Cloud Nine - Evolution of a psychedelic Band (6): The Best of the ELEDIL Tapes (GER. 1991/92)

Probably the musical highlight of my little series about the German neo psychedelic band CLOUD NINE (& THE VITAMIN C)...

CLOUD NINE - Official Bootleg Archives O.B.A.

Vol. 11-12

The Best of the ELEDIL Tapes

(mp3 zip of 2 CDR, 23 tracks, 158 min, art + info incl., 218 MB)

CD 1 (12-28-1991)

1. I'm Lost - 6.23

2. Rainfrontier - 2.50

3. Angel Of Mine - 5.03

4. Draw Down the Distance - 18.41

5. Empty And Cold - 9.39

6. Tracks Of My Tears - 4.46

7. Sunspots - 8.57

8. My Sunday on A Friday - 4.59

9. Call - 4.54

10. Black Queen - 12.07

CD 2 (02-22-1992)

1. Call (faded in) - 3.53

2. Walking My Road - 3.09

3. Tracks Of My Tears - 3.40

4. I Don't Care - 4.07

5. On An Ordinary Day - 6.14

6. Empty And Cold - 8.11

7. I'm Lost - 6.42

8. Death Blues - 5.25

9. (It Makes) No Difference - 3.22

10. Sunspots (Part 1) - 4.02

11. Draw Down The Distance - 12.31

12. Black Queen - 10.59

13. Der Sandmann ist tot - 6.38
Get it here (CD1) and here (CD2)!

CLOUD NINE was the sixth incarnation of CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C, lasting from about June 1991 until February 1992 (the name was shortened before playing the ELEDIL gigs).

CN(VC #6) played only two live gigs, both at the small ELEDIL Club in Darmstadt, Germany, before the band broke up. Between the 1st gig there in December 1991 and the 2nd one in February 1992 lay many weeks of rehearsals and also the first (and only) "proper" recording session in a semi-professional studio (in fact held on only 2 days, recording 6 backing tracks live in the studio and some overdubs, until the band ran out of money – so the mixing was never really finished and the mastertapes sadly seem lost. – But finally: in December 2023 the Band released those studio recordings remasters on vinyl. Recommended!.

 

Get the LP at discogs.

Digital download from Bandcamp.

 

On these recordings here you'll find live versions of all the songs that were recorded in the studio earlier/later – and they differ very much! Just compare the live version of their psychedelic masterpiece "Draw Down The Distance" from the first gig (nearly 19 minutes spaced out jamming – b.t.w. my favourite version of that song) to the much more structured version from the 2nd ELEDIL gig (much more in the style of the studio version and much shorter).

Pete Hergo (live at the ELEDIL): g., voc.

Also of note are the relativly heavy/punk-ish sounding newer songs like "Call", "My Sunday On a Friday", "I Don't Care" or "No Difference" as well as the rearrangements of older "classics" like "Rainfrontier" or "I'm Lost" – all played pretty heavy and in strong contrast to the more psychedelic jam tracks, e.g. "Sunspots". It seems that the band, featuring the new, very competent guitar player PETE HERGO, was looking for a new direction around that time and the results sound quite promising with the newer songs showing a clear influence of bands like THE CURE ("I Don't Care"), GREEN ON RED ("Walking My Road") or even THE CHARLATANS' rave sound ("My Sunday On A Friday"). Clearly a new evolution and a welcome addition to the more Sixties oriented older CNVC sound with tracks like "I'm Lost" or "Car Car" or "Rainfrontier" (more in the mood of 60s Garage bands like THE ELECTRIC PRUNES or the acid rock of THE DOORS or early PINK FLOYD psychedelia ("Brainstorm", "Black Queen")).

Many of those songs featured here have only been played once or twice live, e.g. "Der Sandmann ist tot" (= The Sandman is dead"), a very strange song, written by keyboard player Dominik E., that wouldn't have sounded out of place in the WIM WENDERS movie "HIMMEL ÜBER BERLIN". The only CLOUD NINE song, by the way, ever sung in German...

But after that 2nd ELEDEL gig not only the sandman was dead; "Der Sandmann ist tot" was the last song the band ever played live together, afterwards the band was dead as well...

Enjoy this Requiem and check out the official vinyl recordings of CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C: https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/13014570-Cloud-Nine-The-Vitamin-C

https://cloud-nine-and-the-vitamin-c.blogspot.com/

 

Brian Andrew Marek - A Lion in the Sun (USA 2005/ed. 2008)

Here we go: Another work by BRIAN ANDREW MAREK, probably not extremely psychedelic or experimental, but more in the rock vein, this is nevertheless a fine album. If you're looking for the "more far out stuff" go and check out his "Indulgence" album below.

In the summer of 2005 "I fired up the (already obsolete) ADAT machine, chose some songs both old and new, and began the joyously painstaking task of recording a solo album. A SOLO album, for I am fully to blame for every instrument and every voice heard upon this recording. A solo ALBUM, because this was conceived as such, not as a serious of unrelated demos or experiments (...)

Please enjoy, and know that though I receive no monetary recompense, the right comment is more precious far than gold.

TECHNICAL NOTE (PLEASE READ): 

While I have prepared a MP3 version of the album for the convenience of those who don't want or aren't familiar with FLAC files, it suffers from the tiny glitches or drop-outs at track endings/beginning so common with crossfaded album encoded as separate MP3s (if there is workaround for this, please let me know (dito - mike-floyd) – I've never heard of one). BAM

The higher quality flac Version is available from Bandcamp:

https://brianandrewmarek.bandcamp.com/album/a-lion-in-the-sun 

Please support the artists and buy their music whenever it's possible. 

(mike-floyd) 

BRIAN ANDREW MAREK - A Lion in the Sun

 (Mp3 version; 2005/2008)

(mp3-zip, 16 tracks, 50 min, 113 MB) 

 Get it HERE. New link 05/2024

Brian Andrew Marek - Indulgence (USA 1993-1998)

I asked for "the weird stuff" and I got it! Thanks BRIAN ANDREW MAREK!

"these tracks are, indeed indulgent. never intended for public consumption, they were compiled in response to a request from the 'homemade lo-fi psych' blog (...). so strap yourself in and prepare for about an hour of epic compositions, goofy experiments, trippy tape tricks, cosmic jamming and some of the worst saxophone playing ever recorded!" (bam, september 2008)

Yeah – great stuff! That's what we want to hear! 

My personal favourite track is probably "The Lion and The Lizard", which reminds me of AMON DÜÜL II (Phallus Dei era)...

BRIAN ANDREW MAREK - Indulgence (1993-98)

(mp3-zip, 8 tracks, 55 min, 125,4 MB)

Get it HERE!

New link 05/2024.

Check out BAM's site here.

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!

RICHARD WRIGHT (PINK FLOYD) R.I.P.

RICHARD WRIGHT, the great PINK FLOYD Keyboarder, died Monday, September 15th 2008 from cancer in the age of 65.

"In my view, all the greatest Pink Floyd moments are the ones where he is in full flow. No-one can replace Richard Wright – he was my musical partner and my friend." (David Gilmour)

Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient of Pink Floyd's sound. He also sang background vocals and occasionally lead vocals on many PF songs, notably "Time", "Wearing The Inside Out", "Echoes" and "Astronomy Domine". Among his finest compositions for PF were "The Great Gig in The Sky", "Us and Them", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond pt. 9", "Summer '68", "Sysyphus" and the forgotten single b-side "Paintbox". 

He also released 2 solo albums, "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996) and a collaboration work with Dave Harris under the name "Zee" (1984).

Wright also played live on the last David Gilmour "On An Island"-Tour, shining brightly especially on "Echoes". – He will be missed!!!

Read more.

Glaze Of Cathexis - Tokyo Rainbow Bridge (JP/USA 2005)

When I started this blog one of the first things I posted were 2 songs by GLAZE OF CATHEXIS (namely "Reduced to Dust" and "Image Of You") from this web-only release. I always thought I posted the complete album, but I was wrong – so here it is for the first time COMPLETE on homemade-lofi-psych:

GLAZE OF CATHEXIS - TOKYO RAINBOW BRIDGE (2005)

(mp3 zip, 10 tracks, 37 min, 67 MB, cover artwork incl.)

Get it here.

I like this record a lot! Some passages remind me of the early 80s german neo psych band THE 39 CLOCKS. Does anybody remember that band? And "Pessimistic Mind" (especially the vocals) reminds me of JULIAN COPE... Not bad at all!

Of course you may check out the other GLAZE OF CATHEXIS albums here on this blog or at the DR.s own blog...
You'll also find the until then unreleased song "Drifting Concepts" on the 2nd Homemade-Lofi-Psych Sampler EMBRYO THOUGHTS. Great song, well worth checking out.

Damaged Tape - Ship of Lights (US 2008)

This is the latest work of Dr. Schluss' electronic music project, DAMAGED TAPE – which is by the same guy who is also responsible for some great neo-Psych music under the name of GLAZE OF CATHEXIS. There's lots of analog synthi/moog sounds to be found here, so if that's your scene, you should really check it out. Not really ambient, more electro pop, but quite relaxing, and never boring – recommended especially for fans of the late 70s french band SPACE.

DAMAGED TAPE - Ship Of Lights (2008)
(mp3-zip, 10 tracks, 49 min, 87,9 MB, artwork incl.)
Get it HERE.

New link 05/2024

Check out Dr. SCHLUSS' blog to read more about his two musical projects and download some more stuff by him. Or just have a look around here - most of his albums are also posted on this little blog here.

Leonel Garcia - Wooden Flower, Water And Air (2004 Puerto Rico, demo version)

As announced: Here it is, the original demo version of "Wooden Flower, Water and Air", recorded by LEONEL GARCIA in 2004. Though the recordings are indeed more "lofi" than the re-recorded versions from 2007 (and some of the playing is a bit sloppy) they have that certain special charme, that only homemade lofi psych recordings have. Something this version of "Wooden Flower..." has in common with most of the recordings of ANYONE'S DREAMCOLOUR or ORANGE, also posted on this blog here – and that often gets lost in "professional" over-produced recordings. Just listen to that gorgeous wah-wah guitar! Great! Nice that we now have both versions to compare them with one another.

LEONEL GARCIA - Wooden Flower, Water and Air 

(2004 Demo version)

(mp3 zip, 54,5 MB, 10 songs, 40 min, cover art incl.)

Get it HERE. New link 05/2024

smart drugs

(Original posting found here: http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html)

Catasto Elettrico - Radio (Mp3 Definitive Version) (IT 2008)

Amazing – those guys keep getting better and better...

Another great work, probably their finest up until now, from our old friends CATASTO ELETTRICO.

Instrumental jazzy psych-prog in Canterbury style of the finest order: a masterpiece.

Grab it! And visit their site!

And don't forget to check out their space-psych monster track, to be found exclusively on the 2nd Homemade-Lofi-Psych Sampler HLFP 02 "EMBRYO THOUGHTS"!

CATASTO ELETTRICO – Radio

(Mp3 Definitive Version)

(mp3 zip, 5 tracks, 46 min, 84,4 MB)

Get it HERE! (Re-up 05/2024)

Brian Andrew Marek - Then! (USA 1988-2005)/The Lair EP (2006-8)

BRIAN ANDREW MAREK sent me those two recordings to post them here. Let's read what he tells us about them:

"My name is Brian Andrew Marek and I am a singer/songwriter/multiinstrumentalist based in St. Louis, MO, USA. My past bands include ANGUS TWEED, ROCKET PARK and BARGAIN BASEMENT, and I am currently focused on a collaboration with my fiance Kate entitled THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY (http://www.myspace.com/tvgp).

Over the years, I've recorded literally hundreds of songs, under humble circumstances, often collecting them on homemade cassettes with titles like "Accept No Imitations", "Footnotes to the Footnotes" and "Fight for Your Right to Be Pouty" to give out to friends. Here are 22 of my favourites.

I have intentionally eschewed (a) cover songs, due to the requirements of the blog, (b) songs that I have rerecorded and released with a band, and (c) recordings by actual bands (although there are a few guest appearances).

Much of the weirder, more experimental stuff was ignored in favor of actual songs, but two of the best instrumental improvisations ("Reginald at the Beach" and "Waterfalls") made the grade.

Enjoy, and if you like what you hear, there's more where it came from! 

Dig my scene at http://www.myspace.com/brianandrewmarek

BaM"

BRIAN ANDREW MAREK - Then! (1988-2005)

(mp3 zip, 174,9 MB, 22 tracks, 79 min, cover art incl.) 

Some more music by Brian Andrew:

"Still more or less lo-fi, these songs were all recorded this year or last, and the overall sound is greatly improved. The nine homerecordings are rounded out with five rare live solo performances, bringing this EP to a respectable album length! Enjoy..." (BaM)

BRIAN ANDREW MAREK - The Lair EP (2006-8)

(mp3 zip, 14 tracks, 93,8 MB, 41 min, cover art incl.)

 

GET 'EM BOTH HERE! (Re-up 05/2024)

I like that kind of stuff – well done homemade recordings, cool songwriting. Both records are well worth hearing, with the first one probably the more "psychedelic" one.

But we surely would also like to hear some more of the weirder and experimental stuff, I guess ... So Brian Andrew, you know what to do...!

More dates for THE RESIDENTS toy show/Steven Cerio signing

STEVEN CERIO sent me an info-mail to announce more dates for THE RESIDENTS toy show: 

"Hey everybody,

I'll be signing "THE RESIDENTS" toys and hanging some prints and originals in DETROIT at LIFT on Sept. 4th and CHICAGO at A.OK OFFICIAL on Sept. 5." 

Check out the poster for details.

So if you are a Resident of Detroit or Chicago don't hesitate to show up!

Look here to find out more about Steven's great psychedelic art!