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Index of Labels
Browse by Label: SPALAX (FRANCE)
Artist:
CATHARSIS
Title:
Masq
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14201
Masq
is their first, from 1971; the sound is vaguely reminiscent of early-mid period Pink Floyd, acoustic guitars and prog textures and occasional edgy tension-filled passages, with weird massed vocals on top. Best of their batch.
Artist:
PAUVROS, JEAN-FRANCOIS
Title:
Le Corps Est Un Menteur
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14264
Two strange CDs of experimental-guitar based "music for ballet" by Pauvros, "a well-known avant garde guitarist composer & performer. He met and plays since the early 70s with the most renown musicians (Ted Milton/Blurt, Arto Lindsay/DNA, Elliot Sharp/Carbon). Part of Catalogue with Jac Berrocal and Gilbert Artman (Lard Free & Urban Sax)...the two CDs are in style of Rock in Opposition, DNA, ethnical Original Sound Tracks, borned from Jean-Francois Pauvros's outer-space mind."
Artist:
ELECTRIC SUN
Title:
Earthquake
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14265
1995 reissue of this 1979 hard rock album by Uli Roth (post-Scorpions), accidently in stock. "Dedicated to the spirt of Jimi Hendrix." "Strong tracks include "Burning Wheels Turning' and 'Still So Many Lives Away', which have the most fantastic guitar solos, and perhaps one of Uli's most famous solo. Another good song is the opening track, 'Electric Sun', in which Uli welcomes the world to the Electric Sun band/concept with a one minute opening guitar salvo/solo that will leave guitar fans breathless. The CD is worth a buy for the two instrumental tracks alone - the very brief but cool 'Winterdays' and the closing title track, a ten minute plus opus of Strat magic, with its well thought out arrangement and brilliant classical workouts, weaving what would become Roth's trademark sonic tapestry Neo-Classical Metal/Hard Rock."
Artist:
SCHNITZLER, CONRAD
Title:
Con Brio
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14274
2nd CD on label. Serene synthetics and solo piano studies.
Artist:
PAUVROS, JEAN-FRANCOIS
Title:
Musiques Pour Anne Dreyfus
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14276
As above.
Artist:
LIMBUS 4
Title:
Mandalas
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14277
Repressed. Reissue of the 2nd Limbus album (their even more obscure debut from 1969, under the name Limbus 3, has been bootlegged on CD by Germanofon & is legitimately available on LP via the Batschong label), which was originally issued by OHR in 1970. A fantastic dose of early 70s German freeform weirdness and an essential reissue for the tuned-out community. "Formed in 1968, Limbus were a most unusual band who grew a unique music out of jazz, folk and avant-garde roots. As the more varied instrumental quartet Limbus 4, with swirling organ, studio effects and a most bizarre use of kazoos,
Mandalas
has perplexed and confused many. Limbus 4 were certainly one of a kind. We uncover: Odysseus Artnern, Bernd Henninger, Matthias Knieper & Gerd Kraus (piano, bass, cello, viola, violin, flutes, percussion, tablas)."
Artist:
RICH, ROBERT
Title:
Geometry
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14279
Recordings from 1986-87.
Artist:
CATHARSIS
Title:
Et S'Aimer... Et Mourir...
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14280
6th album from 1986. No comment possible.
Artist:
DEMON THOR
Title:
Anno 1972
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14290
First, ploddingly dull album from 1972.
Artist:
FLOH DE COLOGNE
Title:
Lucky Streik
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14291
4th album, originally issued on OHR in 1972. Political cabaret & post-Mothers mayhem.
Artist:
GURU GURU
Title:
UFO
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14296
The first 2 Guru Guru releases, both from 1971. Musically, these 2 represent (along with their 3rd,
Kanguru
) the reigning moments of this acid-destroyed-jamming Krautrock outfit, and are essential artifacts of pure thunder.
Artist:
AMON DÜÜL UK
Title:
Die Lösung
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14517
"The last release from Amon Duul (UK) before John Weinzlerl went back to join the main group again." W/ Robert Calvert, Ed & Joey Ozric, T.S. McPhee. Slightly less New Wave than some of the other titles by this group, as if that was some sort of consolation.
Artist:
MOTHER GONG
Title:
Wild Child
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14521
"This is the 3rd album from the 'Mother Queen' Gilli Smith, recording under the name Mother Gong, in reference to her awe-inspiring and pivotal position in Gong. Originally issued in 1991, this album shows Gilli's great musical talent and flair, which was perhaps not so blindingly present on Gong releases."
Artist:
ANIMA
Title:
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14530
Reissue of this classic outsider freak-out album, first issued by Pilz in 1972, featuring the duo of Paul & Limpe Fuchs (vocals, electronics, zither, percussion, drums, Fuchshorn, etc.). Their 2nd album and a classic example of 70s improvisational madness, highly peaked. "Anima were an adventurous German trio who liked to take jazz music to the extreme. On this album they were joined by Austrian avant-gardist Friedrich Gulda, with whom they recorded two studio jamming sessions. Nothing was decided beforehand or premeditated, and the result is two tracks of completely spontaneous off the wall jazz. Anima are one of the few of Rolf Ulrich-Kaiser's protege's who are still actively touring and recording today."
Artist:
AME SON
Title:
Primitive Expression
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14543
First release of this archival material by this French rock band, best known for their classic
Catalyse
album (originally issued by BYG in 1970; CD is Spalax 14823). "This second album covers a period of about ten years of different experiences. From the first band, Les Primitiv's, till different incarnations of Ame Son with guests and other musicians. This issue of unprevious released tapes or more recently in 1995 rehearsing with Jean-Francois Pavros for concerts in Paris or solos work of Marc Blanc known as Ame songs during the '80s."
Artist:
ULBRICH, LUTZ
Title:
Lüül
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14565
"Solo album of the guitarist of Agitation Free and Ash Ra. This album was recorded in 1981 with Christoph Franke of Tangerine Dreams and Nico! Berliner pop/rock sung in German!" Originally issued under the group name Lüül on the GeeBeeDee label in 1981.
Artist:
MYTHOS
Title:
Strange Guys
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14570
Third album from 1978, more overtly hard rock than their classic self-titled album from '72 or
Dreamlab
from '75. "Mythos were one of the finest of Berlin bands, yet were unfairly overlooked by most of the media. Maybe this was because of the group's leader Stephan Kaske's most unusual strongly accented vocals, who like Jürgen Dollase of Wallenstein, often came across as a strange Kraut Peter Hammill! Aside from his odd vocals, Stephan was also a highly talented multi-instrumentalist, and a visionary....this era saw a move to a more direct, harder edged rockform, though still uniquely Mythos, with the heavy guitars acting as a foil to Stephan's myriads of synthesizers."
Artist:
NEKROPOLIS
Title:
Le Culte Des Goules
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14572
"After having been involved in many Krautrock bands, Peter Frohmader started publishing his own soloworks under the name of Nekropolis. A multi instrumentalist as well as a painter and designer, Peter Frohmader is without any doubt one of the most innovative artists to have emerged on the Munich scene. One of his best works,
Le Culte Des Goules
is a strange mixing of classical music, rock, and electronic. Dark and powerful." Recorded in 1981 and originally issued on the Nekropolis label. Frohmader is credited on: synthesizers, rhythm composer, fretless bass, 8-string bass, 12-string guitar, percussion, choirs, electronics, sounds.
Artist:
FROHMADER, PETER
Title:
Nekropolis 2
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14573
"
Nekropolis 2
is another well known piece of Peter Frohmader. It features a super innovative use of basses. It is in the vein of the best Magma works and can also remind of the early King Crimson and Amon Düül." Originally issued in 1982 on the Hasch label.
Artist:
ASH RA
Title:
Correlations
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14590
"
Correlations
was recorded in 1978 by Manuel Göttsching with his Ash Ra mates: Harald Grosskopf (drums, synthesizer) & Lutz Ulbrich (guitar, string synthesizer, piano & mellotron). This album is a lot more groove orientated than the solo works of Manuel Göttsching. The arrangements are crazily modern (Massive Attack wouldn't deny the string arrangements), the sound is 'crystal clean'. Sleeve design by Hipgnosis."
Artist:
ASH RA
Title:
Belle Alliance
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14591
Reissue of this album originally released by Virgin in 1980. "Recorded in 1979 at the Panne Paulsen studio with Harald Grosskopf and Lutz Ulbrich. Cosmic Krautrock that get sometimes close to cold wave vibrations."
Artist:
CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY
Title:
Les Contes Du Singe Fou
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14594
"3rd album of the Cyrille Verdeaux crew. English lyrics by Ian Bellamy of Zoo. Initially released in '76 in France this album was a nice international success. The line up of Clearlight Symphony on this album includes Didier Lockwood and Tim Blake."
Artist:
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS
Title:
Grackle Debacle
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14596
"This CD features great rare live recordings at the Avalon Ballroom (San Francisco), at La Maison (Houston) in 1966 and some tracks from the 1976 concert at the 'Sleeping Lay Café' in Fairfax. Contains comprehensive liner notes and exclusive rare photos." Also features 3 solo Roky tracks, live at the Sleeping Lady Cafe, 1976. A mish-mash of stuff, rather unattractively packaged, in that legendary Spalax half-hearted fashion. Does feature real ghetto graph on the front cover (underneath the word "Debacle" no less), a theoretical first for the Elevators discography.
Artist:
RABBATH, FRANCOIS
Title:
New Sound of Jazz and first LP
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14607
"This CD includes two former LPs, one produced by Moshe Naïm and the second one released in 1964 in the USA under the name
New Sound of Jazz
. But the latter LP was also known later as
Bass-Ball
. All tracks have been carefully remastered and the CD includes an 8 pages booklet. François Rabbath from Lebanese origin is one the virtuosos of the 'contrebasse'. Mixing jazz as well as classical and folk music, he produces an ethereal, cosmic and beautiful atmosphere."
Artist:
SEFFER, YOCHK'O
Title:
Adama & Bonus Tracks
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14611
"After years of chaotic catalogue policy, legendary and nutty French producer Moshé Naïm turned to Spalax music to have his amazing 'Emen' catalogue reissued. This CD includes the former LP
Adama
and about half of another LP known as
Ima
. It is the first part of a whole work entitled 'Neffesh Music'. Both LPs date back to 1976. All tracks have been carefully remastered and the CD includes an 8 pages booklet. Yochk'o (sometimes spelled Yoschko) Seffer is a saxophonist and clarinettist of Hungarian origin. He became well-known at the beginning of his career as a member of Magma and Zao."
Artist:
KESSLER, SIEGFRIED
Title:
Man and Animals
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14613
"Siegfried Kessler played with numerous artists and namely Yochk'o Seffer. Considered as one of the most brilliant pianists of his time, he recorded several albums.
Man & Animals
is one of his earliest and freshest recordings."
Artist:
TECA & RICARDO
Title:
Volume 1
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14615
"Ricardo was born in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. His career began with the group Momento as a singer, composer and guitarist. He then worked during many years as a musical director for the biggest Brazilian TV channel. The political turmoils which occurred at that time in his country lead him to live in France from 1970 as a student and political exile. He formed a duet with Teca and was introduced to the French audience thanks to the famous French singer Claude Nougaro. They recorded many successful albums. Having been amnestied in the beginning of the eighties, he has been spending time between France and Brazil among tours in other regions of the world."
Artist:
ASH RA
Title:
Correlations
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
LP
Price:
$26.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14760
"
Correlations
was recorded in 1978 by Manuel Göttsching with his Ash Ra mates: Harald Grosskopf (drums, synthesizer) & Lutz Ulbrich (guitar, string synthesizer, piano & mellotron)."
Artist:
ASH RA
Title:
Belle Alliance
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
LP
Price:
$26.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14761LP
"Recorded in 1979 at the Panne Paulsen studio by Manuel Gottsching, with Harald Grosskopf and Lutz Ulbrich. Cosmic Krautrock that get sometimes close to cold wave vibrations."
Artist:
RAS MIDAS
Title:
Stand Up
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14806
1993 album, limited stock.
Artist:
NINEY THE OBSERVER
Title:
Volume 1
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14807
Tracks produced and arranged by Niney Holness (1970-74). Limited stock.
Artist:
ALPES-PATRICE MOULLET
Title:
Rock Sous La Dalle
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14809
Moullet led Catherine Ribeiro's classic backing band Alpes during their heyday (see numerous Mantra reissues), and then branched off with his invented sound-sculpture instruments into post-new age territories as documented on a couple of albums, including this CD from 1993. Prog-derived minimalist compositions, not abstract experimentalism.
Artist:
GONG
Title:
Magick Brother
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14812
Recorded in 1969 and originally released on the legendary French BYG label, this CD reissue beautifully replicates the original's artwork on a nice fold-out digipak and thankfully rescues this work into public visibility. Led by Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth, Gong's debut album presented their spiked vision of "The Kingdom of the Pothead Pixies" into truly illustrious fashion. The spiritual heirs to the fractured throne of Syd's Pink Floyd, this is space-whisper genius from the peak days of the psychedelic dream.
Artist:
ALLEN, DAEVID
Title:
N'Existe Pas
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14817
The 3rd post-Gong solo album by Allen, from 1979, and his first after arriving in NY after his break up with Gilli Smyth. With George Bishop (reeds), Chris Cutler (perc.), Pepsi Milan (acoustic guitar), Angel Aduana (banjo), etc. Pretty decent pastoral prog, with folkish tendencies. [deleted]
Artist:
GONG
Title:
Camembert Electrique
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14826
Gong's first proper studio album, if you consider
Magick Brother
as a Daevid Allen/Gilli Smyth album, and the great
Continental Circus
as merely a soundtrack. Recorded in 1971, along with the aforementioned titles this is classic first phase Gong. "In many way,
Camembert
epitomizes the early Gong. ie. stoned loonies having a great time, who also happened to be excellent musicians. It's full of raw energy, more tape loops, space-whisper and glissando guitar."--John Platt.
Artist:
GONG
Title:
Flying Teapot
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14828
Recorded in 1972, this is the first installment of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy (to be followed by
Angel's Egg
and
You
, and marked a new phase in the band's line up, as Steve Hillage joined on guitar, along with Tim Blake (synthesizer). It also marked the beginning of their alliance with Virgin Records. A surreal triptych of songs about "a telepathic pirate radio network operating brain to brain by crystal machine transmitter direct from Planet Gong," this still finds the band in top-notch floating, psych-prog form, if a bit less heavy than earlier works.
Artist:
GONG
Title:
Floating Anarchy
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14829
Last recorded performance of the original Gong, with D. Allen & Gilli Smyth, at the end of the Virgin period.
Artist:
GONG
Title:
You
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14834
Third installment of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, and the final proper Gong album to feature Daevid Allen (the band would continue on, in a markedly different direction led by Pierre Moerlen). This album has less outright Allen weirdness, but plenty of heavyish space-jamming via Blake & Hillage and a good celestial psych feel for the period (1974).
Artist:
ALLEN, DAEVID
Title:
Dividedalienplaybax80
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14837
"The disturbed Daevid Allen in a strong electronic trip. Surprising from the Gong's master, but definitely furious. To associate with the New York Allen's period with Bill Laswell and Material. Wild, surprising and great." Also very "new wave" but why would they want to mention that?
Artist:
ALLEN, DAEVID
Title:
Opium For The People/Alien In NY
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14844
Two-fer reissue of 2 EPs: 1978's
Opium
and 1983's
Alien...
(the later featuring Kramer, Carney, Laswell, Maher, etc.).
Artist:
INNER CITY UNIT
Title:
New Anatomy
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14845
Spalax initiates a dubious licensing plan from the UK label Demi Monde with these next few. Inner City Unit were a side project of Hawkwind member Nik Turner, this being their 4th album or so, from 1985. Rocking wave nonsense, to be avoided.
Artist:
HAWKWIND
Title:
Bring Me The Head Of Yuri Gagarin
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14846
Live at the Wembly Arena, London 1973, with the core line up of Calvert, Brock, Lemmy, Mik, etc. Sound quality is in the "dissonant archive" style and the packaging "L'asshole generique".
Artist:
AMON DÜÜL UK
Title:
Hawk Meets Penguin
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14848
"...was originally released in 1981, with a line up that included John Weinzierl, Robert Calvert (lyricist of Hawkwind) and Dave Anderson. In this period the band is often called Amon Düül (UK)." Long tracks of improvised rock, this is much better than some of the dire late 70s stuff and probably quite underrated due to its mis-association with some the lamer, more mainstream ADII stuff.
Artist:
TANGERINE
Title:
Memoire
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14855
2nd album from 1976. Valery Btesh's voice is gone, and the sound is more electrified folk-rock.
Artist:
CLUSTER
Title:
Zuckerzeit
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14865
The 2nd Cluster album for Brain didn't come out until 1978, as a reunion of sorts for Roedelius & Moebius after a few years of working with M. Rother as Harmonia. The synthetics are less primitive and more serenely crafted, but this is still a fine insight into the later pulse-ticking mechanics of the scene.
Artist:
EMTIDI
Title:
Saat
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14880
Just lovely acid-folk rock from Germany, 1972 (originally issued on Pilz). A male/female duo, who played guitars, organ, piano, & more to truly intoxicating effect, a long time favorite of those interested in the more spaced/tranced corner of the German underground.
Artist:
COSMIC JOKERS, THE
Title:
Sci Fi Party
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14884
The official hype on this one, "Probably the best album of the Cosmic Jokers. The original LP came out in 1974. A revolutionary album; they were among the first to combine the techniques of dub and sampling. Klaus Schulze also stars on this album," neglects to mention that this is a compilation of mostly, or all, otherwise available material, in extract form. A nascent "remix" album of sorts, with stuff off of the C. Jokers'
Galactic Supermarket
,
Zeitschiff
&
Planeten Sit-In
, as well as Ash Ra's
Seven Up
,
Starring Rosi
and Wallenstein's
Cosmic Century
.
Artist:
COSMIC JOKERS, THE
Title:
Gilles Zeitschiff
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14885
Digipak edition of "My Spaceship," first released in 1974. An odd/confusing concept record, this is a tribute of sorts to the real Cosmic Couriers, especially Mr. Timothy Leary (also Brian Barritt & Walter Wegmuller). Klaus Schulze whips up some tripped out celestial organ backings, the erotic space-whisper of Gille Lettmann rants on about the gentlemen in question, and then excerpts from records (like Tim's album with Ash Ra Tempel,
Seven Up
), are segued in! Gottsching and other Couriers also appear. This is a good listen, a good laugh and definitely worth it for semi-completists; others should start with
Galactic Supermarket
or the CJ's self-titled first.
Artist:
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS
Title:
Bull Of The Woods
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14886
Digipak edition of 3rd and final studio album for the original Elevators, from 1969. More dominated by Stacy Sutherland's songs than ever before, this is a subtly-tranced masterpiece of lo-key psychedelics, and cruelly neglected in today's "private-pressing = god = $ = my ass" universe.
Artist:
RED KRAYOLA, THE
Title:
The Parable Of Arable Land
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14887
The incredible free form freak-out debut album from 1967 by Mayo Thompson and crew.
Artist:
FLOH DE COLOGNE
Title:
Profit Geier
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14891
Reissue of the 3rd album by this German outfit, originally issued in 1971 on OHR. Another difficult listen. "Outrageous and purely innovative, Floh De Cologne, since their inception in 1966 as a student cabaret and music band, constantly surprised, puzzled and always deliberately broke convention. Their elaborate stage shows, socio-political theatrical productions and pure musical innovation lead to obvious comparisons with the similarly radical Mothers of Invention. Yet, while the Mothers were chiefly the vehicle of one musician, Floh de Cologne were a collective unit of creative musicians and actors, who continually dared to take chance, provoke and surprise their audiences via a blend of rock, satire and theatre. In this album, they aptly developed a more rock song based formula, and were also in a more aggressive mood."
Artist:
IHRE KINDER
Title:
Live '82
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14892
Artist:
PAUVROS/SESUKO CHIBA, JEAN-FRANCOIS
Title:
Mango Man Go
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14896
"Often compared to Fred Frith and Jimi Hendrix, JF Pauvros is well-known for his contributions to avant garde. He is joined here by Setsuko Chiba, an innovative Japanese poet...the result of the meeting of these two musical minds is stunning, with Pauvros' accompaniment skillfully complimenting Sesuko's voice as she reads her thought-provoking compositions...simply spiritual." A nicely developing contemporary recording, parts of which wouldn't be out of place on United Dairies or something.
Artist:
MAHJUN
Title:
Happy French Band
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14903
This French group started out under the spelling of Maajun and their debut album from 1971 is supposed to be a bit of a classic in a mixture of early underground styles. It's not on CD however. They changed the spelling of the name and a released a couple of albums for Saravah in '73/'74 and then this last album in 1977 (on Gratte Ciel). There's a post-Zappa influence involved and they supposedly "melded Arab, Free, and folk influences, doling out derision through satirical lyrics and music which parodied popular tunes."
Artist:
REYES, JORGE
Title:
Prehispanic
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14907
"Authentic Precolumbian music" on a new Spalax subsidiary label, Prehispanic. Mexican composer Reyes has recorded numerous ethno-experimental works for a variety of labels; these CDs are licenses of some of his own Mexican releases. "This collection of music composed by Jorge Reyes takes you back to the time of the tribes who lived in Mesoamerica before the Spanish populated it. A whole family of unique instruments were used to recreate the sound. With full background descriptions and a key to the instruments, this collection contains the magic,mystery and beauty of the pre-Hispanic peoples, and their rituals and the forgotten spirits." Using clay flutes, rain sticks, ocarine, pots, drums, rattles, wind whistle, Mayan water drum, bamboo, fossil stones, sea shells, etc., Reyes aims for a musical experience of feverish, hallucinogenic heights.
Artist:
LARD FREE
Title:
Unnamed
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14915
Reissue of a largely unknown recording, featuring a sprawling free-music version of this legendary group. Features Gilbert Artman (drums) and Robert Wood (vibraphone), plus guitar, tenor sax, clarinet, organ, bass, etc. "Completes our discography of the band. Their first work, recorded between 1971 and '72, this will be the first opportunity for fans to hear it with CD quality. This record is a testimony to the group's amazing skills (even at that early stage), notably those of figurehead Gilbert Artman."
Artist:
BERKERS, JERRY
Title:
Unterwegs
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14917
One and only solo album by the Wallenstein/Cosmic Joker bass player, originally issued on the Pilz label, 1972 as their next to last release. Backed up by Wallenstein's Jurgen Dollase & Bill Barone, Dieter Dierks, Westrupp & Witthuser, etc., Berkers plays acoustic & electric guitars and sings lead. It's a pretty mixed bag of short, vaguely progged rock songs, sometimes getting into a heavyish German-like version of Crazy Horse. Hardly essential, but the good tracks are decent enough for Krautrock completists I suppose, and "better" than Wallenstein as a general rule.
Artist:
FLOH DE COLOGNE
Title:
Geyer-Symphonie
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14918
Fourth album from this German group, originally issued on OHR in 1972. Some sort of crazy German political rock opera that can be quite a strain to listen to with, considering all the spoken German texts. Music seems totally secondary, with non-arresting blasts of hardish rock, jazz rock, etc. Mostly of interest to OHR completists.
Artist:
FILLE QUI MOUSSE
Title:
Trixie Stapleton 291 -- Se Taire Pour Une Femme Trop Belle
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14919
"Spalax in strict collaboration with Henry-Jean Enu, finally releases the first official issue of this extraordinary album, revealing a world class band which can compare with his contemporary bands such as Can, Faust or Gong." Fille Qui Mousse ("Girl With Froth"??) is one the most mythical albums to be released(?) from France. Recorded in 1972, it was issued in '73 (evidently only as a test pressing in an edition of maybe 50) by the legendary Futura label. Often referred to as the French Faust, FQM's album mixed collage, psychedelic rock, surreal poetry, and organically tapped noise purity with the absolute best of experimental 70s rock-and-beyond. Was bootlegged a few years ago by the Italian Mellow label, but still very difficult to get ahold of. One of
the
essential reissues of the 70s rock underground. "Straight off, we plunge into that Faust structure...riffing with a psychedelic bent, hints of Gong too...we move into bizarrely constructed patterns of percussive sound and chopped-up rock music, and just as a musical focus takes shape it disappears. A poem, recited by a girl, over an urban landscape populated by numerous barking dogs then gives way to an intensely strange mangled web of sound that's almost brain numbing. And, yet more in the way of strangeness is a piano based piece that recalls some of Roger Doyle's early experiments. The only actual song has the most bizarre lyrics (in English) and is followed by an excursion in distorted and processed guitar. Next is where the folk music comes in, but even with gypsy violin FQM's interpretation of folk is strange and twisted. Finally, we return to the psychedelic jamming that opened the album, but with a jazzier edge, ending the album perfectly." --
Audion
. More recent version on Fractal is deleted.
Artist:
FREEDOM
Title:
Freedom At Last
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14927
1969 bluesy hard rock guitar trio, originally issued on BYG (one of the few "rock" albums in the original Actuel series). Rather bland.
Artist:
CATALOGUE
Title:
Antwerpen Live
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14966
Reissue of an obscure LP by an early quintet version of this group, recorded live in Belgium, 8/11/79: Jac Berrocal (tp, voice, trombone), Jean-Francois Pauvros (guitar), Patrick Prado (sax, harmonium, voice), Michel Potage (voice, guitar, plastic saxophone), Jean-Pierre Arnoux (drums). Outstanding free-rock cacophony, much more wasted than their later efforts (the Hat Hut box or
Insomnie
), and a thrill to hear.
Artist:
MUSICA ELETTRONICA VIVA
Title:
Leave The City
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14968
Spalax have created a subsidiary label (Spalax2) which will be dedicated to the Actuel collection of music, as originally issued by the BYG label out of France. "Musica Elettronica Viva or MEV as they're sometimes called, were founded by Ivan Coaquette (pre-Spacecraft), and also included his wife, Patricia and Birgit Knabe, as well as various other collaborators along the way. The music we find here is an extremely experimental form of electronic jazz which is not a million miles away from the styles of early German Krautrock bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Originally issued in 1970." This was the second of 2 MEV albums to released by BYG in 1970, following
The Sound Pool
(which featured Alvin Curran, Richard Teitelbaum & Frederic Rzewsi amongst others). It features floating, droning free music freakouts of the finest cosmic quality and this reissue is a major event by any sensible standard. A note of explanation from Frederic Rzewski about the various incarnations of MEV: "In 1968/69 MEV experimented with audience participation and took on a number of new younger people, many of whom were not musicians. We wanted to see how far we could extend the idea of free improvisation, surrounding the core group with people who happened to be around. The group expanded and spawned separate communities. In the early 70's there were three MEV's: one in Rome, led by Alvin Curran; one in New York, where Richard Teitelbaum & I were based; and one in Paris, which was organized by the Coaquettes. Birgit nd Nona were members of the Living Theatre, with whom we also hung out a ot, and Stefano was one of the younger acolytes. The record you are talking about was a kind of hippie child who chose MEV as its identity. Nobody ever found out really who was in MEV. At that time, it was part of a movement, and that part of it that was a part of the movement lived and died with that movement." [deleted]
Artist:
VIDÉO AVENTURES
Title:
Musiques Pour Garçons et Filles
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14970
Reissue of their debut 10" EP which was first issued in 1979 on Recommended. Featuring members Monique Alba and Dominique Grimaud, as well as guests Guigou Chenevier (Etron Fou) and Gilbert Artman (Lard Free, Urban Sax, Catalogue), this 2nd Vidéo Aventures CD continues the resurgence of this strange and exotic experimental French group. Utilizing waves of synthesizers, steel guitar, percussion and more, this is a fine collection of pulsating geometry. "This re-release also contains 10 other Vidéo Aventures rarities which span the whole of the group's recording career, from their first rehearsals to their last dabblings."
Artist:
ALPES-PATRICE MOULLET
Title:
En Attendant Noe
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14971
Third solo album by Moullet, who led Catherine Ribeiro's backup group in the 70s. Recorded in 1996 at Moullet's famous Alpes Studio in Paris, largely featuring his invented instrument "Percuphone No. 5" , which is a manual electromechanic instrument dedicated to the principal of polyphonic improvisation, allowing him to trigger up to 48 samples simultaneously. The resultant music however is more aligned to the peripheries of progressive/new age than experimental sound sculpture, and only of secondary interest.
Artist:
VIDÉO AVENTURES
Title:
Camera... (in focus)
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14973
A strange avant cult-classic, largely unknown outside of a few very small circles, that lives up to the hype. "Originally released in 1984, Video Aventures was the brain-child of Dominique Grimaud and Monique Alba. After releasing an EP,
Musiques Pour Garcons et Filles
, to much critical acclaim, they decided to record their first full length record...by collecting together the cream of French avant-garde, this album features Jac Berrocal (Catalogue), Cyril Lefebvre, Guigou Chennevier (Etron Fou) and Sophie Jausserand. To top it all off, the album was sculpted, arranged and produced by Gilbert Artman (Lard Free, Uban Sax). A musical triumph in all respects, this record is extreme, electronic, experimental, above all intelligent and just absolutely stunning."
Artist:
EK TUNKUL
Title:
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14977
"The first album of prehispanic music recorded by Jorge Reyes. All the musique was composed and arranged by him, and both traditional and modern instruments were used to create a sound which is described as 'ethno-rock'." Mexican-based Reyes, who refers to his music as "contemporary Mexican", has released a long series of albums based on his research of the ancient instruments and musical styles of his country.
Artist:
MORRICONE/BRUNO NICOLAI, ENNIO
Title:
Il Sorriso Del Grande Tenatore
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14983
New series of Ennio Morricone soundtracks that Spalax is licensing. Each CD in the series has 2 original soundtracks on 1 CD. This one with
Dalle Ardenne All'Inferno
(1968). Morricone created somewhere between 300 & 400 soundtracks, most notably in the early 60s and 70s. "Morricone brought a 'surrealistic panorama of strange cries, savage guitar chords, jangling bells and cracking of whips'. The results have been described as sounding like 'Mitch Miller on dope'". The packages replicate original movie posters, with plot outlines, but no musical background or notes are included. More detailed information is well beyond my scope.
Il Sorriso...
, with its layers of chirping, montaged female vocals and interludes of organ-rock gushing sure is a weird experience, worthy of repeated listens.
Artist:
MORRICONE, ENNIO
Title:
L'Antichristo/Sepolta Viva
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14984
Two original soundtracks on 1 CD;
L'Antichristo
is from 1974.
Artist:
MORRICONE, ENNIO
Title:
Holocaust 2000/Sesso In Confessionale
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14986
Two original soundtracks on 1 CD,
Holocaust 2000
from 1977.
Sesso In Confessionale
is one of the most chaotic, experimental works in this series to date.
Artist:
TROVAIOLI, ARMANDO
Title:
Berlin '39
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14987
Original soundtrack.
Artist:
XOLOTL, BERNARD
Title:
Last Wave
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$21.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14992
"Amerindian artist Bernard Xolotl is an international painter and musician. In the late 60s he left France for Germany and Switzerland. He was then working with Terry Riley, Tony Conrad, La Monte Young...in Switzerland were Timothy Leary...Manuel Gottsching (Ash Ra Temple), Lutz Ulbrich (Agitation Free)...it was an incredible moment, when all this dream team was about to lead the incredible Cosmic Jokers project...Bernard Xolotl left Europe some months later for San Francisco, performing and recording his music in his incredible home studio. From his label Syntasy he released many tapes from his recordings and artwork. 20 years later he reappears for some days on our European continent...his music is wonderful and it is now rereleased on Spalax." Recorded using various keyboards and guitar, synthesizers, Roland and Korg vocoders, Tibetan percussion, etc., Xolotl has produced masterful cosmic space music. Perhaps not as deep as Klaus Schulz's greatest works, but in a similar vein. More obscure than you would expect.
Artist:
PINHAS, RICHARD
Title:
De L'Un et du Multiple
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14994
New solo album by the ex-Heldon guitarist (unlike much of the Heldon/Pinhas back catalogue, this will not be issued domestically by Cuneiform). Spacy, synth-like Roland guitar solo washes, rather bland in their sense of atmospherics but not unlistenable. Recorded in 1995.
Artist:
NEUMEIER, MANI
Title:
Privat
Label:
SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:
CD
Price:
$17.00
Catalog #:
SPA 14997
A solo album from the Guru Guru drummer, first released in Germany in 1993 (on ATM). Ethnic-tinged tribal percussions, chanting, some loops, screwy programming, solo percussion pieces, etc.
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