Wow I'm sick of winter already!

Popol Vuh - Affenstunde (1970)

OK first off I admit I haven't been able to listen to this all the way through - life is too short! The first album from one of the stalwarts of krautrock hasn't aged well, in my humble opinion. What may have seemed experimental and groundbreaking at one time now sounds like some guy (Florian Fricke of course) fiddling around with an old Moog synth. Even the bits that have percussion aren't helped by it. The story goes that Mr. Fricke sold the Moog to Klaus Schultze, who made better use of it. This is just my opinion of course and I offer it because some of you will probably enjoy this. Go for it.

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Sharks - First Water (1973)

First album from this early 70's minor supergroup featured Chris Spedding on guitar, ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser, "Snips" on vocals, and an American, Marty Simon, on drums. Good early 70's blues-based rock, with a Bad Company/Free/Mott The Hoople vibe. Unfortunately there was no hit on this, and the cover art was pretty lame, so it probably didn't sell too well - Fraser left the band shortly after it was released. Spedding's guitar parts are brilliant, what a great player.

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Salem Mass - Witch Burning (1971)

In 1971 four guys from southwest Idaho (!) made an album that will appeal to almost any fan of early 70's hard rock. These guys were terrific musicians and the keyboard player really knew what to do with that Moog! The guitar bits are great. Not as 'dark' as the title might suggest though the material is fairly dark and brooding. Great vocals, except maybe on the title track, but they seem to fit the music. Even the slower more melodic material is very appealing. Great garagey 70's hard rock.

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Ten Wheel Drive - Construction No. 1 (1969)

Ten Wheel Drive were a great jazzy rock band fronted by a female singer, Genya Ravan, who sounded something like Janis Joplin. The band was tight, the arrangements were great, and they made some real gutsy rock and roll. They rocked way harder that better known similar groups like Chicago or Blood Sweat and Tears, it's a shame their music seems to have been forgotten.

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Tyburn Tall - Tyburn Tall (1972)

Tyburn Tall was a fieve piece band from Speyer, Germany, who played varied styles of progressive rock - sometimes jazzy/bluesy, classical-sounding, sometimes heavy and complex, sometimes atmospheric. Keyboard based material with a guitarist who is no slouch. Mostly long tracks over ten minutes, with some interplay between the keyboards and the guitar that is very cool. Two bonus tracks are Colosseum covers.

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See ya!