A little bit of everything again this week -

Wolfgang Bock - Cycles (1980)

If Klaus Schulze, who produced this, had an energetic young brother who made similar music, it could be Wolfgang Bock. While Bock went on to make music for Sky much later, he created this extraordinary electronic rock album in the late 70s that stands up well next to any of the giants. Cycles includes two side long pieces, the title track and the second of which is broken down into three parts, "Robsai" parts I and II and "Changes." The similarities with Schulze's 1976 album Moondawn are immense.

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John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - Bluesbreaking!

This great sounding bootleg has all the material that is known to exist of the version of the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton on guitar. Besides the official album of course. BBC sessions, concert recordings, an Immediate Records single, and a track from a 1968 sampler album. 20 tracks in all.

Part 1 Part 2

Cluster - Zuckerzeit (1974)

Roedelius and Moebius teamed up with producers Michael Rother and Conrad Plank to make this essential album of krautrock electronica. Ten tracks featuring complex rhythms - warm, subtle, and relaxing, though this is not "New Age" music! Sometimes a little weird - in a good way.

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Jodo - 'Guts' (1971)

British group Jodo had only this one album, and it was released in the USA only, to be largely ignored by record buyers. This is great, fuzzed-out, blues based hard rock. If you dig bands like Black Cat Bones and Leaf Hound, you will really like this! Great cover too.

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Dzyan - Dzyan (1972)

Formed in Mannheim in 1971, Dzyan were typically eclectic for a band from Southern Germany. In fact Dzyan were always a hard band to pin down, as each album they released was quite different. The original quintet on their debut album 'Dzyan' played a jazzy form of rock, with hints of Wolfgang Dauner, flashes of Zappa's 'Hot Rats' and even some Van Der Graaf Generator styled sax-fronted diversions. All this leads to a weird hodge-podge, punctuated by strange gothic songs and experimentation with electronic effects. (The Crack In The Cosmic Egg)

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Box Of Frogs - Box Of Frogs (1984)

Great blues based melodic hard rock featuring guitarist Chris Dreja, bass player Paul Samwell-Smith and drummer Jim McCarty, founding members of the Yardbirds. With John Fiddler of Medicine Head on vocals and guest player on some tracks Jeff Beck.

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Embryo - Opal (1970)

Literally the birthplace of a new type of fusion, Embryo had their roots in the very fertile Munich late-60's scene. Formed in 1969 by percussionist Christian Burchard (after leaving Amon Düül II) along with other like-minded former jazz and underground musicians, the idea of Embryo was to work collectively, intuitively, and let the music evolve on its own. Early pioneering improvised sessions can now be heard on the CD reissue of their debut OPAL (with Lothar Meid on bass) which take a jazzy twist on the improvised Ash Ra Tempel or Amon Düül II type sound, freaky and inventive in the extreme. (The Crack In The Cosmic Egg)

Part 1 Part 2

Satin Whale - Desert Places (1974)

A late addition to the first wave of Krautrock, Satin Whale were influenced by many of the bands that had preceded them: Jane, Sahara, Os Mundi, et al., blending powerful rock ballads with dramatic instrumentals that featured classical and jazz elements, and a notable comparison with Camel in the use of keyboards and flute. Their debut on Brain featured lengthy tracks with surging instrumentals and quite an individual song style. (The Crack In The Cosmic Egg)

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Alright that's it for now!