ALBUM OF THE DAY: Sandrose – s/t

Unlike most other European countries, except England, the French scene was alot more inspired by bands like SOFT MACHINE, rather than the Italian and Dutch, who followed the UK idols in KING CRIMSON, YES and E.L.P. The debut album from SANDROSE is more or less a total classic that was more inspired by the symphonic movement of the 70’s UK scene. Haunting guitars from Jean Pierre Alarcen is beautifully combined with the lovely voice of Rose Podwojny, with added swirling hammonds. Unfortunately, the band did not do much more. The band had it’s roots in EDEN ROSE, which also is a really nice album, although, not a classic as this one is.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Buffalo – Volcanic Rock

When speaking of heavy music from the early 70’s Aussie scene, I often hold MASTERS APPRENTICES high. The 2^nd band that are really deserving to be re-discovered is BUFFALO. Hosting Peter Wells in his pre-ROSE TATTOO era, the 3 first albums from BUFFALO and sheer heavy grinding guitar madness, taking more influence from North American bands like SIR LORD BALTIMORE and BANG, rather than the more blues influenced sounds of the UK acts like BLACK SABBATH. This is heavy, this grinding madness, and in front of everything, this is great music !

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Algarnas Tradgard – Framtiden Ar Ett Svavande Skepp Forankrat I Forntiden…

So who said the Germans could do the most stoned music in the early 70’s ? OK, I would not deny bands like XHOL CARAVAN, KALACAKRA and BRAINTICKET is far out there in the subconsiousness, however, the debut album of Swedish psychedelic band ALGARNAS TRADGARD do give the most drugged, the most far out in space bands and the most stoned bands a real match. Free improvisation mixed with psychedelia and a bit of folk made a superb prescription, and this is a true classic of Scandinavian underground culture of the early 70’s.

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Automatic Fine Tuning – A.F.T.

How crude can it be ? The sheer madness of UK based AUTOMATIC FINE TUNING is not easily compared to other bands. Blistering and frantic instrumental songs with ear damaging endless guitar harmonies, sounding like a 35 minute solo from the debut album of RAINBOW, but with some more tempo changes and progressive elements. The band did not do much more than this, who knows what they are doing today, but the 6 string benders should be elected into the hall of fame. An obscure & unknown gem, obvious for the heavy progressive / hardrock connossieur.