... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A really heady record from the Venezuelan scene of the 70s – a record that mixes hard rock energy with prog-styled instrumentation, all at a level that creates some really dynamic sounds overall! These guys take off right from the start – and although the record's a concept album, the approach here is maybe a bit more open overall, and liberates the set from some of the traps that an Anglo group like this might fall into – or maybe it's just us and our weak understanding of Spanish, which allows us to take the tunes as they come! Titles include "Kazmor El Prisionero", "Mi Cancion", "Inocetnes Perdidos", "Prisa", "Advenimiento/Trayectoria", and "El Asuente". LP, Vinyl record album

A mighty nice record that carries on some of the work from the European scene of the early 70s – that moment when prog got a slight influence from classical in the way the instrumentation opened up – not just with the virtuoso dexterity of the players, but also in the way the sound would rise up and almost create a more symphonic sensibility from a smaller combo performance! By that, we don't mean that this is a "with strings" presentation – just that the group have a way of soaring together, which really fits the vocals on the tunes too – all in Spanish, given that these guys hail from Venezuela – on titles that include "Krakatoa", "Aun No Puedo Ver", "Arco Iris", "Sharon", "Blanco Y Negro", "Mar Vestido De Mujer", and "Paginas De Tiempo". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those rare gems that's definitely worth digging for – an obscure set from Australia at the start of the 70s, and one that has a unique vibe that's very much its own! On his own, Roy Rutanen would probably be more of a folk artist – but here, he gets some great backing that emphasizes electric bass, sometimes-funky drums, and jazzy work on flute and saxophone – so that there's this folk funk vibe to the record, but also with some earthier elements that make you feel like the set was recorded way out in the bush, different than UK work of a similar mode. The instrumentation is as great as Roy's vocals – and titles include "Sinful Man", "The Country Song", "Hitchin", "The Old Man", "The Last Song", "Plastic World", and "The Trip Song". LP, Vinyl record album

A prog group from Caracas, but one who've also got elements in their music that hints at changing styles in the decade to come – including some nicely digital elements on some of the keyboards, and a way of compressing things down to help the music soar even more than it otherwise might! Make no mistake, these guys are still masterful musicians, and really have their chops down right from the start – but they also have this great way of thinking a bit more forward, and letting lead singer Pedro Castillo come in with some occasional more pointed vocal passages too. Lyrics are all in Spanish, and titles include "Atabal Yemal", "Anhelos", "Presencias Y Ausencias", "Cascada", and "Las Olas". LP, Vinyl record album