The Gladiators - Trenchtown Mix Up (1976)

So, I went to Sweden: Stockholm and Göteborg for a week. That's why I kind of disappeared. But here I am, I am appearing again. Let's move on with a very fine roots reggae album, that is quite well-known in the reggae scene, but therefore still too unknown off course, because reggae albums don't quite surface outside the reggae field. I will post some more obscure albums in the upcoming weeks, because that was what I wanted to do with this summer, but I love this album so much at the moment, that the only thing I can do is just post it.

Very, very high quality reggae, definitely one of the four or five real reggae classics, besides Bob Marley. The others being Marcus Garvey by Burning Spear (already posted), Satta Massagana by the Abyssinians (stay tuned), and Right Time by the Mighty Diamonds (I think I've posted it). Enjoy this album, because most of the time I post more unknown reggae, but one has to know where to got it from as well! Also: listen to Thief in the Night, at the moment my favourite reggae tune.

thief in the night
256kbps

Sugar Minott - Showcase (1977)

Almost all of the reggae records that I know of (with the exception of Ijahman) have 10 or sometimes 11 or 12 songs on it. This one only has 6, but still takes up a half hour. On this record are some longer versions of classics like 'Roof over my Head' and they are all six really nice, smooth and loungy. I don't like that the name Sugar Minott isn't integrated more into the reggae library of nowadays, so let me put him back into it.

His vocals just seem very effortless, that's what struck me about this record. It all seems very natural and fluid. Beautiful dozing reggae record.

guidance
VBR

Congress-Woman Malinda Jackson Parker - Tubman Goodtype Songs of Liberia (1971)

This EP came out from the leftfield when I discovered it. Where the hell did this come from, was the only coherent thought that crossed my mind. So what we have here, is a former congress-member from Liberia, sitting behind a piano, performing songs for half an hour. Not always in tune, not always playing the piano in a perfect way, but always intriguing. She is one of these outsider artists, that can't be compared to any other artist at all. I know that that's basically the deal with outsider art, but I guess this woman is an exception in every way.

Stunningly unknown off course, because the commercial value of this record is as important nowadays as the karaoke fitness record by Hulk Hogan (which I in fact own, requests are welcome).

bush cow milk
320kbps

Le Nimba De N' Zerekore - Gon Bia Bia (1980)

I was going to start delving into obscurity by posting an album by the Argentinian folk singer Atahualpa Yupanqui, because I have an album of his that I have enjoyed thoroughly for the last few years. I noticed that I only had a 128-copy of it though, and as I'm trying to keep this blog free of bad quality copies (although it doesn't really matter in these cases: most of these are vinyl rips anyway), a moral dilemma occurred and I have decided to share this fantastic African group from Guinea.

Their music is, as you will expect, very rhythmical and just plain funky. I hear some Caribbean influences as well, it sounds familiar to the calypso at times. Very enjoyable, and totally unknown.

gon bia bia
VBR

Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head (1971)

Yesterday I said that I would be posting less albums in the coming months, and I still think that this will happen, but I had a daydream today and it told me that I have to focus more on albums that are so extremely obscure that they don't get no attention at all at the moment, whereas the most albums I post at the moment are mainly albums that are great, but don't get enough attention. So that's what I'm going to do the next few weeks. But before I do so, I just want to sneak in this fan-tas-tic album by the Flamin' Groovies. They were an early garage rock band from San Fransisco, but who had the same snarl as punk had ten year later.

The vocalist also reminds me a lot of Beefheart, as does the bottleneck guitar. They were a rougher version of the Stones, and at times they actually beat Sticky Fingers. Mick Jagger admitted.

high flyin' baby
192kbps

Yabby You - Conquering Lion (1975)

Sweat is pouring off my face as I write these words. Summer has officially begun in Amsterdam. I feel that the time has come for you to listen to all the music I've posted, instead of having to download new one's every day. Therefor I hope everyone will not be surprised that I'll take it easy in the summer time. Two or three albums a week will be the maximum up until August, so please enjoy everything that I've posted so far and keep discovering new artists in the time I that I am going slow with this blog.

Here is one of the greatest reggae performers, who passed away this January. This is his best album and the man is called Yabby You. His songs are great and his place in reggae is important, though underrated. And remember: I will be back, probably even this week, but not as frequent as you're used to. But I will be again.

conquering lion
192kbps

Angry Samoans - Back From Samoa (1982)

As a connaiseur of hardcore punk from the United States, I can say that the Angry Samoans weren't among the most 'scene' bands around. Nor were they the most 'hardcore' band ever. But they definitely were one of the most fun bands around, although I wasn't there: I know it. The music is, although extremely tight, very funny. They hit the nail on the head with this album, and that makes it among my favourite hardcore releases (I have to admit that this list is long).

They Saved Hitlers Cock may well be one of the funniest song titles in hardcore and Anal Cunt has had a hard time to beat that funny title.

gas chamber
192kbps

Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra (1972)

This album is so mesmerizingly beautiful, the music it contains so sacred, that it often makes me think that higher spirits do exist. This music sounds like if it was made by angels, especially the second part of Kyrie, the second song. Popol Vuh is considered among the best krautrock-bands, although they don't have much in common with the other bands in the genre. But that was the nice thing of krautrock: it doesn't sound like anything, it's just a bunch of amazing bands from Germany. Damn the Brits who dared to call it krautrock.

Popol Vuh makes ethereal music and they composed the soundtracks for the best movies of Werner Herzog (such as Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes, probably my favourite film of all time), and they did it like no one would ever be capable of. The music fits the movies so intensely, that it seems like it's part of the Amazon rain forest, where Aguirre was shot. Go see that movie by the way!

hosianna mantra
VBR

Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star (1973)

Ignore the ridiculously out-of-fashion album cover. Why is there a third ear coming out of the right eye of Todd, I hear you ask. Well, I have in fact no idea. So leave that stupid album cover be. It's the music that I want to talk about here. Something/Anything? may be has masterpiece, purely looking at the length of the piece, but A Wizard, A True Star is better. It is in fact an experience that you will never forget if your ears allow you to enjoy it to the fullest.

It has in fact everything: Spectorian wall-of-sound space pop, dizzying electronic experiments, heavy metal snippets, goofy novelty tunes, a sixty-five second vaudevillian number, an avant-garde noise piece, and last, but definitely not least: a ten minute medley belter consisting of doo-wop and soul classics. If I haven't convinced you by now, please leave this blog alone.

when the shit hits the fan
192kbps

Bernard Fevre - The Strange World Of Bernard Fevre (1975)

If I haven't told you about Library Music yet, I will do it now quick. I have been listening to this music a lot and what is, is this: it's music made by guys like Bernard Fevre and the rights of this music aren't owned by the composers, but by music libraries and the music is most often used for soundtrack purposes.

Bernard Fevre's world isn't strange at all: it's incredible. He creates a world consisting of 23 minutes of the purest melodies ever created on synthesizers. Take a song like Molecule Dance, this could well have been something Daft Punk builds their career upon. Absolutely essential listen.

cosmic rays
192kbps