What albums did you listen to today?...continued

So, those tracks are everything they did for ZP?  But Antonioni just chose two of them?

The first three pieces on my list were on the original soundtrack, the rest were additions for the reissue. I wonder how many other leftovers are remaining unreleased?! There's that massive PF box set on the way at the end of the year for several hundred dollars that I'm sure will have more!

Cor Cordium - Glass Hammer

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: See, green AND blue!

 Speaking of them, I should get their second album, I spun this one and the debut a lot already  Oh, and it looks like there will be new CdZ and Unreal City albums next year 

ALotOfBottle wrote: Goblin - Roller Michael made me do it. Goblin is very different to anything I have heard in RPI and even prog as a whole. They take the Italian symphonic approach, but there is a definite jazzy, groovy, funky influence here. Kind of in the vein of Gentle Giant from Power and Glory. It was a great listen, I really enjoyed the electronic passages, which really enrich the music. The "Goblin" track is killer! I'll need to check out some of their soundtracks.

Glad you dug that one, Tymon! There's a few other good Goblin discs to look into. Of the soundtracks, probably `Suspiria' and `Profondo Rosso' should be looked into (the proper shorter original vinyl track-listings, not the super-expanded versions!), but they also put out (like `Roller') another purely non-soundtrack work called "Il Fantastico Viaggio Del "Bagarozzo" Mark", which is probably closest to a proper RPI/Italian prog disc than anything else they did after `Roller'. Sadly I don't actually own that one, I actually forget about it a bit too often!

Speaking of Wendy/Walter Carlos, I rave about an album she released called `Sonic Seasonings', a double LP from 1972 full of these beautiful ambient pieces. It seems massively ahead of its time, with long droning passages a world away from the classical synth adaptions.

Over the last few days:

Quella Vecchia Locanda - Quella Vecchia Locanda Indeed, this is very beautiful, romantic music and I totally understand the band's phenomenon. Not exactly my type of RPI, but it still does something to me. Man, this was a good album to listen to at the beach when I first checked it out. The violins make the whole deal so interesting!

Tim Hodgkinson - Each in Our Own Thoughts Very, very good album. Tim Hodgkinson really nailed this one. Every piece is in place. The obvious highlight here is "Hold to Zero Burn, Imagine", the re-interpiretation of a Henry Cow piece, "Erk Gah" that was very often played, but never recorded in studio. The string quartet piece is also fab!

Seramis - Dedicato a Frazz This is a grower. At first, I did not really like it, seemed pointlessly dark and, in result, dull. Now, I am starting to appreciate it. Jim, I read your review on that and learned quite a few new interesting things. The guitar is definitely a highlight here, but the vibraphone is a very original touch of diversity.

The Keith Tippett Group - You Are Here, I Am There I don't know why this gets medicore ratings. In my opinion, this is such an excellent album. It's difficult, but the quality of music is extremely high (which cannot be said about the recording quality). The jam on "I Wish There Was Nowhere" is such a foot-tapper!

Opus Avantra - Introspezione Was not really in the mood for more troo RPI, so I decided to check out something new. This is strangely strange music. The bombast quality, reminiscent of baroque era in Italy is present, but is mixed with this very unsettling avant-rock sauce. It's good, but I can't say I enjoyed it. But I will like it, just need a few more listens.

I'm looking for classic, romantic RPI band, very much like Celeste, but also Museo Rosenbach, which (here is the main requirement) uses loads of Mellotron. Sam, I thought this might be of interest to you, I borrowed my dad's iPad and immediately downloaded the free version (less patches) of Mellotronics M3000. The simulation is unbelieveably good. You get basic sounds, if you use for free, ("Watcher" patch, orchestra, some female voice, old, haunting organ, Rhodes, Moog swoosh, and staccato violin), but it's still great. They allegedly used the original tapes to create the software. This is hgihly recommended if you have or can borrow an iPad. That's why I'm asking for Mellotron-driven RPI, I quickly got bored with playing "Wacther of the Skies" intro and "Celestial Voices."


Edited by ALotOfBottle - August 30 2016 at 12:32

Finnforest wrote: @ Tymon....Semiramis is one that blew me away initially but after a while I grew weary of it...so I haven't played it in a long time.  I'll have to check it out again.  Opus Avantra is a real gem, they have several cool albums, but of course they are a much "dryer" form of RPI, esp the later stuff. @ Sam....how did you like Festa Mobile?  That's an interesting one if I recall, lots of aggressive piano playing?

Jim I don't recall aggressive piano playing on that album, on the contrary I remember it being quite pastoral, melodic and gentle, I could be wrong though, you've just proved to me that it has been too long since the last time I played it.

On the other hand Semiramis I remember well! I think it definitely deserves another spin my friend, it's just so wild and raw, always thought of it so highly really.

Le Orme - Florian
Vespero - Droga (These guys never miss!)
Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
Vita Nova - S/T

Ad Maiora - Repetita Luvant.   Jury still out.  Some nice parts, some "prog by numbers" feel.  Too many English vocals. 

Mike Oldfield - Earth Moving.   God I liked this way more than I should.  But I'm very capable of enjoying pop albums, I don't judge this album for not being Ommadawn.  Had a friend back in the day who destroyed this album after one play.  Brand new.  I said....ya could've sold it man.....he goes....Nope, it needed to be rendered unplayable this instant. 

RDM - Io Come Io.  Garage, baby.  Some nice parts but not all that exciting to me.