"Quatrième Épisode" by Fille Qui Mousse

from Trixie Stapelton 291 - Se Taire Pour Une Femme Trop Belle

Backstory: Depending on who you believe, it was recorded in either 1971 or '72. French band made only 10 test copies of the record, but then it was never put out, and then band faded away. Prog collectors paid $3000 for it. Everybody else wondered what it sounded like.

Finally in the 90's some little labels started issuing cd's of it, and people can finally hear Fille Qui Mousse (Frothing Girl), one of the more out records I've heard. It goes from Can-ny jams to white noise to random piano tinkling to this one track where this fille speaks in French while dogs bark pyschedelically in the background. I like this groovy little ditty, dude almost sounds like Damo.

"The Minotaur" by Dick Hyman

from Moog: The Electric Ecletics of Dick Hyman

After just having installed some speakers in the kitchen, my old lady puts this on, and man, doing dishes was never so trippy! Didn't realize until reading the allmusic blurb that ELP were inspired to write "Lucky Man" after hearing this cut. Makes sense. I only wish it was one of the better titles, like "The Topless Dancers of Corfu" or "The Legend of Johnny Pot", but nope, it's simply "The Minotaur."

"Yes I Do" by Laura Allan

from Laura Allan

I know I thought I was going to the edge of chimney taste in previous posts, but this time I may be going to far! I ripped this one FOUR MONTHS AGO, but declined to post after feeling it was too much sugar. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's how I can eat popsicles in the grass now, but somehow this sounds even better now. I love it! Yes I Do.

"Love Is On The Line" by Barclay James Harvest

from Eyes Of The Universe

I dollarbinned this yesterday, not really sure what I would get. I've heard only a slight little of their prog beginnings prior, but by '79 anything was possible. Anyway, I put it on and I immediately thought of two things - Alan Parsons Project "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" and time to say hey to the chimneys! My Love Is On The Line.

"Camisa 10 Da Gávea" by Jorge Ben

from África Brasil

Watching Brazil trounce Japan yesterday, I couldn't but help a little bit sorry for Zico, one of the greatest players in Brazil's history, and he never won a World Cup! And he's not winning one this year coaching Japan. But Jorge Ben wrote a song about him, which would be more than enough for me. Listen for Jorge to exclaim "Zico!" near the middle.

"Livin' In A Ram's Head" by Pentagram

from First Daze Here

Been in a metal mood since 666 day, which was capped off nicely by local Bay band calling themselves Parallelogram, tributing Pentagram, partly because the original guitar player Vincent McCallister just passed away. But yeah, I've totally been Livin' In A Ram's Head

"Ollin Arageed" by Hamza El Din

from Eclipse

Sad news, Hamza died earlier this week at Alta Bates in Berkeley. He was one of the quietest yet most mesmerizing performers of music I've ever seen. He would do this thing where he would step away from the mic while he was singing, then keep singing, retreat to the back of the stage, so you could barely hear his voice, but yet you still heard everything so clearly. It gave off this effect like he wasn't really there, a mirage perhaps. Learn the clapping pattern to this instrumental, and you will get to where Hamza is now and has always been.

"Kucuk Yaramaz" by 3 Hür-el

from Hürel Arsivi

The Brothers Hürel, maybe more known for rocking harder and Turkisher, turn in a real finger snapper here. I had had this record for a couple years but for some reason hadn't picked up on Kucuk Yaramaz until I heard someone play it on KUSF a couple months ago. Thank you, Mr. DJ.

"Nothing's The Same" by Banco

from Banco

This 9-min+ progger is probably at its best in the first 60 secs (feel free to feelfree with it), but still there are some sick sounds and puzzling passages throughout. Before this attempt to sell out to English speaking audience, they were known as Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, which internet translations tell me means "bank of the mutual assistance." Nothing's The Same

"Madagascar Olodum" by Banda Reflexu's

from De Mae Africa

One genre of Brazilian jams that doesn't seem to get a lot of critical notice up north is the axe scene from the 80's... probably 'cause a lot of it sucks. But this band, despite their keyboard sounds (Yamaha DX1?), gets me going more than, say, a lot of what I've heard from Gilberto Gil's 80's albums (maybe not saying much). They do a lot of songs that samba reggae originators Olodum made popular, but they seem to be able to have way better results taking it electric (syn drums help!). And yeah, I would laugh to see a Brazilian smiley. Madgascar Olodum