Osanna - L' Uoma (1971)

One of the finest of early 70's italian progressive rock bands. There first three albums are generally regarded as masterpieces, including the one here.

If your after a heavy rock music which is spacey and jazzy then "L' Uoma" will be right up your alley. This is probably my favourite album of there's and really is top notch. With it's excellent complex passages of flute and guitar interplay this really dazzles and delights from start to finish. The vocals are a treat too. On every listen there seems something different to hear which keeps everything fresh and alive.

Although "Palepoli" is mostly considered "Osannas" finest album, this one is a gem not to be missed. I often wonder why this band did not make it internationally, perhaps like "Grobschcnitt" they were a little too eccentric, diverse and out there for most peoples tastes maybe.

To sum up - a fantastic album!



Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Introduzione (3:26)
2. L'uomo (3:34)
3. Mirror Train (4:56)
4. Non sei vissuto mai (6:00)
5. Vado verso una meta (3:15)
6. In un vecchio cieco (3:31)
7. L'amore vincerà di nuovo (6:13)
8. Everybody's Gonna See You Die (3:04)
9. Lady Power (3:56)


Total time: 37:57

Line-up / Musicians - Elio D'anna / flute, piccolo, tenor sax, baritone sax
- Lino Vairetti / vocals, 12 string guitar, harmonica, Hammond organ, synthesizer
- Danilo Rustici / lead guitar, 12 string guitar, pipe organ, electronics
- Lello Brandi / bass
- Massimo Guarino / drums, percussio

Osanna -L'uomo-

Shub Niggurath - Les Morts Von Vite (1986)

Formed in France in 1983 " Shub Niggurath" play a very dark and brooding zeuhl, experimental music. With an operatic female vocalist and (unusually) trombone we know we are in for something a little different. One can hear elements of "Univers Zero" "Present" and at times "King Crimson" especially the frippian guitar.

A very interesting and intensely arresting album which will almost definitey please "Magma" fans and the above mentioned bands.With tracks like "Yog Sothoth" there's clearly musical interpretations of "H.P Lovecraft " works.

An aquired taste maybe and not an easy listen for sure. The vocals may not be to everyones taste and to me are not as appealing as say "Stella Vanders". Great album though and very forbodingly atmospheric!

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Incipit Tragaedia (15:46)
2. Cabine 67 (5:55)
3. Yog Sothoth (12:27)
4. La Ballade De Lénore (8:58)
5. Delear Prius (4:03)
6. J'ai Vu Naguère En Peinture Les Harpies Ravissant Le Repas De Phynée (4:19)

Total time 51:28

(These are the real track times; the cover of the CD indicates other track lengths, but they are incorrect.)
Line-up / Musicians

- Alain Ballaud / bass
- Franck Coulaud / drums
- Franck W. Fromy / guitar
- Jean-Luc Herve / piano, organ and harmonium
- Ann Stewart / voice
- Véronique Verdier / trombone
- Michel Kervinio / drums and percussion

Art Zoyd - Haxan ( 1997 )

Although Art Zoyd still survives today, it's main composer, "Thierry Zaboitzeff" is now sadly missing from the ranks ( his solo works though are awesome ) . For me, at least, it was always his compositions which stood out, and no less so as on the conceptual Haxan. Haxan by the way is a rather obscure Danish silent movie from 1922 which deals with witches and the occult. For more info click here.

"Haxan" begins with an excellent long piece by Gerard Hourbette, but as ever Thierry Zaboitzeffs stuff is the most outstanding. As always this is adventurous and rhythmic / classical / progressive Zeuhl styled music at it's best, with lashings of atmosphere and rather strange vocals to say the least. In fact what we have is about 10 steps on from "Magma" "Present" and " Univers Zero" no less. Highly sampled mostly but totally captivating for sure.

"Haxan" Like there " Nosferatu" soundtrack is another first rate example of there music.

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Glissements Progressifs du Plaisir (extraits) (30:42)

- Ubik 1 / Ubik 2 / Ubik 3 / Allez à des moines/ Drama / Ralentando / Ubik 7

2. Nuits (7:26)

3. Häxan Phi (5:37)

4. Häxan Xi (2:10)

5. Häxan Psi (4:25)

6. Epreuves d'Acier (17:57)

7. Marche (3:45)

Total Time: 72:02

Line-up / Musicians

- Patricia Dallio / keyboards, samplers

- Daniel Denis / percussion, keyboards, samplers

- Gérard Hourbette / keyboards, percussion, samplers

- Thierry Zaboitzeff / cello, bass guitar, vocals, keyboards, samplers, percussion

Download Mp3