A self-titled set from Dando Shaft, but actually the group's second album – a set that's as noteworthy for the addition of female singer Polly Bolton as it is for the continued genius of Martin Jenkins! There's a bit more stripped-down style here than the group's first record – almost as if they've mastered their acoustic instruments so well, they can come across with a sound that's wider than you might expect from the lineup – balancing the voices of Bolton and Jenkins to create a really magical sound – and, as with so many of their acid folk contemporaries, coming across with a sound that's complete transcends time throughout. Titles include "Railway", "Riverboat", "Waves Upon The Ether", "Whispering Ned", "Pass It On", "Coming Home To Me", and "Sometimes". LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible debut of Dando Shaft, and a key early moment of brilliance for Martin Jenkins – who not only handles lead vocals here, but also arranged the whole record with a wonderfully moody vibe! There's echoes here of some of the more experimental folk-influenced work of the late 60s – such as the gems by Davy Graham, or some of the more compelling Joe Boyd productions – qualities that really come through in the beautiful larger arrangements next to the core acoustic elements, and the album's great use of elements like flute or tablas. Titles include "Cat Song", "Lazily Slowly", "Rain", "Cold Wind", "In The Country", and "Drops Of Brandy". LP features the bonus track "Thruxtun". LP, Vinyl record album

Totally wonderful work from one of the most striking groups of the UK acid folk generation – a wonderful combination of acoustic and electric elements, all delivered with a nicely sinister edge! Singer Martin Jenkins is still in the mix here – and his voice has that wonderful edge we always love – balanced by the warmer tones of Polly Bolton, who's really finding her way in the group. Instrumentation mixes guitars with fiddle, mandolin, and some especially nice use of flute and tablas – on titles that include "The Magnetic Beggar/Don't Forget The Animal", "The Black Prince Of Paradise", "The Harp Lady I Bombed", "Melancholic Fervor", "Is It Me", "Road Song", and "It Was Good". Reissue features the bonus track "Spring Clog Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

"Cosmoramic Rock" from East Of Eden – one of the trippiest British groups of the late 60s! The group works here in a self-professed blend of rock, free jazz, noise, world music, and avant garde classical influences – and somehow manages to make the whole thing come out with a sound that's amazingly straightforward, given the project – a cool blend of psychedelic influences and mind-expanding consciousness! There's a bit of art rock in the lyrics, but the instrumentation itself is more than straight ahead enough to cut through the clutter – making for an album that's got the expansiveness of a concept album, but the tighter song structure of a regular psyche album! Titles include "In The Stable Of Sphinx", "Moth", "Isadora", and "Bathers". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from East Of Eden – less cosmically-oriented than the first, but still filled with a host of really cool elements! As with their classic Mercator Projected set, the group really seems to bring in a lot of different strands for this one – and although a jazz-rock outfit at some level, the group's also got their fingers in electronic music, avant classical, and even a bit of world/rock crossover. There's a few hard-rocking tunes on the set, but as before, the best ones are the spacier tracks – often served up with a minimum of vocals, which lets you really focus on the inventive instrumentation, odd rhythms, and cool production of the set! Titles include "In The Snow For A Blow", "Have To Whack It Up", "Leaping Beauties For Rudy", "Nymphenburger", and "Habibi Baby". CD features 7 bonus tracks too – including "Jig A Jig", "Petitie Fille", "Biffin Bridge", and "Blue Boar Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic debut album from Samurai – one of those lost prog classics from the start of the 70s that still sounds years ahead of its time! The group features Dave Lawson on keyboards and vocals – and represents an amazing (and short) evolution of the sound of his music from his time in the groups Episode Six and Web – a richly visionary vibe that uses jazz elements in ways that are a lot stronger than some of the group's contemporaries – nice bits of vibes, flutes, and tenor – on tunes that move between mellow jams and some more forward-moving numbers – none of which lose the jazzy touches that make the whole thing so great! Titles include "Saving It Up For So Long", "More Rain", "Maudie James", "Holy Padlock", "Give A Little Love", "Face In The Mirror" and "As I Dried The Tears Away". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing little record that seems completely unto itself – born in that incredible early 70s moment when the UK was overflowing with elements of prog, psych, and hard rock – but served up here by a group who seem to take their own path right from the start! The instrumentation is incredible deft – drums and basslines that could be funk, if they weren't so complex – turned instead towards these fast-moving rhythmic lines that are completely explosive – and intersected at angles by the work on organ and mellotron – and crossed at another angle by the mad vocals of Rob Elliott! There's a musical sophistication here that might put these guys somewhere in the Zappa or King Crimson side of the spectrum – but the songs have a more straightforward, organic appeal overall. Titles include "Death May Be Your Santa Claus", "Cyclops", "Take To The Skies", "Take To The Skies", and "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi". Features three bonus tracks – "Baby RU Anudder Monster", "Funeral", and "Dip It Out Of The Bog Fred". LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic debut of Jade Warrior – a group who were one of the most unique prog acts to record for the Vertigo label in the 70s! Jade Warrior is just a trio – and unlike some of the harder-rocking power trios of the time, the group have a way of balancing softness and intensity, acoustic modes and electric ones – all with a unique style that also offers up some of the exoticism promised by their name! Yet don't worry about that last aspect – as things here are never too heavy-handed, as the group are Brit to their core – maybe balancing some of the lighter Mel Collins moments of King Crimson and the more personal Ian Anderson songs of Jethro Tull – in a line up that features percussion and flute from Jon Field, guitar from Tony Duhig, and bass and these great raspy vocals from Glyn Havard. Titles include "Masami Morning", "Windweaver", "Petunia", "Telephone Girl", "Psychiatric Sergeant", "Slow Ride", and "A Prenormal Day At Brighton". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunningly massive album – the debut of this obscure UK group, who are a combo that shift effortlessly between late psych and early prog, with perhaps a bit of hard rock thrown in for good measure! If the tunes were longer, they might be too self-indulgent – but instead, the group step nicely between short bursts of musical inspiration – new ideas at every twist and turn, and a great way of using the studio as much as their own instruments – so that the vocals, guitar fuzz, and other elements move between rumbling intensity and some more offbeat moments! One of those lost treasures that really deserves more immortality – with titles that include "A Fairly Tale", "Dennis James The Clown", "Reality", "Mainliner", "Good Old '59 (We Are Slowly Getting Older)", "Steam Tugs", and "The World Will End Yesterday". This edition features rare bonus tracks "James In The Basement" and "I Am Nearly There". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest records from this Bay Area electronic duo – a set that features a mix of analogue instruments with mono synths and Lyricons – including the Lyricon Electronic Wind Instrument – which is kind of a mix of analogue electronics and clarinet! The set was recorded on a 4 track, in the duo's home – and originally only issued on cassette. First time ever on vinyl – with titles that include "Valley Of The Birds", "Through The Garden Of Mirrors", "Photonos", "Rainforest", and "The Dragon's Gate". LP, Vinyl record album