone progressive are performing at the same time as a brass section who were soul but have now got into free-style jazz; or like listening to two radios, one tuned to pop, one tuned to jazz (but without the discordance). It’s a great mix. A friend of mine once summed them up with the following words after seeing them live for the first time: “Like Blood Sweat & Tears meets the Soft Machine.” I hear no reason to change this.
Galliard have very much remained a prog-rock collectors preserve, although they are much loved by real music lovers: knowledgeable jazz freaks, and sampling DJs, but truly open minded fans of psychedelia will also find much to admire and enjoy. This is not formulaic psychedelia, that’s not what Galliard were about, but if you appreciate horns whilst not taking your eye off the ball marked Nirvana then you’ll dig them. And be warned: if you’ve been listening to too much lite-pop then these will hit you like a ten ton truck doing 80mph. Dave Thubron, Sweet Floral Albion Issue 36.
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Galliard – New Dawn (1970)
Vinyl rip @ 24/96 | FLAC | Artwork | 924mb
Jazz, Folk, Rock, Psychedelia | 2012 EU reissue | Sweet Dandelion SWDDL 726
Galliard were in on the ground floor of the British progressive rock movement, releasing their debut album, Strange Pleasure, in 1969 and mixing jazz, rock, folk, and psychedelic influences. The following year, New Dawn pretty much picked up where its predecessor left off, with one key exception. The band had initially featured two wind players, Dave Caswell and John Smith; though Smith was absent from New Dawn, a whole brace of additional horn players had been brought in to augment the sound. This was during the period when the likes of Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears (and their British equivalents) were starting out, and brass-rock was all the rage. That’s not to suggest that Galliard were trying to ride the brass-rock gravy train — their work is too skilled and varied for that — but simply that they were right in time for the Zeitgeist. Some cuts, like “New Dawn Breaking” and “Open Up Your Mind,” make full use of the horn section, coming off like a cross between early Chicago and jazzy U.K. prog rockers Colosseum, but that’s far from the dominant sound on this eclectic outing.
Lead guitarist Richard Pannell’s sitar work on “Ask for Nothing” contributes to a swirling Eastern atmosphere that seems soaked in a kind of psychedelic afterglow from the late ‘60s. “Winter — Spring — Summer” is an ambitious suite full of shifting dynamics and settings, while the gentle, acoustic-based “And Smile Again” echoes Jethro Tull or the more folk-oriented moments of Traffic. “Premonition” is a straight-up jazz-rock instrumental pushed along by Tommy Thomas’ congas, where Pannell and the horns get to stretch out a bit. Closing track “In Your Minds Eye” opens with a couple of minutes of atmospheric, otherworldly tones before bringing things home with a blast of bold-faced, brass-filled prog rock. The striking thing is just how good Galliard were at all of the varied styles they attempt on New Dawn, but sadly, it was to be their last album. James Allen, Allmusic.
Focus – Hamburger Concerto (1974)
Vinyl rip in 24 bit/96 kHz | FLAC tracks |Tech Log | Artwork | 820 Mb
ATCO Records – SD 36-100 (1974) (Original US Pressing) | Prog Rock
Focus had well proven their ability to write rocking instrumentals by the time of this release. Their catalog, although consisting of four albums, rarely had a dull moment between them. Hamburger Concerto is equally consistent, much of it being prime Focus material. The Akkerman-written “Birth” and “Early Birth” are examples of Focus fully flexing their muscles, featuring superb guitar work and amazing all-round musicianship, as well as sporting some superb riffs. The usual lengthy instrumentals are present also, as well as some manic vocals from the manic but genius Thijs Van Leer. Although Hamburger Concerto is not as unerring as Moving Waves or Focus III, anyone who enjoyed the previous releases would undoubtedly find great satisfaction from this album. (Allmusic) (more…)
Read more>A collection of fresh sounds and inspiring new congregational anthems is the stage for God Is Able, an offering of worship, a night of passionate praise recorded by the Hillsong team in the hopes that it would bless the Body of Christ.
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/God-Is-Able-Blu-ray/32677/
Read moreHillsong may have begun as a Sydney phenomenon, but since going global, the ministry has reached from South Africa to Ukraine to Madison Square Garden (Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is a big fan). Here, the loud and proud worship and praise team featuring Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Ben Fielding, Annie Garratt, and Darlene Zschech; Hillsong United; and international teams from London and Stockholm came to Sydney for the 21st Hillsong album. The resulting anthems at times rival Simple Minds or Coldplay in their sculpted arrangements and uplifting energy, all in front of a rapturous audience.
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Cornerstone-Blu-ray/50296/
Read moreThe Who – Quadrophenia
Artist: The Who | Album: Quadrophenia | Style: Rock | Year: 2011 [1973 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, MLP 2.0 96Khz/24Bit, DTS 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, PCM 2.0 96kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 8 | Size: ~5.94 Gb | Covers: in archive | Release: Polydor | Universal (277845), 2011 | Note: Not Watermarked
Tracklist:
01. I Am The Sea (02:10)
02. The Real Me (03:21)
03. Quadrophenia (06:45)
04. I’ve Had Enough (06:22)
05. 5:15 (05:17)
06. Doctor Jimmy (08:04)
07. The Rock (06:38)
08. Love, Reign O’er Me (05:57)
The Flaming Lips – At War With The Mystics
Artist: The Flaming Lips | Album: At War With The Mystics | Style: Rock, Psychedelic, Indie, Experimental | Year: 2006 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MPL 5.1 88.2kHz/24Bit, MPL 2.0 88.2kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1, Dolby AC3 2.0) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 12 | Size: ~7.61 Gb | Covers: in archive | Release: Warner Bros. Records (0 9362-44141-2 4), 2006 | Note: Watermarked
Tracklist:
01. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song… (With All Your Power)
02. Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber)
03. The Sound Of Failure… It’s Dark…Is It Always This Dark??
04. My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action)
05. Vein Of Stars
06. The Wizard Turns On…The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins
07. It Overtakes Me… The Stars Are So Big…I Am So Small…Do I Stand A Chance?
08. Mr. Ambulance Driver
09. Haven’t Got A Clue
10. The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)
11. Pompeii am Götterdämmerung
12. Goin’ On Listen
Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells
Artist: Mike Oldfield | Album: Tubular Bells | Style: Instrumental, Progressive Rock | Year: 2003 [1973 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 48kHz/24Bit, MLP 2.0 48kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby AC3 2.0) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 17 | Size: ~4.61 Gb | Release: Warner Music, 2003 | Note: Watermarked
Tracklist:
01. Introduction (05:51)
02. Fast Guitars (01:04)
03. Basses (00:47)
04. Latin (02:19)
05. A Minor Tune (01:21)
06. Blues (02:40)
07. Thrash (00:44)
08. Jazz (00:48)
09. Ghost Bells (00:31)
10. Russian (00:44)
11. Finalé (08:33)
12. Harmonics (05:12)
13. Peace (03:31)
14. Bagpipe Guitars (03:08)
15. Caveman (04:33)
16. Ambient Guitars (05:11)
17. The Sailor’s Hornpipe (01:43)
Geordie – Don’t Be Fooled By The Name
Artist: Geordie | Album: Don’t Be Fooled By The Name | Style: Rock | Year: 2009 [1974 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/32Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 8+1 bonus | Size: ~2.85 Gb | Covers: in archive | Release: upmix by SchEngel | Note: Not Watermarked
Tracklist:
01. Goin’ Down
02. House Of The Rising Sun
03. So What
04. Mercenary Man
05. Ten Feet Tall
06. Got to Know
07. Little Boy
08. Look At Me
+Bonus track
09. Rockin’ With The Boys Tonite
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Read moreElvis Presley – The Complete Sessions
Artist: Elvis Presley | Album: The Complete Sessions (New York RCA Studio 1) | Style: Rock’n’Roll | Year: 2007 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 36 | Size: 3.11 Gb | Covers: in archive | Release: Memphis Recording Service (MRS30002756), 2007 | Note: Not Watermarked