Ahvak - Ahvak (2004)

An extraordinary band from Israel playing an equally extraordinary ominously dark and forboding RIO in the "Univers Zero" and "King Crimson" mould.

Electrifying and devastating RIO at it's best which mesmerizes with it's cutting edge blend of avant/progressive/world/ electric chamber music. Definitely on the darker side but occasionally lighter elements do creep in. Everything besides though, what you get is not only fantastic and awe inspiring music but also a very fine recording to compliment the superlative musicianship.

I hadn't heard this album or indeed of 'Ahvak' until just recently, and i have to say it blew me away completely.

Favourite track is "Hamef Ahakim" which is so much at times like "Univers Zero" from there "Heatwave" "Heresie" album. Very powerfull and imaginitive complexities with lots of sinewy electric guitar, winds, and tense atmosphere with bizzare sounds creeping in and out of the mix while a ghostly piano or organ plays in the foggy distance.The outro is cacophonous RIO in all it's splendour. Wonderful stuff!

So if your a fan of the aforementioned bands, especially "Univers Zero" and also "Present" " Shub Niggurath" and "Art Zoyd" "King Crimson" then this is a must have for sure. An EXTREMELY impressive album which in my opinion excells much of "Univers Zero's" latest material and is one of the few albums i have come across recently which has really made such an impression since the aforementioned bands. A classic!

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Vivisektia (8:30)
2. Bherta (8:25)
3. Regaim (2:41)
4. Ahvak (16:21)
5. Melet (2:53)
6. Hamef Ahakim (13:32)
7. Pirzool (0:58)

Total Time: 53:20

Line-up / Musicians

- Yehuda Kollon / guitars
- Ishay Sommer bass
- Udi Susser / keyboards, woodwinds, vocals, baglama, darbooka
- Roy Yarkoni / keyboards, piano
- Dave Kerman / drums, percussion
- Udi Koomran / computer

Ahvak - Bherta

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Zann - Strange Ways - Inside Jungle (1990)

An obscure but excellent german band whose music fits perfectly into the progressive world music category.

Most pieces are highly percussive and melodic with a variety of instruments from flute/ sax to darabukka and xylophone.

There's also some nice RIO styled tracks and on occasion i'm reminded of some "Okay Temiz" and the spacier " Steve Joliffe".

All in all a very fine hard to find album which has an excellent memorable variety of well played and composed tracks.

1 Tatopane
2 Caravan
3 Song for WuLung
4 Tibetan Bread
5 Kin Hin
6 Gayas Gone
7 Sevda Yolu
8 Aum

Dzyan - Time Machine (1973)

Although "Eectric silence" is usually considered "Dzyans" progressive krautrock masterpiece, i have to disagree personally. Of there 3 albums i rank "Time Machine" as there best. This to me sounds the most professional and is riveting stuff right from the start as we dive into the delights of the lengthy first track "Kabisrain". No real melodies or structure as such here, and definitely an indian / eastern influence pervades. One could say this track is quite dissonant and atonal , yet it flows superbly with it's strange melange of keyboards, guitars and drums / percussives.

"Majika" is different and more in the jazz/rock "Mahavishnu Orchestra" style, but more avant with fiery guitar and lots of complexitires. I'm also reminded of some "Terje Rypdal" in places and to a lesser extent some " King Crimson".

"Light shining out of darkness" is much lighter in mood with lots of acoustic guitar and once again recalls "Mahavishnu Orchestra"

"Time Machine" is the real tour deforce of this album. Beginning with lightning speed guitar and pyrotechnics galore we then shift moods into a more melancholic section and back again. Superb guitarwork throughout this piece with drums and bass battling it out is quite spectacular. If you love "Mahavishnu Orchestra" or "Terje Rypdals" "Odyssey" album then your in for a treat here! 17 minutes of it!!
A classic album!
Time Machine

Studio Album, released in 1973

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Kabisrain (7:59)
2. Magika (8:45)
3. Light shining out of darkness (3:13)
4. Time machine (17:47)

Total Time: 37:44
Line-up / Musicians

- Peter Giger / drums, percussion
- Reinhard Karwatky / bass, keyboards
- Eddy Marron / guitar, sitar, saxophone

Dzyan - 04 - Khali from "Electric Silence"

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Okay Temiz - Fish Market ( 1995 )

Okay Temiz is one of the most famous Turkish jazz percussionists. Besides releasing solo albums with many excellent guest musicians he also formed ' Oriental Wind '.

A fine east west fusion crossover is at the heart of Temiz's music. Resplendant with percussives and full on exotic flavors with all manner of world jazz twists.

If you are new to the music of ' Okay Temiz' Fishmarket is a great place to start. There's some amazing tracks in here!

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Track Listing

1 Düm düm tek 4:42

2 Nightmare 2:57

3 Ozone Hole 3:15

4 Zig Zag 4:13

5 Tic Tac 3:55

6 Hopscotch 3:45

7 Fishmarket 6:46

8 Düm Düme 4:39

9 Koca Arap 2:33

10 Horsetail 4:58

11 Ikili 3:35

12 Under Rainbow 3.21

13 Last Breath 4:55

14 The Lay 4.22

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Otto Bekker - Sitar & Electronics( 1971 )

Quite a lovely little album this from 1971 which is a sitar fronted psychedelic Krautrock affair. On some tracks there's a little Kraan similarity and even some Bo Hanson / Kebnakaise maybe..

Another pretty obscure album which i find most enjoyable with it's varied mix of rock and exotic sounds . Often very melodic and whimsical yet the next freaked out and rocking with fuzzed guitars and flute etc.- which is all very well played. by the way.

Well worth checking out then if you like some indian influences and more besides, mixed with your melodic raga/ krautrock..

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Simon Alcott/moog synthesizer

Okko Bekker/sitar,tabla,moog synthesizer

Herb Geller/flute

Peter Hesslein/guitar

1.A day in the life(4:44)

2.Ganges Delta(3:15)

3.Himalaya highway(4:28)

4.East Indian traffic(4:10)

5.If I needed someone(3:07)

6.Shivas lullaby(3:28)

7.Pointed sails on Ganges(6:30)

8.Santana(4:02)

Total Time:33:04