4 little gems (95) - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Topic: 4 little gems (95)
Posted: June 13 2014 at 15:50

Braen's Machine : Underground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfcHLyxb0lk

Decibel : El Poeta Del Ruido

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoaC9sk0yI4

Leong Lau : Dragon Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mYL42TXeSg

Satin Whale : Desert Places

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O2rtsQ2I0I

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 13 2014 at 15:52

The Braen's Machine - Underground #1971

The Braen’s Machine is a mysterious study group, whose albums issued by Liuto label (Piero Umiliani’s property) are the most wanted and change hands for a considerable amount of money (Underground‘s price is about 1500 dollars on 3rd Coast Sound Distortion Catalog for example).
Exploito psych monster rarity. Recorded by Piero Umiliani at the now legendary SOUND-WORK-SHOP studio in January 1971. Released in a very limited (less than 100) number of copies. The original vinyl is practically impossible to find out.
Acid drenched fuzz guitar with one funky rhythm section. The drum sound its pretty interesting. The style is not far from other ghost-groups of the same period, an instrumental music that could be used as a movie soundtrack, with fuzz guitar and keyboards in predominance, and probably more psych-oriented than others. It’s sure under Braen’s Machine’s name Piero Umiliani and Alessandro Alessandroni are hidden, as they appeared with their nicknames Braen and Gisteri as the album tracks composers.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 13 2014 at 16:11

Leong Lau - Dragon Man. 1976 Australia

Leong Lau - Dragon Man. 1976 Sunscape

CD reissue: 2014 Strawberry Rain (Canada)

LP reissue: 2014 Strawberry Rain (Canada)

Packaging: A very rare album in original form - a recent copy sold for close to $1,500 - Leong Lau's debut is an album I never even heard of until 2010. After one listen, it became the CDRWL's best discovery of that year! And two years later, Strawberry Rain announced their intention of reissuing the album on both LP and CD. The LP came out earlier this year, and the CD is literally right off the press! The original comes in a single sleeve with a small poster insert including lyrics and recording info. The LP reissue is exact including the poster, though I suspect the cover is thicker and more durable than the original, but I can't validate that. The CD comes in a digi-pak where the top folds out replicating the poster insert. Nice idea! The CD also adds a rare 45 from 1977 as a bonus. The sound on both formats is excellent. I own both reissues and they come highly recommended.

Notes: Here are my original CDRWL scribblings: Cover is a bit misleading, showing head honcho Lau holding up a saxophone, which would indicate a honk fest. In contrast, this is a deep psychedelic funk album, with lots of wah wah guitar, phased/echoed sax, flute, heavy bass & drums with plenty of ranting from Lau, channeling his best Frankie Dymon imitation. Picking up a strong Hendrix influence as well. Considered by many to be one of the most expensive albums from Australia, and it's easy to see why. Super album.

The ebay auction I referenced at the top included a more full history, which I'll paste here (credits and thanks go to the author): "Born in Malaysia of Chinese ancestry, Leong Lau studied Chinese Opera and played flute with the Chinese Community Orchestra. He joined the Sydney Dance Company in 1969 as a dancer and was trained in ballet, modern and improvisational dance. After five years, he entered the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he trained in professional music performance and composition, and then played concert flute with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Leong Lau has remained somewhat of an anomaly in the record collecting scene. “Dragon Man” is a fantastic LP loaded with wah-wah guitar, fuzz solos, flute solos & wild vocals. An artist with a sound that's as wild as his look on the cover – a definite individual from the Australian underground of the 1970’s – serving up some incredibly offbeat vocals alongside a range of his own instrumentation on guitar, alto, tenor, and flute! The album has some nice heavy bass at times, which creates a raw funky edge that's a real surprise – not straight funk, but kind of a psych-funk groove that really fits with the rawer bluesy energy that Leong Lau is trying to convey in his music. A very compelling fusion of sounds from many different corners – with titles that include the long jammer “Deep In The Jungle”, the funky flute workout “Dragon Man”, and the tracks “Soul Baby”, “The Atlas Revolution”, and “Rhythm Pounding”"

Worth noting that Lau's second album "That Rongeng Sound", while no less rare, is quite a disappointment when compared to the monster "Dragon Man" album. Tom Hayes.

Man With Hat View Drop Down

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Posted: June 13 2014 at 17:00

I only know Decibel, but it is a gem indeed!

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hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 13 2014 at 17:16

Yes, a very special album Thumbs Up

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 05:13

Found in 1971, German band Satin Whale originated from the Cologne area with Thomas Brueck on bass, Gerald Dellmann on keyboards, Horst Schöffgen on drums and Dieter Roesberg on multiple instruments and vocals.The rumors say that they started as an all instrumental group, before adding vocals in their repertoire, then signed with the legendary Brain label and released their debut ''Desert Places'' in 1974.

Despite heading to the mid-70's, Satin Whale played a typical, old-fashioned Kraut/Progressive Rock, a bit like TOMMOROW'S GIFT or EILIFF, with also references to the British scene, mostly because of the English lyrics and the evident bluesy influences.On their debut album they present a rich and energetic Progressive Rock with long tracks, characterized by the extended instrumental themes, the good interplays, the dynamic jams and the powerful rhythmic parts.Their music is based on the strong rhythm guitars, the jazzy rhythm section, the sharp riffs and the constant use of Hammond organ in quite a psychedelic mood.There are also some JETHRO TULL-eque flute bits and more discreet Classical inspirations in some preludes or the use of harsichord, but the main force of the release remain the abstract jamming sessions, the Hard Rock parts and the solid solos on guitars and organ.Surely there are a few sudden surprises to be found in the album, which is heavily influenced by the German monsters of the recent past.But the band delivers some good breaks and ''Desert places'' contains plenty of shifting climates to satisfy the Prog listener.

Consistent and well-performed Kraut Rock with decent performances and lots of psychedelic moments in a Hard Rock enviroment.Not outstanding, but definitely rewarding.There is also another vinyl release out from 1979, again on the Brain label, featuring a different cover.Recommended.

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 14:03

I only know Decibel as well and it is an incredible recording. I'm very interested in that Leong Lau record but my vote is for Decibel.

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 15:05

Pretty sure I knew of Decibel but never heard their music before. Great stuff, that's what I voted for. The others were new to me.

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 15:40

Braen's Machine. Both albs are good ones.

Mindez elmúlt. Ma már tudom köszönteni a szépséget.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 15:45

I agree Lynx, very good but very different. The second is more library music with an enchanted flute.

Braens Machine Temi Ritmici E Dinamici album cover

Love that track to death Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9HcXoggyBE

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 15:47

Dear canadian friends, I knew you couldn't resist to Decibel Big smile

Lynx33

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 16:39

hellogoodbye wrote:

I agree Lynx, very good but very different. The second is more library music with an enchanted flute.

Love that track to death Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9HcXoggyBE

Mindez elmúlt. Ma már tudom köszönteni a szépséget.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 14 2014 at 18:23

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER

This has been an absolute pleasure to listen to over this past week or so. I must admit that Rio bands are often hit or miss with me, but when they hit like DECIBEL's debut, it will be played and enjoyed often. DECIBEL are a Chamber / Rock band from Mexico who got started in 1974. What I love about this album is not only the Chamber music but the experimental, dark and spacey songs they've composed. Apparently they really liked to improvise and many of these guys are multi-instrumentalists.

"El Poeta Del Ruido" is the title track and the longest song on here. It opens with funny noises almost like something out of a cartoon before it kicks into gear. The tempo shifts wildly on this one though,so hang on. A good rhythm with clarinet and percussion when it does speed up, while violin is prominant each time it settles. That is until a calm with piano 2 minutes in,this is rather haunting. It kicks in again. This is good. I like the piano / drum section before 5 minutes. It's heavier 7 minutes in. "Orgon Patafisico-Part I" is a short 1 1/2 minute track that sounds like a music box almost. "Orgon Patafisico-Part II" opens with acoustic guitar and spacey synths.Vocal sounds come in as well. It's very avant-garde around 1 1/2 minutes as acoustic guitar, strings, synths and vocal sounds come and go. Experimental to say the least. It sounds like spacey winds late with vocal sounds. Very haunting.

"Fakma" is eerie with piano, synths and percussion. Dark too. What a great soundscape this is. "El Fin De Los Dodos" is dark and spacey with lots of violin and synths. It's really eerie after 2 1/2 minutes. So impressive. "Terapia De Fakirato" is my favourite. Piano to open before it kicks in at 1 1/2 minutes with drums leading the way. Great sound after 2 minutes as synths come in. I could listen to this for an hour. "Manati" opens with a haunting mood as spoken words come in. The vocals stop but it continues to be dark and creepy. Interesting collage of sounds here with marimba, clarinet, flute, percussion and synths. Some vocal expressions late. "El Titosco" is the short closing track which is led by drums, synths, bass, violin and piano. Some vocals sounds late.

Inventive, experimental and perfectly executed. I can't ever see myself getting bored with this amazing disc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHcYwpdua7o

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 15 2014 at 03:28

Give to the Dragon Man my vote.

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Posted: June 15 2014 at 06:54

I have both Decible and Satin Whale albums. Although I enjoy a few moments on that Decibel album, overall I'm not into that kind of stuff, reminds me of later albums by Lard Free.
My vote goes to Satin Whale, you made me take it out and listen to it after so long Pierre, good stuff and a must for all those 70's guitar aficionados ( like me... Big smile

).

I enjoyed the other two as well, especially Braen's Machine.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: June 15 2014 at 07:35

Hurry,Sag, if you want the Braen Machine's CD. I do not think that the reissue counts many copies. Smile

Poll Question: Which one do you prefer ?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Braen's Machine : Underground	2	[25.00%]
Decibel : El Poeta Del Ruido	3	[37.50%]
Leong Lau : Dragon Man	1	[12.50%]
Satin Whale : Desert Places	2	[25.00%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted