HOMEMADE LOFI PSYCH --- WHERE TO START?





"There is so much great music here..." WHERE TO START???

I recommend to
start with the HLFP-Samplers (especially HLFP 04).
Here you will come to know many of the bands/musicians featured in this blog. If you like what you hear, you may check out more of their music later on.
(You may also click on the picture on the sidebar and you will find the original post with download links.)

There is also a "FOCUS ON..." section. Here you will find albums that imo are absolutely great (***** = "five-stars-recordings") and that are essential listening and strongly recommended for download.


I TRY to RE-UP some stuff that has been down from time to

time, but I still don't have enough time to

listen to/post much new stuff.

Sorry!

IMPRESSUM: see here!

Showing posts with label krautrock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label krautrock. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Cloud Nine & The Vitamin C (GER) - Vinyl Release: DRAW DOWN THE DISTANCE (LP) and RAINFRONTIER (EP)


Finally the LP has also arrived at Dominik's shop Musikgarage Bensheim, and so both vinyl releases can now be ordered there (mail-order: unser_kleiner_musikshop@t-online.de). Or at Discogs (then it's a little bit more expensive). The LP DRAW DOWN THE DISTANCE is sold for 20 € and the EP RAINFRONTIER for 14. Both together: 31 €. Of course plus shipping costs.
 
 Limited Edition, red & black Splatter Vinyl 12" (Hand-numbered),
250 copies only, original Poster (first 35 copies hand-numbered w. new sticker, 
all others have a re-print) included
 


Limited Edition, randomly coloured Vinyl 10" 
(Hand-numbered), 275 copie
 
 
Promo clip (and some more CNVC stuff) on Youtube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opW3z79Zv7c
 

Streaming and digital download at Bandcamp
 

 

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Test pressing of the LP DRAW DOWN THE DISTANCE by Cloud Nine & The Vitamin C arrived – UPDATE

Our Promo-video (long version)


ON MY OWN BEHALF:
The test pressing of the LP of my old psychedelic rock band CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C arrived yesterday.

Really an excellent pressing quality - release granted! Hopefully the coloured copies will be just as good. There will be a limited, hand-numbered edition of 250 copies - in splattered vinyl in red and black. The seven songs on the LP date (except for one recording) from 1992. After more than 30 years, there soon will be an LP after all... 
Release date is expected to be early December.

There will also be a 10" - RAINFRONTIER - with earlier songs (from 1990) available, also strictly limited (to 275 copies) in colored vinyl. 


IN EIGENER SACHE:
Die Testpressung der LP meiner alten Psychedelic-Rock-Band CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C ist gestern angekommen.

Wirklich eine hervorragende Pressqualität - Freigabe erteilt! Hoffentlich werden die farbigen Exemplare genauso gut sein. Es wird eine limitierte, handnummerierte Auflage von 250 Stück geben - in gesprenkeltem Vinyl in rot und schwarz.
Die sieben Songs auf der LP stammen (bis auf eine Aufnahme) aus dem Jahr 1992. Nach mehr als 30 Jahren gibt es nun doch noch eine LP … 

Außerdem wird auch eine 10" – RAINFRONTIER  – mit früheren Songs (aus dem Jahr 1990) erhältlich sein, ebenfalls streng limitiert (auf 275 Exemplare) in farbigem Vinyl.

Now it's WAITING for the LP! Hopefully it will be ready for sale from December 6th 2023. You can order your Copy dirctly at Musikgarage Bensheim: unser_kleiner_musikshop@t-online.de

or at Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/13014570-Cloud-Nine-The-Vitamin-C

Jetzt heißt es WARTEN, bis die LP da ist! Voraussichtlich wird sie ab dem 06.12.23 lieferbar sein. (Es gab leider eine Verzögerung bei der Auslieferung.)

Ihr könnt euer Exemplar direkt bei Dominik, dem damaligen Keyboarder, in der Musikgarage Bensheim bestellen: unser_kleiner_musikshop@t-online.de

Oder bei Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/13014570-Cloud-Nine-The-Vitamin-C

Obgleich die Auslieferung unserer LP sich leider um einige Tage verzögert und erst ab Mittwoch geliefert werden kann (Mailorder: Musikgarage Bensheim), gibt es bereits die erste Rezension. Und die, sagen wir mal, recht positiv ausgefallen: https://timemachine-productions.gr/2023/11/30/cloud-nine-vitamin-c-draw-down-the-distance-2023-lp-cloud-nine/

Although the delivery of our LP is unfortunately delayed by a few days and can only be delivered from Wednesday the first review is already available. And let's just say it's quite positive: https://timemachine-productions.gr/2023/11/30/cloud-nine-vitamin-c-draw-down-the-distance-2023-lp-cloud-nine/

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

RE-POST: Orange - In The Garden Of The Demon King (GER. 1995)



ORANGE - In the Garden of the Demon King (1995)
(Second Demo, Frankfurt a. M, Bunker, GER., 07-09/1995 - CK master/mix version)




1. Brown - 5.51
2. Tryin' To be A Good Human - 6.02
3. In the Garden of the Demon King - 8.29
4. Love in the Suffer Room - 3.13
5. Neil's Elevator (incl. Souldrive) - 30.55
BONUS TRACK:
6. Soul Drive (edit) - 3.31
Get it here!

"Never draw conclusions about a garden from the way a person looks – and especially don't do so about the inside of the arbour from the way the garden looks." 
This kid on the cover artwork at any rate looks like straight out of a Stephen King novel...


This is the 2nd demo-recording of the german psychedelic band ORANGE, based in Frankfurt a. M., from 1995. For more info check out the older entry here at HLFP.


The original ORANGE existed from 1993 until 1995. In those years the band released two demo tapes and was very active, playing many festivals in Germany (Rhein-Main area and south Germany) as well as a lot of solo performances, especially in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.


This 2nd demo called "IN THE GARDEN OF THE DEMON KING" (as a kind of homage to KING CRIMSON) was recorded in true home recording spirit on a Fostex 4-track tape machine in their reheasal place in Frankfurt (an old WW II bunker). The band played and recorded the backing tracks in first takes on two days and then overdubbed vocals, guitar parts and assorted other instruments, noises and tape effects. This probably explains the somehow tinny overall sound, but nevertheless this recording definitly has its moments, especially on the 30 min psychedelic-experimental masterpiece "NEIL'S ELEVATOR". This track builds up quite slowly, starting with wind sounds and a long, slow guitar solo (kind of UFO-Flying-style), before rushing into the post punk indie instrumental main theme, with lots of different parts following, culminating probably in a bizarre, surrealistic druggy story told (in german) by singer Sue Boildice (about some pigs that don't like her green, new shoes because they remind them of the green grass... and more strange things happening) – very far out. Especially because Sue's voice of the backing track shimmers through and so creates a spooky, heavily disturbing overall atmosphere. After that you can listen to some kind of hobbits' freak-out party... (They even make an attempt of singing "Rosies" from the 1st demo...). The second (slow) theme follows, with Sue quoting some familiar lyrics above a PINK-FLOYD-Echoes-like backing... And this is just halfway thru the song! A heavy psychedelic roller-coaster/elevator ride indeed! Not to be missed!


In comparison with "Neil's Elevator" (by the way: also a live killer track!) the remaining songs (usually with Sue's PATTI SMITH like vocals to the front), though not bad, surely look a little pale. "Brown" and "Love in the Suffer Room" offer some kind of post grunge/indie sound, while the title track "In the Garden Of The Demon King" (formly known as "Orange" – remember "Red" by KING CRIMSON?) shows the band again in a more progressive mood. 
I added "Soul Drive", usually part of "N.E.", as a single track, 'cause it is quite a good song in its own right.


Again: Only around 8o tapes were originally sold at concerts or given away to friends. So this is a true rarity.
Should be listened to on headphones!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Damo Suzuki & The Whole - Live @ KJK Sandgasse, Offenbach 09.12.2008

Already the 3rd post with live material by DAMO SUZUKI & THE WHOLE (find the other 2 live sets in the archives). Again in excellent sound quality, directly from the "masters", in fact recorded on 8 track with laptop and remixed by Member himself. This time the ex-THE CAN singer and MEMBER and STOLLE were supported by special guest Matthias Vatter on guitar.

Check out more recordings by MEMBER & STOLLE in various incarnations here! Enjoy!

Damo Suzuki & The Whole - Live @ KJK Sandgasse, Offenbach 09.12.2008
(mp3 zip, 8 tracks, 143 min, 272,1 MB, artwork incl.)
Get it here!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Microgramma Medium Extended - 'abc' (GER 2002-2005)

Another exclusive homemade-lofi-psych post: MICROGRAMMA MEDIUM EXTENDED: 'abc' (ausgewählte aufnahmen 2002-2005). A compilation of important songs from different sessions and collaborations between 2002 and 2005. You all will surely know the MME track from the 3rd Homemade Lofi Psych Sampler NEW KIDS ON THE BLOG. On 'abc' you can hear another version of that song, the "piano version" of "triste".
Once again this MME release shows clear traces of the more electronically oriented 70s krautrock bands like NEU or KRAFTWERK, but also of avantgarde rockers FAUST. Enjoy!

MICROGRAMMA MEDIUM EXTENDED -'abc'
(mp3 zip, 23 tracks, 98,8 MB, 73 min, artwork incl.)
Get it HERE.
(New link 05/2024)

The Köln live CDR from MME is still available for download here.
MME are back again with new material, don't forget to check it out on Myspace.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Stolle & Member - When The Machines Rock (GER 2008)


If STOLLE & MEMBER would have recorded in the 70s, they surely would now be cult heroes of the krautrock scene...
These sessions here were recorded in July and are the same ones that the track "Wellen" on the 2nd Homemade-Lofi-Psych Sampler HLFP 02 "EMBRYO THOUGHTS" (which you probably all will know by now) is culled from. (If you haven't heard "EMBRYO THOUGHTS" yet, you should quickly download it NOW and should dive deeply into those far out soundscapes of inner and outer psych! ... Well, a little self-promo from time to time just has to be...). 
The 4 tracks here are mostly in instrumental, improvised droning style (including some sound collages) and in a rather dark ambient mood. Reminds me of some late CLUSTER works. Enjoy!

STOLLE & MEMBER - When The Machines Rock (2008)
(mp3-zip, 4 tracks, 94,6 MB, 48 min)
1. Embryonic Machine - 10.32
2. Birth Of The Machine - 9.11
3. Wake Of The Machine (mixed & edited) - 12.59
4. When The Machines Rock (mixed & edited) - 15.20
Get it HERE! Re-up 05/2024

Check out their site and find more neo-krautrock recordings to enjoy!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Traummaschine - Einz, Zwei, Drei, Vier (2005); 2 (2006); Die Kosmische Sache; Anomalia (2008) (SP)

TRAUMMASCHINE  ("Dreamachine" in German) is a Spanish psychedelic/experimental band project from Valencia consisting of two members: Luis Forner and Paco Gomez. They have released 4 albums until now:
- Einz, Zwei, Drei, Vier (2005) (on the front cover misspellt: "Einz" for eins)
Get it HERE! Re-up 05/2024
 
 
-  2 (2006)
Get it HERE! Re-up 05/2024
 
 
- Die Kosmische Sache (2008) 
Get it HERE! Re-up 05/2024
 
and
- Anomalia (2008).
Get it HERE! Re-up 05/2024
 
 
TRAUMMASCHINE offer all of their records for free download here and on several other places aswell.
 
As one might expect from the band name and also the album titles those two guys are heavily into experimental krautrock of the Mid-Seventies, namely bands like ASH RA (TEMPEL), POPOL VUH, AGITATION FREE, TANGERINE DREAM, FAUST and the like. Clearly their sound is more influenced by those "kosmischen Musikern" than let's say by german jazz rock bands like GURU GURU or hard rock acts like BIRTH CONTROL - which is a good thing, in my opinion...

"Experimentation, improv music, drones, free jazz, electronics, noise are some of the elements that shape its understanding of the music (...) You should watch the TRAUMMASCHINE with closed eyes and listen to it with open ears. The escapism is legitimate (...) The antinomy between myth and reality is dissolved, the identification between human beings and Angels is accomplished, as it is practically accomplished in mysticism..." (Traummaschine; quote from Myspace)

TRAUMMASCHINE were one of the bands that were invited to play this summer at the Avantgarde Festival Schiphorst, Germany, a famous festival organized by Jean-Hervé Péron (FAUST), featuring bands playing avantgarde, industrial, experimental, noise and krautrock music.
Check out their Myspace-site for more info.

These recordings are highly recommended!!! Everybody who's somehow interested in (mostly instrumental) modern day psychedelic krautrock should really check them out.
I'd love to see those guys live! Should be really interesting.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Microgramma Medium Extended - Live Koeln 2002 (GER)

Recorded live at the BREAD & BUTTER fashion offshow in Cologne, Germany, in 2002. The experimental band MICROGRAMMA MEDIUM EXTENDED was booked for three days to play – their first live gig – at this fashion fair as a constant musical background. The tracks were improvised on the spot in some kind of open music laboratory situation, while people could sit down to watch and listen.
 
Daniel Herrmann: keyboards

One can clearly hear traces of some old Krautrock legends like KRAFTWERK or NEU, but MME were definitly not limited to some onedimensional formula in creating their atmospheric soundscapes. Just listen to the steel drum sounds on the last track "jammin' with tyson"...

Torstn Kauke: bs

MICROGRAMMA MEDIUM EXTENDED - Live Köln 2002 (GER.)
(mp3 zip, 13 tracks, 42 min)
Get it HERE!
New link 05/2024.

If you like MME you should also check out CONCORDE, another project of Torstn Kauke.
Torstn is also featured with a fantastic psychedelic track on the 2nd HOMEMADE-LOFI-PSYCH Sampler "EMBRYO THOUGHTS".
Enjoy!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Radagast Project (GER 1992-2000)

RADAGAST PROJECT was/is the psychedelic folk project of former PEACE'N'STUFF bass & flute player Christof Köhler (aka Koehler, aka CK – listen to tr. 8 on the HLFP 01 sampler!). The recordings you find here go back to the period between 1992 and 2000.
1. Snake River (1992) - 6.38
Part of a song/sound collage called "The Snake Song", this piece somewhat follows the music of German classical space krautrockers BETWEEN. It's really a hybrid of late 80s/early 90s New Age sounds and 70s krautrock with eastern influences.
2. C & A - 5.07
Here CK forms a cosmic folk duo with legendary busker ANDI PAULO, posted here recently. This song was written and recorded on 4-track-tape recorder in Heidelberg, Germany, around 1995.
3. Radagast - 8.41
Kind of a whimsical space folk theme with none-too-serious lyrics telling the story of the infamous Lord Of The Rings character.
4. Kalte Liebe - 5.45
A demo from the aborted "Roy Rohrbach" folk opera, recorded in Heidelberg in 2000 on 4-track; this is a song with a rather dark mood, with flute & vocals panicking (in the original greek meaning of the word). There are evident ROY HARPER influences and there's lots of early Roger Waters / PINK FLOYD octave bass pumping in the instrumental parts, a wild spanish guitar in the middle – and thank God you probably won't understand the lyrics... Also brings to mind the acoustic side of the 1st "Dance of the Lemmings" LP of AMON DÜÜL 2.
 
By the way: CK was the lightshow man for CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C (1983-1992) and is also guesting on their Album „Draw Down The Distance“ (recorded in 1992 and released in December 2023) playing flute on the song Sunspots. That song is also featured on the first HLFP Sampler (in a different mix version than on the LP), and you will also find another of CK's songs there, which again sounds very different from the music here: Synthespacer, as already mentioned above.

If you like german psychedelic folk in the style of FIT & LIMO or you enjoyed the ANDI PAULO post not too long ago, you should definitly have a listen to this stuff. Recommended!

Radagast Project
(mp3-zip, 4 tracks, 26 min)
Get it HERE!
(New link 05/2024)


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Damo Suzuki & The Whole - Live @ Cellarium, Knittlingen 05-09-2008



Probably no need to introduce those guys to you – since the last year's  live show by DAMO SUZUKI & THE WHOLE (live in Offenbach 2007) was the most downloaded post on this blog – so far...
Well, here is another treat for all you krautrock lovers. Enjoy!
A big THANKS to Member and everyone at emptyblaukraut!

Damo Suzuki & The Whole - Live at Cellarium, Knittlingen, GER, 05-09-2008
(mp3-zip, 5 tracks, 146 min)
1. Set 1 # 1 - 20.22
2. Set 1 # 2 - 23.00
3. Set 2# 1 - 29.20
4. Set 2# 2 - 64.02
5. Soundcheck - 10.00
New Link 05/2024: HERE!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Concorde - Mulpha Recordings (GER 2002)

CONCORDE were a german experimental band, based in the middle of the downtown of Frankfurt a. M., that existed only for a short time: from 2000-2002. They played some kind of improvised, mostly instrumental neo krautrock, that also brings to mind post rock bands like MOGWAI or GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! If you like any of those bands, you should really check 'em out!
And if you like CONCORDE, you should also have a listen to EPHEMEROL, another Frankfurt band, that has a similar concept of sound, whose recording was posted here some weeks ago.
If you want to know more about CONCORDE, go to Torstn Kauke's site, which is in german only, and write him that you want some translations...
Enjoy!
 






 

CONCORDE - Mulpha Recordings (April 2002)
(mp3-zip,  6 tracks, 71 min, 98,6 MB)
1. Distorted Introduction - 3.04
2. Check Inn - 6.37
3. Bremen (take 1) - 9.26
4. Bremen (take 2) - 16.48
5. Fuck You - 3.31
6. Session in E - 31.38
New link 05/2024:
Get it Here.
 
"Ich muss gestehen, ich hatte mir diese CD seit Jahren nicht mehr angehört, bis sie mir auf der Suche nach Aufnahmen, die es wert sind, hier gepostet zu werden, wieder in die Hände fiel... Und ich bin nachhaltig beeindruckt von dieser kleinen großen Band, die wir da hatten. Was für eine musikalische Dichte wir in diesen Live-im-Proberaum-Aufnahmen erreicht haben, wie herrlich organisch sich die Dynamik von ganz laut bis sehr leise (und zurück) entwickelte, wie angenehm und unauffällig da erste elektronische Effekte in den Rock-dominierten Stücke auftauchten -... hatte ich alles längst vergessen. Vielleicht handelt es sich hier ja um Musik, die mit den Jahren reift? Begriffe wie Krautrock und Mogwai fallen mir als Referenz sofort ein... - um auch Aussenstehenden Appetit auf diese Rockmonster (das längste Stück geht 36 min) zu machen!

Concorde existierte von 2000 - 2002. Es war meine erste musikalische Zusammenarbeit mit Daniel Herrmann (der mich in der Cafeteria der Hochschule für Gestaltung in OF ansprach, weil seine Band eine zweite Gitarre bräuchte und er gehört habe, dass ich so eine spielen könne... Ich glaube, eine Begegnung, die man durchaus schicksalhaft nennen kann, ich war im letzten Semester und er im ersten, er hatte gerade the-Power-of-Rock verinnerlicht, ich meinte, das gerade hinter mir gelassen zu haben und beschäftigte mich musikalisch eher mit Minimal Electronic... - dennoch sagte ich auf der Stelle zu.).
Die Band, die er vorgab zu haben, war eigentlich nur er selbst (am Schlagzeug) und sein Kumpel Sebastian Wie-heisst-er-gleich. Einer, der angeblich Keyboards spielen würde (stattdessen aber meistens auf seinen Plattenspielern aufregende Turntable-Kunststücke machte) war anfangs auch mit von der Partie - Daniel Nikolaou, der gute alte Solestar (von dem in einem der nächsten Posts mehr zu berichten sein wird...). Nachdem in den ersten Monaten meine Bruder Raul den Bass spielte, kam schließlich als endgültiger Concorde-Bassist Rouven Schmitt dazu.

Eine große Besonderheit von Concorde war deren Proberaum. Das "Mulpha"!
So nannte man die ehemaligen Chefetage einer alt eingessenen Frankfurter Bank mitten im Frankfurter Bankenviertel, im 14. Stock. Mit höher gelegtem Fußboden, der einen einmaligen Blick auf die ganze Frankfurter Skyline direkt zu unseren Füssen bot, während wir probten. Kunsthochschulen-Beziehungen machten es möglich. Diese einmalige Situation (die es uns sogar ermöglichte, am helllichten Tag zu spielen, da der Straßenlärm ohnehin viel lauter war als die Rockband im 14. Stock) hat unsere Musik mit Concorde stark geprägt. Kann man, wie gesagt, 5 Jahre später noch viel bestimmter sagen und hört man jede kurzweilige Minute der "Mulpha Recordings" lang.
Heute finde ich, das hier klingt sogar dichter als das nie veröffentlichte "White Gold" Album von Concorde (das wir einen Monat später in Köln aufnahmen).

Kaum 3 Monate später war der Traum auch schon vorbei, denn wir mussten aus dem Mulpha ausziehen. Concorde existierte danach noch eine Zeit lang mit experimentelleren Sounds, einer exzentrischen (aber nicht uncoolen) Sängerin und verhallten Auftritten in Kirchen und Kellern... aber das ist eine andere Geschichte."

(Zitat: Torstn Kauke: http://unpop-media.blogspot.com/)

Friday, May 30, 2008

UBIK paint - A Collection of 2006 Remasters (GER)

One of the many sideprojects of MEMBER & STOLLE. This here is a remastered edition of some tracks by a band Stolle was involved some years ago (1996-2001), called UBIK PAINT.
Not all tracks on this collection are great (e.g. "Life is Grey"), but some are simply brillant ("Laß sein was den Blick trübt", "La Verite"). The musical approach is – as usual – an experimental one, that brings to mind older Krautrockers, especially FAUST ("How does it Feel") and CAN ("Laß sein..."). But there is also room for the occasional pop tune ("Beautiful"), sometimes sung in a depressed KEVIN-AYERS-Voice ("Late") or arranged like a late THE CURE ballad ("As It Is").
This is a song collection of many contrasts, and the industrial-experimental track "Quiet Earth" is THE perfect closer. Recommended!

UBIK paint - A Collection of 2006 Remasters
(mp3 zip, 17 tracks, 178,4 MB, art incl.)
Get it HERE.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Egomania - Collage (GER, 1996)


Probably Member's most ambitious solo-work. "It's a mind blowing trip through many different spaces, mostly made by sampling and mixing different music together." (Quoted from "emptyblaukraut".) Part of the PTE (= "Psychedelic Transfer Explosion"). Read more about PTE, MEMBER and STOLLE and their various projects here.

My favourite track is: "Doors of Perception", that has some kind of a FAUST industrial feeling. But the whole thing is recommended.


Egomania - Collage (1996)
(mp3 zip, 13 tracks, 74 min, art incl., 170,2 MB)
Get it HERE!

More Member & Stolle projects: 

Anyone's Dreamcolour - Acid Daze (GER, 1992)

This is a true "psychedelic" recording in its literal sense. And probably the most "far out" musical work of the one-man-home-recording-project ANYONE'S DREAMCOLOUR. One improvised guitar track was recorded, while allegedly under the influence of some psychedelic substance, and later, over the next few weeks/months three more tracks were overdubbed with various guitars, voices, drums and other sounds – trying to resemble the different moods of a psychedelic experience. The result is – not surprising – an unnerving, often disturbing bizarre listening adventure. This for sure isn't straight rock music! Rather a kind of a rough soundscape, giving one the opportunity to witness an inner space travel. Some tracks, like for example "Out of Time", are heavily disjointed, resembling quite effectively the affect of psychedelic substances. 

"Butterfly", which is sandwiched between the two parts of the long "Acid Daze" song, was recorded under similar conditions around the same time on another date. This time the rhythm guitar track was recorded live together with a drum track, more or less improvised, lyrics added later.
"No Difference" was (in a more rock oriented version/arrangement) later played live by CLOUD NINE (and ORANGE) and also recorded. "Butterfly" also appeared for a short time in the ORANGE playlist.

Be warned! This recording is surely something of an acquired taste. But look at the name of this blog. Isn't that what it's all about? Different sounds for different people...

Anyone's Dreamcolour - Acid Daze (1991/92)
(mp3-zip, 3 tracks, 35 min, 49,7 MB, art + lyrics incl.)
(New Link HERE! Re-up 2022)


Saturday, April 12, 2008

Orange - In The Garden Of The Demon King (GER. 1995)

"Never draw conclusions about a garden from the way a person looks – and especially don't do so about the inside of the arbour from the way the garden looks." 
This kid at any rate looks like straight out of a Stephen King novel...
This is the 2nd demo-recording of the german psychedelic band ORANGE, based in Frankfurt a. M., from 1995. For more info check out the older entry here.
The original ORANGE existed from 1993 until 1995. In those years the band released two demo tapes and was very active, playing many festivals in Germany (Rhein-Main area and south Germany) as well as a lot of solo performances, especially in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.
 
This 2nd demo called "IN THE GARDEN OF THE DEMON KING" (as a kind of hommage to KING CRIMSON) was recorded in true home recording spirit on a Fostex 4-track tape machine in their reheasal place in Frankfurt (an old WW II bunker). The band played and recorded the backing tracks in first takes on two days and then overdubbed vocals, guitar parts and assorted other instruments, noises and tape effects. This probably explains the somehow tinny overall sound, but nevertheless this recording definitly has its moments, especially on the 30 min psychedelic-experimental masterpiece "NEIL'S ELEVATOR". 
 
This tracks builds up quite slowly, starting with wind sounds and a long, slow guitar solo (kind of UFO-Flying-style), before rushing into the post punk indi instrumental main theme, with lots of different parts following, culminating probably in a bizarre, surrealistic druggy story told (in german) by singer Sue Boildice (about some pigs that don't like her green, new shoes because they remind them of the green grass... and more strange things happening) – very far out. Especially because Sue's voice of the backing track shimmers through and so creates a spooky, heavily disturbing overall atmosphere. After that you can listen to some kind of hobbits freak-out party... (They even make an attempt of singing "Rosies" from the 1st demo...). The second (slow) theme follows, with Sue quoting some familiar lyrics above a PINK-FLOYD-Echoes-like backing... And this is just halfway thru the song! A heavy psychedelic roller-coaster/elevator ride indeed! Not to be missed!

In comparison with "Neil's Elevator" (by the way: also a live killer track!) the remaining songs (usually with Sue's PATTI SMITH like vocals to the front), though not bad, surely look a little pale. "Brown" and "Love in the Suffer Room" offer some kind of post grunge/indi sound, while the title track "In the Garden Of The Demon King" (formly known as "Orange" – remember "Red" by KING CRIMSON?) shows the band again in a more progressive mood. 
I added "Soul Drive", usually part of "N.E.", as a single track, 'cause it is quite a good song in its own right.
 
Again: Only around 8o tapes were originally sold at concerts or given away to friends. So this is a true rarity.
Should be listened to on headphones! Enjoy!
 
ORANGE - In The Garden Of The Demon King (1995)
(mp3 zip, 6 tracks, 58 min, 83,5 MB, artwork incl.)
1. Brown - 5.50
2. Tryin' To Be A Good Human - 6.01
3. In The Garden Of The Demon King - 8.29
4. Love In The Suffer Room - 3.12
5. Neil's Elevator - 30.54
6. BONUS: Soul Drive (edit) - 3.30
 Get it here!


Saturday, April 5, 2008

Peace'n'Stuff - Bits & Pieces (GER 1999-2002)

 
 
PEACE'N'STUFF is a german blues and rock band in the Mannheim/Heidelberg area.


Besides playing traditional blues rock and the occasional 70s cover, PEACE'N'STUFF have always integrated several other styles into their unique mix. Their albums and setlists featured heavy rock and even punk cabaret numbers, folk tunes, rock ballads with progressive and/or psychedelic influences. Lyrics are mostly in german.

Check out their site here.

"Bits & Pieces" is a collection of songs from 1999-2002, taken from the albums "Wüstabschub" and "brummer!" sessions, featuring a huge jam at the end of the song "Ausflug", reminding even a little bit of the good ol' GRATEFUL DEAD in their prime, while especially the song "Foumo" has a kind of GOLDEN EARRING sound... Pretty interesting stuff! I especially like the occasional flute playing.

Peace'n'Stuff - Bits & Pieces (1999-2002)
(mp3 zip, 5 tracks, 42 min, 63,1 MB)
1. Foumo - 7.05
2. Orient Express - 6.47
3. Miebschutte - 5.16
4. Auf der Kippe - 9.21
5. Ausflug - 13.38
Get it here! (New link 04/2024.)