We're a TINY cottage industry store that wants to share the best psychedelic music in the world with you.
We're an offshoot of THE ACTIVE LISTENER blog - and you'll find plenty of the sorts of music we cover there in the store here.
I only have one copy of most titles available, so first in first served.
Please note that a number of local suppliers do not supply shrink wrapped titles so most of these new titles will not be sealed. Some new titles are ex-shop stock so may have very light traces of shelfwear.
All used titles are in good condition - many could pass for new.
To place an order, please e-mail me at theactivelistener@hotmail.com with your postal address and titles to order and I'll send through a paypal invoice. Postage rates at bottom of page.
ALL PRICES ARE IN U.S DOLLARS.
Apollo Sunshine - Katonah (Used CD) $7
Recorded in a barn that the bandmembers themselves converted into a studio, Katonah is both a collection of tight, quirky, hook-ridden songs and an ambitious concept piece, unified not so much by any single idea as by a ceaseless gush of eager creativity. In fact, the album consists of a thousand fragments -- bursts of harmony, blasts of furious rhythm, loopy interpolations, screeching guitars that can, in a single solo during "Conscious Pilot," echo both Jimmy Page and the Allman Brothers, all arranged as if picked up at random by spinning some sort of time-machine radio dial through broadcasts dating back to the '60s and up through tomorrow too. Yet it all hangs together, in part because of an uncanny ability to match appropriate sound to content, as in the ungodly racket that evokes a drunken party in "Sheets With Stars." More important is the consistency of tone that the lyrics achieve, like journal entries about life in some slightly surreal suburb. Family events, personal milestones, and cataclysm jumble together, much as they would in a teenager's diary; "Happening," a brilliantly horrifying chronicle of the 9/11 disasters, manages to make note of how it ultimately confirmed Mom's advice on how it's good to watch TV "so we can be more aware." Katonah ultimately is about finding order -- no, beauty -- in chaos, using music as well as words to make the point, a far greater accomplishment than most artists can envision.
CD reissue features first two albums from this legendary NZ psychedelic band and bonus tracks. 26 Tracks!
Everyone's Gonna Wonder , Morning Dew , What Price Love , Summer Set Morning , Flower Girl , Only Once In My Lifetime , Night Time , Water Pipe , Rosie , Take My Hand , 1941 , Love Hate Revenge , Fisherwoman , Midnight Visitation , You Better Come Home , Night In The City , Days of Pearly Spencer , Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind , You Don't Understand , Only Last Year , Sunshine Lady , Sally , September Winds , Daniel The Postman , Hush (Live At Ali Babas - November '68) , Xmas Fan Club Message
David Axelrod is a man beloved of beat-diggers everywhere. DJ Shadow swears by Axelrod's epic arrangements, and Dr Dre (amongst many others) has sampled the essence of the funk bounce that lace his productions. This intellectual hipster founded the black music department at Capitol Records in the 1960s and did production work for Cannonball Adderley, Lou Rawls, Electric Prunes and Man From Uncle's David McCallum. This, Axelrod's first solo album for Capitol in 1968, was inspired by the visions of 18th-century British mystic, poet and painter, William Blake, and (along with it's sister album, Songs Of Experience) is classic Axelrod. Majestic in its gothic vision, the record is formed around a cohesive "suite" of seven songs that unselfconsciously marries jazz cool and prog virtuosity to classical elegance. This is music with a sense of higher purpose, striving to reveal some kind of truth.
David Axelrod - Songs of Experience (New CD) $12The follow-up to Axelrod's Song Of Innocence also takes its cue from the visions of William Blake, with a similar mix of classical, jazz and funk instrumentation. But, unlike its predecessor, this record carries an undercurrent of melancholic menace. On "The Poison Tree" a shrieking violin suddenly spits through the blanket of feel-good rhythms, while "Little Girl Lost" cries out plaintively with a naive harpsichord melody. "London" opens with a low-end bass smog that lifts at the call of a modish organ to reveal a 1960s hipster spirit with a restless heart. Led by a yearning acoustic guitar riff, "The School Boy" wallows in nostalgia. "The Human Abstract" and "The Fly" return to Axelrod's supercool, prog-jazz signature with amped breaks that ache to be jacked by sample hunter/gatherers. The album ends on an unsettling note with held high notes and strings that pace around like a predator waiting to pounce as Axelrod ponders "The Divine Image". And from the sound of it, he doesn't like what he sees.
Led by Portishead protagonist Geoff Barrow
In the ensuing krautrock-indebted atmosphere, Bristol and the surrounding district is very much the thematic influence, the opening three tracks named after areas in the locality (all, unsurprisingly, within striking distance of Barrow’s prior muse, Somerset town Portishead).
That aforementioned trio set the album’s tone perfectly, too. Backwell builds from ghostly nothings into a march that German pioneers Neu! would be proud to call their own. Pill pivots off similar repetitious mantras, while Ham Green is a giant on the landscape, patient background vocalisations eventually buried beneath stoner-sized bass fuzz.
Very hard to find album by a German rock band so good that Opeth named an album after them. Check out their hard rock version of the Beatles' "For No One" . Sensational.
01. Mental Block (03:18) 02. Roundabout (05:45) 03. One's Life (03:03) 04. Indian Summer (06:10) 05. Dirty Face (04:25) 06. Rock Song (08:45) 07. For No one (03:25)
Occult rock classic featuring "Come To The Sabbat".
1. In Ancient Days 2. Way to Power 3. Come to the Sabbat 4. Conjuration 5. Seduction 6. Attack of the Demon 7. Sacrifice
Digipack Repertoire reissue with 11 bonus tracks.
1. Pipe Dream 2. There's A Chance We Can Make It 3. Life Is Just A Cher O'Bowlies 4. Gloria 5. Intermission 6. Albert Common Is Dead 7. Summer Is The Man 8. Baby, I Want You 9. Let's Get Together 10. Take My Love 11. Rush Hour 12. That's All Folks 13. So I'm Wrong And You Are Right (Bonus Track) 14. The People Had No Faces (Bonus Track) 15. Pipe Dream (Bonus Track) 16. There's A Chance We Can Make It (Bonus Track) 17. One By One (Bonus Track) 18. Dante's Inferno (Bonus Track) 19. Summer Is The Man (Bonus Track) 20. Life Is Just A Cher O'Bowlies (Bonus Track) 21. Jingle Bells (Bonus Track) 22. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Bonus Track) 23. So I'm Wrong And You Are Right (Alternative Stereo Mix) (Bonus Track)
Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm (New CD) $12Fabulous 20 track best of from the U.K's answer to the Band, featuring Nick Lowe.
1.Country Girl 03:09 2.Surrender To The Rhythm 03:25 3.Happy Doing What We're Doing 04:45 4.The Ugly Things 02:49 5.Don't Loose Your Grip On Love 04:26 6.Last Time I Was Fooled 04:04 7.Silver Pistol 03:35 8.Nightingale 03:08 9.Trying To Live My Life Without You 03:24 10.Ever Since You're Gone 04:08 11.Nervous On The Road (BUT CAN'T STAY AT HOME) 04:59 12.I Like It Like That 03:06 13.Down In Mexico 03:47 14.I Worry ('BOUT YOU BABY) 02:56 15.Play That Fast Thing (ONE MORE TIME) 04:26 16.The Look That's In Your Eye Tonight 04:14 17.Ju Ju Man 03:37 18.Down In The Dive 04:53 19.Home In My Hand (LIVE) 04:42 20.Peace, Love And Understanding (WHAT'S SO FUNNY '… 03:32
Lovely digipack reissue from Repertoire with 5 bonus tracks.
1. Monterey 2. Just the Thought 3. Closer to the Truth 4. No Self Pity 5. Orange and Red Beams 6. Sky Pilot 7. We Love You Lil 8. All Is One 9. Sky Pilot, Part 1 (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 10. Sky Pilot, Part 2 (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 11. Monterey (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 12. Anything (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 13. It's All Meat (Mono Single Version) (Bonus Track)
Calibro 35 - Any Resemblance To Real Persons or Actual Facts is Purely Coincidental (New CD) $13“From Milan, Italy, Calibro 35 plays brassy jazz and funk inspired by soundtracks to Italian crime cinema of the ’70s… served with spirit as well as technical competency… a blast in a live setting” -- WALL STREET JOURNAL "Italian soundtrack funk that sounds like Goblin recording at Stax!" -- Wax Poetics Magazine
The follow up to 2005 s Under The Skylon but musically in the same vein as their 2002 classic Nuada. Oxengate sees Candidate collaborating with musicians ranging from long-time Beth Gibbons collaborator Jason Hazeley to Broken Family Band mainman Steven Adams.
Chad & Jeremy - Painted Dayglow Smile (Used CD) $8 Deletion hole in barcode.
Excellent collection of Chad & Jeremy's more psychedelic output for Columbia. Now out of print and very hard to find. 20 tracks.
1 Sunrise (Turn On) 2 Rise And Fall 3 Streaks And Flashes 4 Elevator Ride 5 Up And Down 6 Inside Looking Out 7 Spanish Sun 8 Outtasite! 9 Stayed Too Long 10 Gone 11 Yesterday's Sorrows 12 Dawn
1 I Don't Understand 2 Running Through My Nightmares 3 Somewhere Nowhere 4 Trip Through Tomorrow 5 Transparent Life 6 Death Is The Only Real Thing 7 Disconnection 8 Stems And Flowers 9 Flashback 10 Memos From Purgatory 11 Mystery Trip 12 Non-Entity 13 Endless Circles 14 The Fading Of My Mind
Flying Nun.
Hard to find compilation of the very best of the Chills work.
1. Heavenly Pop Hit 2. I Love My Leather Jacket 3. Doledrums 4. Double Summer 5. Oncoming Day 6. Rolling Moon 7. I'll Only See You Alone Again 8. Never Never Go 9. Wet Blanket 10. Pink Frost 11. Kaleidoscope World 12. Look For The Good In Others 13. House With A Hundred Rooms 14. Part Past Part Fiction 15. Male Monster From The ID 16. This Is The Way
The Chills - Submarine Bells (New CD) $14 Flying Nun
1. Heavenly Pop Hit 2. Tied Up In Chain 3. The Oncoming Day 4. Part Past Part Fiction 5. Singing In My Sleep 6. I Soar 7. Dead Web 8. Familiarity Breeds Contempt 9. Don't Be - Memory 10. Effloresce And Deliquesce 11. Sweet Times 12. Submarine Bells
1. The Magic in You 2. I Swim in You 3. Cool Water 4. Fruit on the Vine 5. Tail End of a Dream 6. Guruji 7. Red Line 8. Skin of the Ocean 9. Deep in the Ocean 10. Monolith 11. Ruby 12. Night Logic In the 35 years or so since George Harrison began incorporating elements of classical Indian music to western pop songs there have been very few groups to carry the torch, mostly due to the subtlety of Indian music and the deep understanding necessary to pull it off. Chris Rael of Church of Betty has this understanding, having spent time traveling and making field recordings in India and Nepal, as well as studying sitar and classical vocal music in India. That being said, make no mistake, this is a rock album. The tunes all belong to the pop song form, but are never far from a classical Indian melodic sensibility. The way Rael uses Hindustani singing techniques and melodies so effortlessly is really quite amazing. Although sitar and tabla lead some of the songs, others, like "Fruit on the Vine," are more grounded in western instrumentation. Even so, there are melodic flourishes that clearly point to India. When Indian instruments come to the forefront, they are fully incorporated and integral to the music, not merely exotic trappings. A string section is tastefully employed on several tracks, adding an understated lush quality. The lyrics are generally optimistic, celebrating life and natural beauty in a way that never seems sappy or overtly hippie-psychedelic. In the end, dissection and analysis are almost a disservice to Church of Betty; so complete is their vision. This is a true East-West fusion of the highest order. ~ Sean Westergaard Church Of Betty is a New York City band that incorporates the best elements of prog-rock, psych, and rhythm driven Indian classical music. Comparisons to artists ranging from XTC to Todd Rundgren have been bandied about.
Colours - Love Heals - The Complete Recordings (New CD) $14 Great collection on Now Sounds from this excellent psych pop band with HUGE Beatles leanings. Both albums plus bonus tracks on One CD. 28 Tracks.
1. Bad Day At Black Rock Baby 2. Love Heals 3. Helping You Out 4. Where Is She 5. Rather Be Me 6. I'm Leaving 7. Brother Lou's Love Colony 8. I Think Of Her (She's On My Mind) 9. Lovin' 10. Cataleptic 11. Don't You Realize 12. Tomorrow's Women - Dalton & Montgomery 13. All At Once - Dalton & Montgomery 14. Right Or Wrong - Dalton & Montgomery 15. She'll Be The One - Dalton & Montgomery 16. She Just Wanted Kisses - Dalton & Montgomery 17. Angie 18. God Please Take My Life 19. When Will You Be Coming Home 20. I Tried To Make You Love Me Last Night 21. Grey Day 22. Smilin' In Toronto 23. Hyannis Port Soul (Lost You To The Wind) 24. Run Away From Here 25. It's Time To Tell You 26. Announcement 27. I'll Be Your Friend 28. You're High
Excellent 25 track best of on Repertoire.
1. Bony Moronie 2. Uncle Bert 3. Life Is Just The Beginning 4. How Does It Feel To Feel 5. Mercy Mercy Mercy 6. The Girls Are Naked 7. For All That I Am 8. Midway Down 9. Tom Tom 10. Cool Jerk 11. Painter Man 12. Making Time 13. Hey Joe 14. Like A Rolling Stone 15. Can I Join Your Band 16. Sylvette 17. Biff, Bang, Pow 18. Nightmares 19. Can I Join Your Band 20. Life Is Just A Beginning 21. How Does It Feel To Feel 22. Rock Around The Clock 23. Slow Down 24. Crazy Country Hop 25. Try It Baby
Darkside - Melomania (Used CD) $7 Great early nineties psychedelia.
1. Always Pleasure 2. Feeling Flow 3. Tornado 4. This Mystic Morning 5. Someday 6. Are You For Real 7. 24 Hours 8. Cry For Me 9. Rise
DEAN ALLEN FOYD is a Stockholm based psychedelic band with a wide range of music styles. Everything from garage, delta blues, folk and space-rock can be heard in their music. Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, Arthur Lee's Love and Captain Beefheart can be easily picked as some of their influences but at the same time the band takes a step forward into making their sound modern and updated with the present times. The Sounds Can Be So Cruel is an album presenting nine ingeniously composed songs with elements of, aside from the obvious ones, theremin, strings, slide and flute for instance. The music is packaged neatly and matching along with an equally attractive as bold cover.
1 Please Pleaze Me 07:30 2 Lovely Sort of Death 03:58 3 She's So Blue 04:58 4 Revelation Blues 05:18 5 Queen Machine 04:40 6 Steady Rollin' Man 02:25 7 Into The Pearly Gates 04:02 8 The New Dawn 05:27 9 Witches 05:00
Bob Downes - Deep Down & Heavy (New CD) $12 ESOTERIC RECORDINGS are proud to announce the first official release of the classic 1970 album by BOB DOWNES Deep Down Heavy . Celebrated Jazz saxophonist and flautist BOB DOWNES album first appeared on EMI s budget MFP label, arguably the only Progressive Jazz album ever issued by the label. The work was a collaboration with lyricist Robert Cockburn and was an outstanding eccentric example of Jazz Rock with Progressive and even Psychedelic influences. The music and songs featured contributions from the leading lights of British Jazz Rock such as CHRIS SPEDDING, RAY RUSSELL and ALAN RUSHTON, interspersed with poetry by Robert Cockburn (recorded on location on London buses and Underground trains). The jazz groove of the music was present on tracks such as Walking On , Don t Let Tomorrow Get You Down and Poplar Cheam , leading the album to be sampled three decades later by DJs and Mixers. Remastered from the original master tapes, this Esoteric Recordings reissue is long overdue. The time is right to rediscover the open music of Deep Down Heavy , one of THE lost treasures of the Progressive and Psychedelic era.
Gear Fab reissue of this excellent heavy psych album.
Dungen sound like they've somehow been directly transported from 1968 to the present. Maybe it's their vintage equipment, or maybe it's the fact that most listeners probably haven't heard much Swedish-language psychedelia for comparison, but this doesn't have the second- or third-generation rehashed flavor that so many modern psychsters can't avoid. There's a pungent aroma of, um, authenticity here that other bands haven't been able to match, from the wicked fuzz guitar to the organ and flute workouts. There are some great psych-pop moments throughout, and these melodies are likely to stick in your head even if Swedish isn't your language, but there are also detours into some pretty serious hard-psych territory as well as flute-led hippie free jazz and even some Swedish folk flavors (like the intro to "Du E För Fin För Mig").
Beautiful double CD set of studio outtakes from 1965 and 1966.
101-Love Minus Zero / No Limit...Dime Store. 102-I'll Keep It With Mine...Bank Account Blues. 103-If You Gotta Go. Go Now 104-It's All Over Now. Baby Blue. 105-She Belongs To Me...Worse Than money. 106-Subterranean Homesick Blues. 107-California...Goin' Down South. 108-Farewell Angelina...Alcatraz 5. 109-You Don't Have To Do That. Levy's Recording Studio, London May 12, 1965. 110-Bob Dylan Convention Speech. Highway 61 Revisited. June - August 1965. 111-CO 86449. 112-Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence. 113-Phantom Engineer...train to cry. 114-Like A Rolling Stone. 115-Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence. 116-Positively 4th Street...Black Dalli Rue. 117-Desolation Row. 118-From A Buick 6...Lunatic Princess. 119-Can You Crawl Out Your Window?. 120-Like A Rolling Stone...Working session. Blonde On Blonde. October 1965 - March 1966. 201-Medicine Sunday...Midnight Train. 202-Can You Crawl Out Your Window?. 203-I Wanna Be Your Lover...(Partner). 204-Jet Pilot Eyes. 205-Can You Crawl Out Your Window?. 206-I Wanna Be Your Lover. 207-Visions Of Johanna...Freeze Out. 208-She's Your Love Now. 209-I Wanna Be Your Lover. 210-Number One...Trk No Vocal. 211-Visions Of Johanna. 212-I'll Keep It With Mine. 213-She's Your Lover Now...Just A Little Glass Of Water. 214-CO 83135...Instr. Blonde On Blonde UK Mono Mixes. 215-Rainy Day Women #12&35...+2%. 216-Pledging My Time...Extended Fade. 217-One Of Us Must Know...Piano Edit. 218-4th Time Around...Sparce Mix. 219-Obviously 5 Believers...Bass Mix.
Epitaph - Outside the Law (Used CD) $9 Repertoire reissue of this classic German heavy prog rock album, originally released in 1974.
1. Reflexion
2. Woman
3. Big City
4. In Your Eyes
5. Outside the Law
6. Tequila Shuffle
7. Fresh Air
Espectrostatic - Espectrostatic (New CD) $12
Alex Cuervo has been rattling skulls for years in punk & garage bands like The Hex Dispensers, Blacktop, This Damn Town & Feast of Snakes. 2011 saw the release of two solo EPs under his own name, exploring his interest in darker, synth-oriented punk music. Since then, the Texan native has not only honed his skills on the synthesizer, but constructed this 13-song suite of instrumentals that owe a serious debt to the pioneers of late-seventies horror soundtracks like John Carpenter, Italo-prog masters Goblin & the work of German pioneers Tangerine Dream.
Other Wordly Folk Music Gems & Psychedelics This compilation was put together by mark pritchard and it represents the journey he undertook to source the tracks, this album helped him to not only rediscover some old gems from within his own collection, but also bought him across some new / old tracks he had not heard before. The tracks on here show the many different ways the artists use elements of jazz,soul & folk music to create a completely new sound .
1. Feel The Spirit - Heaven And Earth 2. Mr. Man - Air 3. Magician In The Mountain - Sunforest 4. Free Wheel - Hard Meat 5. Autopsy - Fairport Convention 6. Get Thy Bearings - Donovan 7. Wooden Ships - Christine Harwood 8. For You - Barbara And Ernie 9. Winter's Going - Bonnie Dobson 10. Ebony Glass - Nancy Priddy 11. Rose Hip November - Vashti Bunyan 12. Chimacum Rain - Linda Perhacs 13. Along Came Sam - Spleen 14. An Elegy - The Free Design 15. End Of The World - Kathy Smith
Folk-Funk? Electric Folk? Hippy-Rock? Acid Folk? Sunshine-Pop? Folk-Fusion? Folksploitation? Once again music lovers struggle to bridge the deep & wide gully where another hybrid genre wanders lonely amongst the vinyl ghosts of yesteryears ethereal love songs. Let us introduce a flock of unsung songbirds who flutter between rocks and hardened pastures too commercial to be traditional - not successful enough to be credible - from the wrong side of town - on the other side of the globe. Here are some of the would-be folk legends that you didn’t read about, they never played the festivals and you never heard their records... until today.
"Folk Is Not A Four Letter Word" is the debut release from DELAY 68 RECORDS, a brand new label from CHERRY RED RECORDS, set to bring you the best in Folk, Funk, Psych, Prog, Ye-Ye, & Beat from across the world.
Compiled by, and featuring original artwork and sleevenotes from ANDY VOTEL (TWISTED NERVE), fans of Andy’s groundbreaking "MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS CRY" mix CD (an insanely eclectic mix of 75 tracks in 76 minutes!), and "FINDERS KEEPERS" compilation on FAT CITY RECORDS will have some indication of what to expect from this enthralling compilation.
** The majority of these tracks have never before been on CD, many appear here for the first time away from their sought after original releases.
Folk-Funk? Electric Folk? Hippy-Rock? Acid Folk? Sunshine-Pop? Folk-Fusion? Folksploitation? Once again music lovers struggle to bridge the deep & wide gully where another hybrid genre wanders lonely amongst the vinyl ghosts of yesteryears ethereal love songs. Let us introduce a second flock of unsung songbirds who flutter between rocks and hardened pastures too commercial to be traditional - not successful enough to be credible - from the wrong side of town - on the other side of the globe. Here are some of the would-be folk legends that you didn't read about, they never played the festivals and you never heard their records... until today!
"Folk Is Not A Four Letter Word 2" is the fifth release from DELAY 68 RECORDS and the follow up to the critically acclaimed best seller first volume (CDDELAY 01), and its sequel 'Prog Is Not A Four Letter Word' (CDDELAY 03). Featuring a few old faces and a host of undiscovered talent from home and abroad, this brilliant compilation picks up where volume one left off and promises to be even better!
Once again compiled by, and featuring original artwork and sleevenotes from ANDY VOTEL (TWISTED NERVE/BMUSIC), this compilation is brought you by the FINDERS KEEPERS RECORDS team, responsible for bringing you WELSH RARE BEAT, and JEAN CLAUDE VANNIER'S 'L'ENFANT ASSASSIN DES MOUCHES'.
The majority of these tracks have never before been on CD, many appear here for the first time away from their sought after original releases. Eclectic folk has become very popular lately amongst collectors, DJs and artists and Andy Votel is well respected in each of those circles.
As featured in the Active Listener's Top 40 psychedelic albums of all time.
As a piss-take, this is exquisite. More politely cited as 'pastiche', there is a strong element of satire but also homage in this recreation of a late 60s psychepop concept album. The Fraternal Order of the All, aka Andrew Gold, delivers a majestic mirror of what The Beatles, Beach Boys and others of that time harmonised in their commercially cosmic searches for musical nirvana.
1. Greetings From Planet Love 2. Rainbow People 3. Love Tonight 4. Chasing My Tail 5. Swirl 6. Tuba Rye And Will's Son/ Balloon In The Sky 7. King Of Showbiz 8. Whirl 9. Freelove Baby 10. Groovy Party At Jimmy's Magic Pad 11. It's Beautiful 12. Wink Of The Third Eye 13. It Has No Eyes But Sight 14. Twirl 15. Space and Time 16. Time Is Standing Still 17. Ride the Snake 18. Mr. Plastic Business Man 19. Ccosmicc Ccarnivall 20. Tomorrow Drop Dead
Lovely vinyl replica from Repertoire.
Originally released as a Vertigo swirl.
1. Giant 2. Funny Ways 3. Alucard 4. Isn't It Quiet and Cold? 5. Nothing at All 6. Why Not? 7. The Queen
Amazing psych rock with wild guitar work from Phil Keaggy.
1. Can You See Me 2. Children's Fantasy 3. Changes (In The Heart Of My Own True Love) 4. Village Queen 5. Black Horse 6. Southbound 7. Whatever Life Demands 8. Look In The Sky 9. Garden 10. On Our Own 11. Voice Of God Cry Out
20 tracks.
Now, she is known for her music for children, but in the Sixties she defined a new type of French girl singer - the yé-yé girl. She featured in Jean-Luc Godard s 1966 film Masculin-Féminin as a pop star who might as well have been her. Chantal Goya married songwriter Jean-Jacques Debout in 1966. The songs he wrote for her, like those he had composed for Charles Aznavour, Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan, were evocative, immediate and very French. Together, they defined the yé-yé sound. Féminin The Complete 60s Recordings is the perfect complement to RPM Interntationals France Gall and Sylvie Vartan collections: Made in France: France Galls Baby Pop and Irrésistiblement.
Beautiful vinyl replica from Repertoire of this excellent U.K prog rock outfit, originally released as a Vertigo Swirl.
Recommended.
The Greek Theatre - Lost Out At Sea (New CD) $12Number two on the Active Listener's Favorite 50 Albums of 2013 list.
Active Listener Review: Swedish duo the Greek Theatre have a decidedly strange way of going about things.
Sven Fröberg explains : "Through the warm summer of 2009, just weeks after our formation, we managed to write what will become the complete Greek Theatre songbook. As none of us have written anything that comes close, in terms of quality, either before or after, we're stuck with those songs for better or worse. Our mission is to record and release our beloved tunes, in chronological order, spread over what will be four very different albums. When the mission is completed the band will cease to exist."
Now this is potentially very sad news indeed as "Lost Out At Sea" is one of the most effortlessly lovely records I've heard this year. While the prospect of four albums of this quality is certainly a pleasing one, I must admit that there's a greedy little corner of my psyche that wants more. Imagine if Dylan had called it a day after "Another Side of Bob Dylan". Crikey. Hopefully during the course of recording these four albums Fröberg and partner Fredrick Persson will rekindle the creative urge that led to these songs being written in the first place.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, you want to know about "Lost at Sea".
And well you should, because it's something of an understated masterpiece, a record with forebears in albums like Gene Clark's solo debut and David Crosby and Graham Nash's early solo albums - overshadowed albums that will never be as famous as they deserve to be but are nonetheless cherished by those with a more adventurous disposition.
Consequently it'd be a foolish man who forecast mainstream success for the Greek Theatre, but critical darlingship surely beckons and if they can follow up with albums of similar quality then some sort of cult is assured.
It's a record of two halves (both gorgeous) with the pacier material on the first side gradually giving way to a glacially slow, but achingly beautiful second half, which those with a shorter attention span may misinterpret as the album tapering off.
A few highlights then ; the steel guitars, delicate harmonies and punctuated brass of "Even You Will Find a Home My Son" captures the explosive rural psychedelia of "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" better than the Byrds themselves managed on subsequent albums, while the sublime "Frozen Highway" breaks into an unexpectedly epic instrumental passage with some fine, lyrical guitar work.
There's even room for a flute led psychedelic freakout in "Stupid Constapleton" - an unexpectedly heavy and heady interlude, in what is otherwise a very subtle album. “As I grow older I tend to gravitate towards music that sounds effortless, and not so eager to impress,” Froberg explains. “Help Yourself, Ernie Graham and Eggs Over Easy spring to mind."
An admirable approach, and an album that's destined for a cult following
Froberg promises that album number two will address the duo's love for folk-rock of the Albion variety with influences like Nick Drake and Fairport Convention being thrown around.
With numerous albums released over the years and a strong and dedicated fanbase worldwide, Seattle psychedelic pop outfit The Green Pajamas, led by main songwriter and singer Jeff Kelly, enjoys critical recognition from all corners of music journalism, from Entertainment Weekly to Ptolemaic Terrascope. To celebrate The Green Pajamas' 20th Anniversary, Hidden Agenda will release two CDs of new material. Kicking off is Ten White Stones, recorded live-in-the-studio over two nights at Studio V in Seattle during April of 2004. Ten White Stones offers much more than merely live renditions of Green PJs classics. Outside of three tracks, "The Cruel Night" and "Lost Girls Song" (both from Northern Gothic), and "(She's Still) Bewitching Me" (showcased as a steamy lament in this setting), the remaining seven songs are all previously unreleased, including the closer, a slow-burn version of the Hank Williams classic "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)". Jeff Kelly comments, "We were invited by a friend who had been wanting to record us for a while and we decided it could be a fun experiment. It's raw and fairly spontaneous like our live shows." For fans of The Velvet Underground, Stevie and Lindsy's interplay and guitar heroics, Rain Parade, Opal, and everything in between. The Pajamas are a true treasure of the American underground.
The Green Pajamas - Poison in the Russian Room (New CD) $141. The Lonesome End of the Lake 2. Poison in the Russian Room 3. Any Way the Wind Blows 4. Cristina Dancing 5. This Angel's on Fire 6. Mr. Ivan 7. Queen of Broken Hearts 8. Suicide Subways 9. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: Song 10. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: The Fai 11. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: Who's T 12. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: The Sin 13. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: Some Pl 14. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: Open Yo 15. In Search of the Elusive Fairy Queen and Some Pleasure Unknown: The Fai 16. Poison in the Russian Room (Reprise)
Great album from Greg Ashley (who has an album out early next year on Trouble in Mind).
Ecks Em Eye 3:24 Peregrine Downsteam 1:26 Cuerpos Haran Amor Extrano 3:31 Down With Jesus 3:31 Big Engine Nazi Kid Daydream 5:12 Year Zero 6:09 The Nonstop Tape 3:25 Medication #4 3:14 Skin Mass Cat 3:24 Pick Up Your Raygun 4:33 Mademoiselle Of The Morning 2:22 For The Season 7:33
One of the most ambitious psychedelic albums to emerge from continental Europe in the late 60s, w/9 BONUS tracks !
Deletion hole in Barcode.
Rainbow Quartz.
1. Big Sea 2. Kamala Part 2 3. Let's Have A Change 4. My Beautiful Home 5. Silver Rain 6. Kamala Part 1 7. Good Morning 8. Fly So High 9. It's Only Love 10. Purple Blue 11. Hard Work 12. Sleeping Girl 13. Falling I'm Falling 14. Feeling Afraid 15. Gerdundula
50 tracks over two CDs.
Disc: 1 1. Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles 2. Je Suis D'accord 3. Le temps de l'amour - Francoise Hardy 4. Ton Meilleur Ami - Francoise Hardy 5. La Fille avec Toi 6. L' Amour s' en va 7. Je Pense A Lui 8. Qui Aime-t-il Vraiment ? 9. Le premier bonheur du jour - Francoise Hardy 10. Va Pas Prendre Un Tambour 11. J' Aurais Voulu 12. Le Sais-tu ? 13. L' Amour ne Dure pas Toujours 14. Pourtant Tu M'Aimes 15. On se Quitte Toujours 16. Tout me Ramène à Toi 17. Apprends Le Moi 18. C' est le Passé 19. Je N'Attends Plus Personne 20. Pas Gentille 21. Et Même 22. Je Veux Qu'Il Revienne 23. Mon amie la rose - Francoise Hardy 24. La Nuit Est Sur La Ville 25. Nous Etions Amies Disc: 2 1. Dans Le Monde Entier 2. Dis-Lui Non - Francoise Hardy 3. Le Temps Des Souvenirs 4. J' ai bien du Chagrin 5. Bout De Lune 6. L'amitié - Francoise Hardy 7. Ce Petit Coeur - Francoise Hardy 8. Non, Ce N' Est Pas Un Rêve 9. Tout Ce Qu'On Dit 10. Il Se Fait Tard 11. Tu Peux Bien 12. Je T'aime 13. Quel Mal Y-A-T-Il A Ca ? 14. La maison où j'ai grandi - Francoise Hardy 15. Rendez Vous D'Automne 16. Comme 17. Je Changerais D'Avis 18. Peut-etre que je t'aime 19. Si c' est ça 20. Je Serai Là Pour Toi 21. Qu'ils Sont Heureux 22. Tu es un peu à moi 23. Voilà 24. Les Petits Garçons 25. Qui peut dire ?
Limited edition on Reverb Worship. Fabulous horror folk, an Active Listener favorite.
The Thin Ghost John Barleycorn Semewater The Golden Rough The Three Ravens O Whistle & I'll Come To You The Rolling of The Stones May Day Lyke Wake Dirge (Full Moon) Hob's Lane Lyke Wake Dirge Waxing & Waning) Barbara Allen The Great God Pan
1 The Willows 3:56 2 Edward 5:44 3 She Moves Through The Fair 2:34 4 Sweet William And Fair Margaret 3:41 5 Mary Rose 2:58 6 Long Lankin 5:13 7 Crazy Man Micheal 5:13 8 Ysor Yram 1:59 9 The Rolling Of The Stones 2010 (Pebbles And Sand) 4:34 10 Lyke Wake Dirge 2010 (Black Moon Version) 3:10
1. The Game 2. The Spirit Lives 3. Growns Up Are Just Silly Children 4. Referendum (Legend) 5. Forget Me Not 6. Hallucinating Light 7. When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease
Roy Harper was already coming off two stellar efforts in Lifemask (1973) and Valentine (1974), which marked yet another artistic peak and his introduction to American audiences. Previous settings of acoustic guitar and orchestration were supplanted by Harper's formation of Trigger, a relatively straightforward hard rock trio anchored by ace guitarist Chris Spedding and former King Crimson/Yes drummer Bill Bruford. (The unit disbanded after this album, however.) Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones are among the other all-star contributors on this album, which gets off to a rousing start with "The Game"'s multi-part critique of modern society and features some hard-hitting guitar passages. "The Spirit Lives" upholds yet another long-running Harper theme of critiquing Christianity and its premises. "Hallucination Light" and "Forget Me Not" maintain the brooding romanticism associated with Harper's earlier work, but it's the last track that should stick longest with listeners. Harper's understated, elegaic ode to life's departures gains power from a blend of string and brass band lines; it remains one of his finest, most enduring compositions. Commercially, Harper's profile remains that of a cult artist, but he surely deserves wider recognition on his own merit. If you only know Harper as an associate of the '70s English rock aristocracy or the shadowy subject of Led Zeppelin's "Hats off to Harper," make this album one of your first starting points.
Roy Harper - Counter Culture (New CD) $15Roy Harper is a man whose name everyone knows, many people may not be sure why they know it, but he has undoubtedly influenced many a music fan and musician over the last forty plus years of his career. Roy Harper has made over 30 albums in his illustrious life. It is therefore not by coincidence that he felt it is time to release a double album containing what he considers the his favorite tracks from a career spanning more than a few decades. What is coincidence, is that it falls at the same time as MOJO magazine have decided to honour Roy Harper's achievements within the music industry with a MOJO HERO award. The tracks chosen for the album were according to Roy "cherry picked according to his mood in April of 2005". Just on these few tracks alone the talent that accompanies him just proves how respected he is within the music industry. Featured on the album are :- John Renbourne, David Bedford, Jimmy Page, David Bedford, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford, The Grimethorp Colliery Band, Alvin Lee, Henry McCullough, Andy Roberts, Ronnie Lane, Jimmy McCullough, Andy Roberts, John Halsey, Pete Wingfield, Andy Roberts, Henry McCullough, David Gilmour, Kate Bush, Tony Franklin, Nik Green, Stuart Elliot, Nick Harper, Ric Sanders and Noel Barrett
Rainbow Quartz.
1. The Holy Ground 2. Soul In Lust 3. Our Time Is Coming Soon 4. Strandhill Sands 5. Winter Ghosts 6. Sick With The Old Fire 7. Master Of The Clouds 8. The Lost Explorer 9. The Drum 10. A River Haunting 11. Higher And Brighter 12. Lucifer's Dream 13. Your Eyes Are A Door 14. Dust In The Sun
Allan Howarth - Halloween 4 (Used CD) $101. Halloween 4-The Return 2. Jamie's Nightmare 3. Garage 4. Be Back By 9:30 5. Return Of The Shape 6. Schoolhouse 7. Power Company 8. Police Station 9. Downstairs Alone 10. Myer's Finale 11. Halloween 4 Reprise
Working solo this time, Alan Howarth, long time composing partner with John Carpenter, creates a refreshingly creepy sound for his 'score' for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. With the exception of the Halloween Theme and the staccato chase theme there is no real music to be found on the album, just a chilling sonic impression of evil and menace. Recommended to fans of the off beat, where 'music' is more an audible sensation than a coherent theme.
Lost 1975 recordings from this legendary New Zealand hard psych band, including their take on "Freebird".
1. Freebird (A. Collins, R. Van Zant) - 9:17 2. All Time Loser (Zaine Griff) - 4:32 3. Find Your Heart (Steve McDonald, Phil Whitehead) - 7:39 4. Peg Leg (Maurice Greer) - 3:05 5. For a Friend Pt.1 (Steve McDonald, Phil Whitehead) - 5:25 6. For a Friend Pt.2 (Steve McDonald, Phil Whitehead) - 3:41 7. Fallen Star (Zaine Griff) - 5:09 8. Hey You (Phil Whitehead) - 4:11 9. Tight Rope Lover (Zaine Griff) - 4:46 10.Instinct (M. Greer, Z. Griff, S. McDonald, P. Whitehead) - 2:22
Jade - Faces of Jade (New CD) $10 Amazing Beatley pop music with an Abbey Road feel.
01. Prelude Willow's End 6:42 02. Blue Ways 3:23 03. Well 2:24 04. We (Got to Make It Through) 4:00 05. My Mary (More Than Ever) 2:41 06. My Honey 2:26 07. Rest of My Life 3:13 08. All Alone 2:09 09. Flying Away 2:23 10. Wait Till I Come Home 3:53
Jim Noir - Jim Noir (Used CD) $7
1. Welcome Commander Jameson 2. All Right 3. What U Gonna Do? 4. Don't You Worry 5. Ships and Clouds 6. Happy Day Today 7. Day By Day By Day 8. Good Old Vinyl 9. Same Place Holiday 10. Look Around You 11. Welcome Commander Jameson 12. On A Different Shelf 13. Forever Endeavour
Jim Noir - Tower of Love (U.S Version) (Used CD) $7 Deletion hole in barcode.
"My Patch" "I Me You I'm Your" "Computer Song" "How to Be So Real" "Eanie Meany" "Tower of Love" "Key of C" "Tell Me What to Do" "Climb a Tree" "Turbulent Weather" "A Quiet Man" "Eanie Meany 2" "The Only Way"
John Barleycorn Reborn: Rebirth, was originally the download-only component of the John Barleycorn Reborn compilation, and the Woven Wheat Whispers website closed its doors before I could download it, so until now I just had to wonder what it was like. Now it has been re-released as a digitally remastered two disc set, and quite wonderful it is too.
There are now three double-disc sets in this series, including 2010's We Bring You A King With A Head Of Gold, and I'd say without hesitation that disc one of Rebirth is the strongest individual disc of the six, a complete delight from start to finish. Where the original set tended to lurch from one mood to something very different (a degree of variety refreshing to some but to me somewhat problematic), Rebirth has a coherence throughout, and this is achieved whilst still casting the net wide to include swirling medieval dances, dreamy psychedelic-folk, ambient soundscapes, incantations and organic retellings of traditional folk-songs. There is so much to explore here, the set feels like a journey into parallel spaces, along ancient tracks to forgotten hamlets, occasional forays down rabbit holes, brief glimpses of a multitude of lives under the radar of mainstream folk, weather-worn, ivy-grown music, amongst birdsong.
1. Dive Into Yesterday 2. Mr. Small The Watch-Repairer Man 3. Flight From Ashiya 4. The Murder Of Lewis Tollani 5. In The Room Of Percussion (Further Reflections) 6. Dear Nellie Goodrich... 7. The Sky Children 8. A Dream For Julie 9. Faintly Blowing 10. Poem 11. Snapdragon 12. A Story From Tom Bitz 13. For Annie (Love Song) 14. The Feathered Tiger 15. I'll Kiss You Once 16. Do It Again For Jeffrey 17. Music 18. If You So Wish 19. Opinion 20. Jenny Artichoke 21. Just How Much You Are 22. Bless The Executioner 23. Black Fjord
Jeff Kelly - Indiscretion (Used CD) $10Excellent 2001 solo album from the Green Pajama's Jeff Kelly.
Leafhound - Growers of Mushroom (Used CD) $9 Classic Led Zeppelin influenced heavy rock. Digipack Repertoire reissue with 3 bonus tracks.
01- Freelance Fiend - 3.11 min 02- Sad Road To The Sea - 4.16 min 03- Drowned My Life In Fear - 3.00 min 04- Work My Body - 8.12 min 05- Stray - 3.48 min 06- With A Minute To Go - 4.19 min 07- Growers Of Mushroom - 2.17 min 08- Stagnant Pool - 3.59 min 09- Sawdust Ceasar - 4.30 min 10- It's Going To Get Better - 3.06 min 11- Hip Shaker - 3.32 min 12- Too Many Rock'n'roll Times - 3.56 min
The Limiñanas are back on Trouble In Mind with their third album, “Costa Blanca”! Once again recorded at their home in the south of France by Lio himself, “Costa Blanca” pushes the envelope of their signature Franc-o-phonic sound; the coloeur café cool of Gainsbourg, the hypnotic drone of VU-era Cale, and the spiky fuzz of Davie Allan. This time around the band laces the tunes with a dramatic flair of French New Wave soundtracks & the percussive sonic accents found in Morricone’s work in Il Gruppo, particularly “The Feed-Back” whose funk-laced tracks incorprate elements of avant-classical and experimental sonic elements.
Los Brincos - Contrabando (New CD) $12 2013 reissue from Esoteric Records.
26 Tracks.
The album was recorded at Abbey Road, with engineer Geoff Emerick. It was essential to establish themselves in the international market and several songs were recorded in both English and Spanish. In order to help realise their international ambitions the group, enlisted the services of Larry Page, who had handled both The Kinks and The Troggs with enormous success. But all of Page's contacts weren't enough for the band to break through in the UK, where two singles were released on the producer's own, Page One, label. Still, Lola and El Pasaporte were big hits in Spain, making it clear that Juan & Junior hadn't taken the four-piece's audience with them.
Click Here For Active Listener Review.
Los Shakers - La Conferencia Secreta Del Toto's Bar / Los Shakers (New CD) $12 Double CD set with Los Shakers' first and third albums.
Fantastic beat and psychedelic rock albums by Uruguay's Beatles soundalikes.
Fabulous stuff - two full albums - 25 tracks over 2 CDs.
Great 22 track collection from Love's Elektra years.
1. Hey Joe 2. Signed D.C. 3. Seven & Seven Is 4. Stephanie Knows Who 5. Orange Skies 6. ¡Que Vida! 7. She Comes In Colors 8. Alone Again 9. Andmoreagain 10. Maybe 11. The People Would Be 12. The Times Between 13. Clark And Hilldale 14. Live And Let Live 15. You Set The Scene 16. Your Mind And We Belong Together 17. Laughing Stock 18. Singing Cowboy 19. Your Friend And Mine 20. Neil’s Song 21. Robert Montgomer 22. Always See Your Face
Love - Back On The Scene (New CD) $10The enigmatic Arthur Lee reappears in LA in 1991 for this live recording, which includes many of his most celebrated songs including 'Alone again or', 'She comes in colours' and 'Hey Joe'.
1. Alone Again Or 2. My Little Red Book 3. 7 & 7 Js 4. Orange Skies 5. Signed DC 6. The Everlasting First 7. And More Again 8. Hey, Joe 9. She Comes In Colours 10. Medley: Everybody's Gotta Live/Instant Karma 11. Bonus Track: That's the Way It Goes 12. Bonus Track: Signed DC 13. Bonus Track: And More Again 14. Bonus Track: Little Wing
Maston - Shadows (New CD) $12
The sun-soaked hills of Southern California have inspired many a studio
autéur - from Brian WIlson to Phil Spector to Harry Nilsson, each having
paid tribute to California in song & craft. Frank Maston knows a
little bit about craft (and Southern Cali to boot), having spent his
youth in suburban Los Angeles, absorbing the meticulously crafted
discography of Msrs. Spector, Wilson, Bacharach, & Morricone, all
the while mentally re-scoring the music to old Prisoner episodes &
other filmography from the sixties & seventies. "Shadows" is his
first proper offering, having produced two solo cassette EPs since 2011
& coalesces the ideas sketched out in those releases with stunning
results.
Limited Edition of 50 on the lovely, handmade Reverb Worship label.
Sublime instrumental album - featured in the Active Listener's Top 50 albums of 2013.
"Ambient hauntology embued with the sort of quintessential Englishless that this sort of stuff thrives on, this is unceasingly clever and manages the nifty trick of using thoroughly modern means to conjure an ancient and almost timeless druidic vibe."
Active Listener review here.
Of all the cult West Coast 60's groups, perhaps the most talked about and referenced over the last few years have been The Merry Go Round...though bizarrely, the last reissue of their work was a Rhino vinyl best of in 1984!
Boy genius Emmit Rhodes left the drum seat in The Palace Guard to front his own band recruited from the disbanding Gene Clark Group among others; signing to A&M they quickly scored two hits ‘Live’ and ‘You're A Very Lovely Woman’, and a superb album… attaining Emmit covers by such luminaries as Fairport Convention, before themselves disbanding as Emmit became more and more interested in recording in his home studio than touring.
They had, though, cut a large quantitiy of material and when Emmitt became briefly a solo star with his home recorded albums on Dunhill, some of this stuff was released by A&M, but here for the first time ever, is a comprehensive anthology of the work of this most enigmatic of LA pop groups; one whose links to Gene Clark, The Grass Roots, Paul McCartney, Curt Boettcher and Herb Alpert (on whose 1967 TV special they featured) emerge in the detailed notes.
A FIRST EVER superb CD collection of this enigmatic, much quoted and collectable band and wonderfully remastered in the usual Rev-Ola style...
Lavish artwork with interviews with band members / others, memorabilia and unseen photos… all that jazz… and is a must for all fans of west coast 1960's pop and all those who'd like to hear what collectors and the current crop of US bands are going on about…
Mmoss - Only Children (New CD) $12From the damp and misty woods of New Hampshire emerges the second full length from psychedelic jam warriors MMOSS. The minute we heard the band's 2011 debut on Burger Records they immediately rocketed to the front of our release "wish list". Recorded by the band themselves at home "Only Children" is everything we could have hoped for.
Sundazed reissue with 5 bonus tracks.
One of my fave 60s psych rarities.
1. Nam Myo Renge Kyo 2. Velvet Sunsets 3. Prelude 4. Catatonic Variations 5. Times Like This 6. Gentle Thursday 7. Winds Have Changed 8. Cage 9. Sun Never Shines 10. Day of Wrath 11. Nam Myo Renge Kyo 12. Velvet Sunsets 13. Winds Have Changed 14. Sun Never Shines 15. Gentle Thursday
1. There But For Fortune 2. Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends 3. William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park And Escapes Unscathed 4. The Scorpion Departs But Never Returns 5. Pleasures Of The Harbor 6. The World Began In Eden And Ended In Los Angeles 7. The Bells 8. The Highwayman 9. I Kill Therefore I Am 10. The Doll House 11. Another Age 12. Changes 13. Crucifixion 14. I Ain't Marching Anymore
One Man Bannister - Evolver (New CD) $12 Brand new tribute to the Beatles "Revolver" album recorded by Flying Nun legend and ex-Sneaky Feelings member Matthew Bannister. Very hard to find outside of New Zealand.
Click Here For Active Listener Review.
Double CD collection from this fantastic U.K folk-rock act. Essential for fans of Fairport Convention, Trees, Steeleye Span. 33 tracks on 2 discs.
Disc: 1 1. January Snows [Fragment] 2. Drive the Cold Winter Away 3. When a Man's in Love 4. Fire & Wine [Fragment] 5. The Bitter Withy 6. Cold & Raw 7. January Snows 8. The Snow It Melts the Soonest [Fragment] 9. Winter (A Dirge) 10. Wake the Vaulted Echo 11. By the Setting of the Sun 12. The Church Grimm [Full Version/Bonus Track] 13. The Stone Bequest 14. Maverick You Are 15. Fine Horseman [Version 2/Bonus Track] 16. Saturnalia Song Disc: 2 1. Polly on the Shore 2. The Banks of the Nile 3. Ladies, Don't Go a-Thieving 4. I Was a Young Man 5. Sorry the Day I Was Married 6. Willie O'Winsbury 7. In Thorneymoor Woods, Pt. 1 8. The Bold Poachers 9. In Thorneymoor Woods, Pt. 2 10. The Lover's Ghost 11. The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun 12. Willie O'Winsbury [Reprise] 13. The Loyal Lover 14. Within Sound 15. Cruel Mother 16. Standing on the Shore [Full Version/Bonus Track] 17. Spring Strathspey
The Paperhead - The Paperhead (New CD) $12Upon your first listen to this record you may think that you’ve stumbled onto some lost nugget from 1968. The Paperhead take their name from a lyric in July’s golden-age psychedelic single “My Clown” and while the record may have a vintage sound, it’s mind boggling to learn that it was written and recorded in the summer of 2010 by three 18 year old kids from Nashville, Tennessee. Neo-psych fans may hear a more ambitious ‘White Fence’ or a poppier ‘Spacemen 3’ while more classic minded listeners may recall ‘The Pretty Things’, their namesake ‘July’ or post-LSD ‘Beatles’.
Lovely vinyl replica from Repertoire with bonus tracks. Amazing guitar work from Ollie Halsall.
Pink Floyd - The Other Side of the Moon Vol. 1 (Used CD) $25Live recordings from 1968-1971 in excellent sound quality.
1. Embryo 10:17 2. Green is the Colour 3:29 3. Careful With that Axe, Eugene 7:15 4. Let There Be More Light 3:41 5. Murderistic Woman 2:17 6. Point Me at the Sky 4:27 7. The Narrow Way 4:15 8. Julia Dream 2:25 9. A Saucerful of Secrets 6:42 10. One of these Days 6:12 11. Echoes 18:31
CD reissue of their best Zodiac recordings from 1965 thru 1967.
Fantastic collection of garage and R&B beat classics from an Australian band that ended up in New Zealand. This collection includes the majority of their singles, their "Midnight Rave With The Pleazers" EP and finally their album entitled "Definately Pleazers". Smokin' hot guitar's included on the band's original work and excellent choice of cover's. An excellent compilation featuring a staggering 28 tracks over 73 minutes.
Fabulous psych pop with a T.Rex swagger.
1. Sugar Assault Me Now 2. Blue Honey 3. (A Style Called) Crying Chic 4. Pick-Me-Up Uppercut 5. Skip Ghetto 6. Dollar Bill Rock 7. Flirting 8. Mournin' Light 9. See My Lord 10. Hades' Lady 11. From The Day That You Were Born
Lovely vinyl replica from Repertoire.
1. Life Child 2. Oh Mister 3. And The Whole World 4. Quasar One 5. You're the Only One 6. Earth-People 7. Molecular Delusions 8. Balloon 9. Dying Swan Year 2000 10. Jesus 11. Journey To The Inside
The Resonars - That Evil Drone (New CD) $10 1. World Apart 02:43 2. No Black Clouds Float By 02:24 info 3. One Part Moan 02:32 4. Run Kodiak Run 03:42 5. Here's The Frenzy 02:45 6. No Horizon 02:49 7. Sister Sally 02:08 8. Black Breath 02:35 9. She Did 02:12 10. Bird Using Bird 02:53 11. Yes Grosvenor 02:13 12. Riding Backwards (On The Moon) 03:52
Rough Trade Stores Psych Folk 10 (New CD) $12
If the numbers of pysch-folk and folk underground compilations released in the last couple of years are anything to go by, it seems we have an insatiable appetite for music whose principle qualities are both as tangible and as curiously ephemeral as smoke drifting up from a forest campfire.
Whereas Strange Folk, Gather in the Mushrooms, and other similarly bucolic collections blew the dust off tracks that enjoyed their first bloom of youth over 30 years ago, Psych Folk 10 gathers up a clutch of today’s tunesmiths and minstrels wandering the highways and byways of the internet age.
Yet you’d be hard pressed to discern any significant traces of the 21st century in the patina of these 21 tracks. So ingrained are they with the fey, bittersweet echoes of Vashti Bunyan, Donovan, Pentangle, Trees et al, most artists here would plausibly fit onto any of those venerable best-of compilations.
It’s interesting how a sound so British has beguiled so many acts from the USA. The music’s original character is altered and refracted through a prism of diverse and occasionally contradictory interests, resulting in a fascinating counter-factual of the folk genre. Espers’ I Can’t See Clear (from 2009 album III) gamely imagines King Crimson’s Robert Fripp sitting in on a Pentangle recording, whilst Woods’ Pick Up elevates reserve and hesitancy to a bracing art form.
Admittedly, some stumble in their enthusiastic aping of what’s gone before. Sam Amidon’s Way Go, Lily is unsettling in its rush to invoke Nick Drake’s shade, undercutting what might otherwise be engaging material. Closer to home, the raggedy amble of Alasdair Roberts’ You Muses Assist continues to plough more traditional timbres, whilst The Owl Service and Scotland’s Trembling Bells pull off a knowing, retro-fitted presence without sounding second-hand or too pleased with themselves.
At first glance, it may seem that Toronto's Sadies have merely stood pat with their trademark blend of psychedelic country and twangy surf rock. But theirs has been a sly evolution, and Favourite Colours, their fifth full-length (not including various collaborations), finds them masterfully honing and building on their core sound. There's an emerging depth and pensiveness to their songwriting, a growing sense of spirituality and drama. The imagery is grand and vivid, seemingly drifting from utopian to apocalyptic. The heart of the album is a three-part suite (broken up by a dense, cinematic instrumental) that perfectly exemplifies the Sadies' deft balance of the ominous and the uplifting. The gentle steel and delicate acoustic strumming of "1000 Cities Falling (Part 1)" gives way to the trippy, atmospheric "Song of the Chief Musician (Part 2)" before culminating with the bright, sunny, 12-string-driven "Why Be So Curious? (Part 3)" with its refrain: "why be so curious when nobody knows the truth?" In this balance between tension and consolation one can hear echoes of '60s "cosmic cowboys" the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Flying Burrito Brothers. Exclusive company indeed, but with their sharp, fluid playing and broadening lyrical and musical scope, the Sadies are fast earning these comparisons.
1. Another Time 2. Song to the Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know) 3. You Know I've Found a Way 4. The Keeper of the Games 5. Glass 6. Would You Like to Go 7. My World Fell Down 8. Hotel Indiscreet 9. I'm Not Living Here 10. Musty Dusty 11. The Truth Is Not Real 12. Artificial Light (Of All the Living Lies) - (previously unreleased) 13. Get the Message - (previously unreleased) 14. Mass #586 - (previously unreleased) 15. Love's Fatal Way - (previously unreleased) 16. My World Fell Down 17. Hotel Indiscreet 18. Lonely Girl - (previously unreleased) 19. The - (previously unreleased) Keeper of the Games 20. Sister Marie - (previously unreleased)
Sand Snowman - Otherness (New CD) $11Limited edition from Reverb Worship.
Active Listener Review.
1. We Are Water 03:57 2. Invocation 01:46 3. Spiralscape 02:25 4. Otherness 07:07 5. Hope's Persistence 03:33 6. Surrender 01:12 7. Endgaming 04:36
William Shatner - The Transformed Man (New CD) $7 Shatner's madcap seventies album including covers of Dylan and the Beatles.
1. King Henry The Fifth / Elegy For The Brave 2. Theme From Cyrano / Mr. Tambourine Man 3. Hamlet / It Was A Very Good Year 4. Romeo And Juliet / How Insensitive 5. Spleen / Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 6. The Transformed Man
Silver Sunshine (Used CD) $14 Out of print and very hard to find.
Before prog rock giants Astra were obsessed with Yes and Pink Floyd, they released this fantastic album of classic U.K psych pop influenced material - Beatles, Tomorrow - you name it.
1 Velvet Skies 2 I See The Silver Sunshine 3 Trinkets 4 Way Up In The Big Sky 5 Nightmares 6 If I Had The Time 7 Greenfield Park 8 Girl 9 When She Wakes Tomorrow 10 Miranda May 11 Merry Go Round
An Active Listener Favorite! For fans of early Pink Floyd and Kaleidoscope.
The debut full-length release from New York City's Sky Picnic, Farther In This Fairy Tale, resurrects the lost art of the concept album, telling the tale of a loss of innocence and an introspective journey through life that immerses the listener in a mystical and fairy tale-like world of psychedelia. An atmospheric and rather mellow vibe saturates each of the eight songs. The story starts off with the single "Hide and Seek," which recalls the joys of childhood and the innocence of a bygone era. The album's centerpiece is live-favorite 'the Universal Mind Decoder', an 11 minute epic full of echoes, feedback and fuzz, that manages to deconstruct music and take you to the edge of the universe, only to bring everything back to where it began.
Grace Slick - Dreams (New CD) $10New reissue from Esoteric. 2013 release.
Considering Grace s popularity as vocalist with Jefferson Airplane and Starship, it is surprising that this fantastic album only charted at No. 32 in the United States and No. 28 in the UK. With epic productions and arrangements by Ron Frangipane this album is something special and was nominated for a Grammy award. Grace herself rates Dreams as her favourite album and regrets not touring at the time, to promote it. The edited single version of the title song is added as a bonus track. Grace Slick s fabulous contralto voice soars throughout the album . Dreams is a much under-rated part of her legacy don t let it get away again!
Excellent compilation of singles and b-sides from this Spacemen 3 offshoot. Includes a cover of Kraftwerk's "Computer Love".
1 Up In Heaven 3:47 2 Hearing Voices 3:59 3 Come Back 4:10 4 Late Too Late 5:04 5 Do You Have An Answer ? 2:48 6 All For Nothing 4:01 7 All The Symphonies 3:26 8 Computer Love 4:34 9 Your Presence (Remix) 5:33 10 Give It Some Time 5:16 11 Hometown 4:04 12 I Saw Your Face 2:50 13 Sundown 3:43 14 Sweet Mercy 3:06 15a It's True She Said 2:05
Sproatly Smith - Remixed (New CD) $11Limited edition from Reverb Worship.
Incredible psychedelic remix collection of Sproatly Smith material. Featured in the Active Listener's Favorite Albums of 2013.
1. The Mermaid Of Marden- Electrohome 05:30 2. O Death- Melmoth The Wanderer 05:45 3. Song For Annie Needham- Sproatly Music Box 00:40 4. Song For Annie Needham- Dollboy 04:32 5. O Willow Waly- The Hare And The Moon 04:12 6. O Willow Waly- Electrohome 06:26 7. O Death- The Nightbirds 06:28 8. Rosebud In June- James McKeown 05:51 9. Blackthorn Winter- Sedayne 08:23 10. We Plough And Sow- Miles Davies 06:22
Excellent collection from this great band.
1. Instant Repeater '99 2. Century Child 3. Sister Surround 4. Believe I've Found 5. Earthmover 6. Karmageddon 7. Lifeline 8. Firmament Vacation 9. Thrill Me 10. Demophon 11. Nevermore 12. Bigtime 13. Confrontation Camp 14. Broken Imaginary Time 15. Still Aging 16. The Passover 17. Tonight 18. Flipside 19. Jehova Sunrise 20. Second Life Replay
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin Vol. 1 (U.S Bonus Tracks) (Used CD) $8 "Believe I've Found", "Transcendental Suicide" , "Bigtime" , "Heading for a Breakdown" , "Mother One Track Mind", "Midnight Children", "Lone Summer Dream", "Royal Explosion (Part II)", "Wheels of Boredom", "Borderline", "Song for the Others", "Age of No Reply" + Bonus Tracks: "To Somewhere Else", "World Bank"
1. Forget About May 2. Self-Sufficient Guy 3. Anna 4. Up In Smoke 5. Tom 6. Where-Ever-Land 7. Images 8. Just Another Mundane 9. Talk To The Girl 10. Since You Said 11. Baby Boomer
2011 release on Sub Pop. Like Broadcast? Buy this now.
1 Cuckoo 3:11 2 Circulars 2:06 3 Endless Summer 3:17 4 Into the Trees 4:01 5 The White Season 2:53 6 I Wrote in Blood 4:11 7 The Twilight Hour 3:33 8 Velveteen 2:37 9 Demons 2:14 10 Submarine 4:07
Flying Nun.
Great collection from this hugely influential Flying Nun outfit.
1. Dialling A Prayer 2. Burn It Up 3. Headwind 4. She Speeds 5. Down In Splendour 6. Let It Blow 7. If I Were You 8. Missing Presumed Drowned 9. Rollerride 10. Sparkle That Shines 11. Bad Note For A Heart 12. Done 13. Aps 14. Cat Inna Can 15. Life In One Chord 16. Cast Stone
Fabulous introduction to psychedelic folk / folk-rock from the sixties through now.
1. Mysteries - Beth Gibbons 2. Morning Sun - The Lilac Time 3. The Song of Wandering Aengus - Donovan 4. Flowery Noontide - Espers 5. Fair Doreen - Tunng 6. Fading Light - Forest 7. The Werewolf - Barry Dransfield 8. Maypole - Magnet 9. The Highest Tree - The Eighteenth Day Of May 10. Here Before - Vashti Bunyan 11. Now That I Know - Devendra Banhart 12. Great Horse - Tyrannosaurus Rex 13. Saturday Maybe - The Incredible String Band 14. Everything You Need - Adem 15. Heron - James Yorkston 16. Ph 6.5 - King Creosote 17. Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie - Joanna Newsom 18. House Carpenter - Pentangle 19. Sweet William's Ghost - Alasdair Roberts
The Strawberry Smell - Odorama (Used CD) $7Rainbow Quartz.
Essential for fans of Kula Shaker and the Beatles.
1. Zensong #9 2. Friends of da Teenage 3. World of D. 4. Ire 5. Balthazar 6. Lovag's House of Light 7. Slave of the Time 8. Undersphere 9. Valentine's Butterflies 10. Soopasound 11. Cosmos and Infinity 12. Simple Quiet Day 13. Footprint on the Moon
The Sunshine Fix - Age of the Sun (Used CD) $5 Olivia Tremor Control offshoot.
1. Age Of The Sun 2. Ultraviolet Orchestra 3. That Ole Sun 4. Everything Is Waking 5. Digging To China 6. A Better Way To Be 7. An Illuminated Array 8. See Yourself 9. Inside The Nebula 10. Hide In The Light 11. Sail Beyond The Sunset 12. A 93 Million Mile Moment 13. Mr. Summer Day 14. 72 Years 15. Cycles Of Time 16. Le Roi-Soleil
Olivia Tremor Control offshoot.
1. Statues and Glue 2. What Do You Know 3. Extraordinary/Ordinary 4. Papers Fall 5. Innerstates 6. RX 7. Afterglow 8. Enjoy The Teeth 9. Face The Ghost 10. Runaway Run 11. Sunday Afternoon
The Telepathic Butterflies - Breakfast in Suburbia (Used CD) $6 Deletion hole in barcode.
Rainbow Quartz.
1. The Trouble With Keeping Up With The Joneses 2. A Scathing Report 3. Telescope 4. The Gossip Trail 5. If It's All Too Much 6. Mr Dysfunctionality 7. The Wishing Invisible 8. Sign of the Times 9. A Midlife Crisis 10. Are You for Real 11. Facing Id 12. She Looks Good 13. While Your Asleep 14. The Caution SlumbeR
The Telepathic Butterflies - Introducing (Used CD) $6
Rainbow Quartz.
1. All Very Hoopla! 2. A Final Word 3. Narcissus 4. Mr. Laughabee's Circus 5. Radio Darlings 6. Epistle To Dippy 7. Elixir 8. Sunshine Radio 9. Urban Meanderings 10. California Bent 11. Flowerbed 12. Yearbook 13. Serendipity 14. Floater 15. House Of Smiles / It's All You've Ever Known 16. Nothing But The Sunshine
Thelema - Hearing The Light (New CD) $10 The new album "Hearing the Light" came to birth during a recording session with Steindor Andersen (the master of Icelandic epic rimur song ,well known for his cooperation with Sigur Ros and Hilmar Örn Hilmarson),and explores new musical territory. A virtual soundtrack mixing Film Noir with `60s and `70s Italo Trash.
21 Tracks.
The Listener says, “Tom Thumb helped define Kiwi music of the time”. These ‘bad boys’ of Wellington's rock scene recorded classics such as If I Were A Carpenter, Witchi Tai To, Stoney, Meet On The Ledge, Respect, Got Love, Sorry She's Mine, and the classic prog rock EP Ludgate Hill.
Tumbleweed - Weed Seed (Used CD) $6 Great Australian psychedelic stoner rock.
1. Fritz 2. Carousel 3. Millennium 4. Holy Moses 5. Funky 6. The Sky Is High 7. Fish Out Of Water 8. Lullaby 9. Stoned 10. Shakedown 11. Rainbow Waterwillow
Disc: 1 1. Condition Red - Barry Stoller 2. Light Flight - Pentangle 3. Three Days of the Condor - Geoff Love and his Orchestra 4. Man Alive - The Tony Hatch Sound 5. Tomorrow's World - Richard Denton and Martin Cook 6. At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal - Brian Fahey and His Orchestra 7. The Contract Man - Bullet 8. Man Friday - Syd Dale 9. Echo Four Two - The Laurie Johnson Orchestra 10. Hard Hitter - Keith Papworth 11. The Persuaders - John Barry 12. Getting Nowhere in a Hurry - Roy Budd 13. Dawn to Dusk - The Simon Park Orchestra 14. Fiesta Numero Uno - The Marylebone Orchestra 15. Bird 'N Brass - Sort of Soul 16. The Avengers - Johnny Gregory and His Orchestra 17. Fragment of Fear - Johnny Harris 18. Get Carter - Roy Budd 19. Guide Path - Neil Robertson Disc: 2 1. Canvas - Brian Bennett 2. Death Line - Wil Malone 3. Huckleberry Fine - Syd Dale 4. Spiral - Harry Roche Constellation 5. Jungle Fire Dance - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band 6. The New Avengers - The Laurie Johnson Orchestra 7. Folk Song - James Clarke & Sounds 8. Strike Rich - The Reg Tilsley Orchestra 9. Joe 90 - The Barry Gray Orchestra 10. Soul Thing - Keith Mansfield 11. Whole Lotta Love - C.C.S. 12. The Artful Dodger - Syd Dale 13. Jaguar - Johnny Gregory and His Orchestra 14. Down Home - Nick Ingman 15. Steam Heat - Barbara Moore 16. Angels - Alan Parker 17. Face Up - Alan Moorhouse
The lead horse in producer Alan Lorber's "Bosstown Sound" stable, Ultimate Spinach put out several albums for MGM that remain coveted by collectors of late-'60s psychedelia, and this disc selects 14 of the best tracks from those records. Includes Ego Trip; Sacrifice of the Moon (in Four Parts); Baroque #1; Your Head Is Reeling; Mind Flowers; Fragmentary March of Green and more. 72 minutes!
Umberto mastermind MATT HILL allegedly went to legit music school back in the day and used to play bass for EXPO 70 (Justin/Expo released the debut Umberto tape/CDR, From The Grave, on his Sonic Meditations label) before splintering into his current electro-satanic Goblin worship guise—and we for one can’t get enough. Prophecy Of The Black Widow is his sophomore album and though the badass evil Italo goth-synth horror-score blueprint of Grave remains, the main variation is subtle vibe-shift from ‘70s Argento/Carpenter-isms into more early/mid-’80s new wave creep-scapes. There’s still plenty of eerie nightmare keyboard riffs and vintage witch-disco breakouts but the synths squelch with more of a neon retrofuturist bent and there’s even one brazenly feelgood soaring-into-the-sunset closing credits anthem (the literally-titled ‘Everything Is Going To Be Okay’). Whatever prophecy Prophecy is foretelling, we’re on board
Waves - Waves / Misfits (New CD) $20 Double CD reissue from 2013 - first time on CD.
Crosby, Stills and Nash influenced group from New Zealand. Includes their 1975 self titled debut, and a previously unreleased follow up album "Misfit" which was more progressive.
Excellent!
Click here to read the Active Listener Review.
White Denim - Fits / Exposion (Used CD) $7 Fits:
1. Radio Milk: How Can You Stand It 2. All Consolation 3. Say What You Want 4. El Hard Attack DCWYW 5. I Start to Run 6. Sex Prayer 7. Mirrored and Reverse 8. Paint Yourself 9. I'd Have It Just the Way We Were 10. Everybody Somebody 11. Regina Holding Hands 12. Syncn
Plus bonus album Exposion.
2CD Set.
Amazing Zambian psychedelic rock reissue. One of the cornerstones of world psych.
Witchcraft - Firewood (New CD) $111. Chylde Of Fire 2. If Wishes Were Horses 3. Mr Haze 4. Wooden Cross (I Can't Wake The Dead) 5. Queen Of Bees 6. Merlin's Daughter 7. I See A Man 8. Sorrow Evoker 9. You Suffer 10. Attention! 11. Hidden Track Product Description Fantastic 2005 album of Swedish Doom-psych for fans of Candlemass, Pentagram, Saint Vitus & Black Sabbat. Sounds like a vintage Vertigo recording.
We ship from New Zealand. Combined shipping is no problem, and a good way of saving some money.
Postage within NZ is $2 per CD.
Postage to Australia is $6 for first CD, plus $3 for each additional CD.
Postage to Europe / U.K / U.S / Asia is $10.00 for 1-2 CDs, plus $3 for each additional CD.
