Browse by Label: SPALAX (FRANCE)

Artist:	POPOL VUH
Title:	Einsjager & Siebenjager
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	LP
Price:	$26.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14118

Vinyl version of the 5th album from 1975, ("A Soldier And Seven Soldiers"). "One of Popol Vuh's hardest albums. Daniel Fichelscher shines here with crispy guitar solos and driving drums...the title track is the album's crescendo. It is a strange mix of all the band's previous styles, with Djong Yun's vocals thrown in for added eeriness. This track just floods the room with its gentle piano theme, and intruding drums and guitar." Limited stock.

Artist:	SCHULZE, KLAUS
Title:	Irrlicht
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	LP
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14121

Vinyl version of Klaus Schulze's first solo album, from 1972. "After stints in the legendary bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel, Irrlicht was Klaus Schulze's first stab at a a solo project. He had radical ideas for the newly developed electronic music scene which are blatantly present here. Equipped with a small orchestra, 4-track, guitar, percussion, organ, and a little electronic gadgetry, he created a 'cosmic classic'. No synthesizers were used here, just a remarkable use of sampled tapes and Klaus' magical touch. This album is just mesmerizing, with music that reaches into a whole other world."

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:	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:	COSMIC JOKERS
Title:
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14293

The Cosmic Jokers were a German space/electronic/psych supergroup, who recorded for the legendary Cosmic Couriers label in the mid 70s. The line up was Ash Ra Tempel's Manuel Gottsching, Wallenstein's Harald Grosskopf & Jurgen Dollase, Klaus Schulze and scene engineer/sideman Dieter Dierks. This CD was their debut from 1974, and it's a pretty spectacular surge into 70s drugged byways, Gottsching's trademark acid guitar on top of instrumental waves of analog synth gurgling and spaced out electronic effects. Until recently this stuff was largely unknown and way underrated, at least in American circles. All 5 Cosmic Jokers CDs come in pleasing digipaks.

Artist:	YAMASH'TA, STOMU
Title:	Red Buddha
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14512

"Recorded in 1970 -- first issue 1971. First CD reissue of this incredible album of Stomu Yamash'ta. The 2 tracks performed by Yamash'ta are purely percussional. Yamash'ta is renowned worldwide for his work as an avant garde composer, and is deeply involved in the fields of 'musique contemporaine'. He also approached electronic music in the late 70s through a collaboration with Klaus Schulze." The 1st piece is composed for metal strings, tambury, cymbal, music saw, mandorin harp; the 2nd for steel drum, marimba, cow bell, wood block & skin drum. Excellent atmospherics throughout.

Artist:	AMON DÜÜL UK
Title:	Airs On A Shoestring
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14515

Spalax call this "...the nearest thing to an Amon Duul II 'Best Of' album," which is one of their cruel jokes. This consists of material by the British-based ADII variant, formed by John Weinzierl and Dave Anderson from the early 80s (incorrectly copyrighted to the year 1972 on the back cover to fool the ignorant). Some okay "psychy" jam tracks (that mildly approach the early eastern-tinged ADII style) and a bit of laughable New Wave, too.

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:	QUAD SAX
Title:	Quad Sax 1
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14563

"Quad Sax grew out of the group Urban Sax, tending towards a possible re-writing by the composer Gilbert Artman, not to make a 'reduction' but rather to render, in perhaps a clearer manner, the same concept. In effect, each composition is like a puzzle that can put itself together, then mix itself at (some other) interval. Using the acoustic and the electronic at the same time, each participant in this Saxophony of rough brilliance is at once both accompanist and soloist. Improvisation and movement in space make up this particular universe." Quad Sax is: Fred Aquavia (ts, ss), Alain Douchet (bs, as), Sébastien Jallier (as, ss) & Phillipe Bolliet (bs, as). Performing the works of Gilbert Artman (Lard Free, Urban Sax).

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:	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:	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:	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:	COEUR MAGIQUE
Title:	Wakan Tanka
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14822

Reissue of an early-70s French rock album, first issued by BYG. "The guitarist Claude Olmos's band (ex-Alan Jack Civilization, Alice & Docdail) embarked into the world of progressive rock. Based upon the beat of percussions, propelled by the inventive Didier Lesage's bass and Laurent Marino's drums. Coeur Magique infolob a powerful sound magnified by Harry Seur's voices and Claud Olmos' long and wild solos. His rhythms are directly connected to the world of West-Indian progressive music."

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:	CLUSTER
Title:	II
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14864

Cluster were key members during the formative years of the Krautrock movement. They initially released 2 LPs in '69/70 with the Kluster spelling that are amongst the earliest Teutonic pulse masterworks. Their first album with a "C" spelling was the s/t LP on Philips (currently o/p as a CD on Sky), before they moved over to the Brain label. This is their first of 2 for that label, from 1972, and is a great, confused space classic by this duo (Roedelius & Moebius). Utilizing primitive synthesizer whirls, hypnotic guitar/bass patterns, etc. The 12-minute "Im Suden" is especially masterful.

Artist:	COSMIC JOKERS
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
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:	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:	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:	WEGMÜLLER, WALTER
Title:	Tarot
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$29.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14900

Repressed. Long deleted in the elaborate box set version with it's unique Tarot cards, here is the regular priced double CD version of this Krautrock all-time classic. Originally issued on the OHR subsidiary label Kosmiche in 1973. Wegmuller was a gypsy painter who had designed a 78 card Tarot set; the music, spread out over 2 CDs is performed by what is essentially the first version of the Cosmic Jokers: Manuel Gottsching, Hartmut Enke, Harald Grosskopf, Jurgen Dollase, Jerry Berkers & Walter Westrupp. Produced by Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser & Gille, with guest appearance by Dieter Dirks and Rosi. The music is classic space-out Krautrock (ala early Ash Ra or C. Jokers), with 22 tracks dedicated in concept to the Major Arcana cards in the Tarot set. "Tarot is a major German electronic music piece composed and directed by Walter Wegmüller and played by the Cosmic Jokers. In the past it was available in a limited boxset coming with the Tarot game designed by Walter Wegmüller. As it is sold out since over 3 years, it was time to re release it as a double CD with the original 16 pages leaflet."

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:	ART & TECHNIQUE
Title:	Clima-x
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14914

Reissue of an obscure French electronic album from 1981, originally issued on Hi-Tec Records. Includes a previously unissued 23-minute live track, which reminds one of Throbbing Gristle in parts. Murky instrumental analog synth tracks that have their appeal, song-like structure but nowhere near as pounding as Metal Urbain. "The music of Art et Technique is influenced by visually, sonically and sensually by the world of purring refrigerators and internal combustion engine. But it wasn't a case of imitation or sublimation: 'We only use this type of new sounds, as yet unexploited, which one can shape and refine, rhythmically or otherwise: these are new sonic landscapes. Our world of poets must situate itself in them."

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:	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:	SCHULZE, KLAUS
Title:	Irrlicht
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14921

After his involvement w/ the monster debut albums by both Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel, Schulze went solo and this is the first album (originally issued on OHR, 1972). The first of many classic space rock/trance epics; long tracks in which Schulze plays everything (electronic machines, organ, guitar, percussion, much more), this is some of the finest German Kosmiche Musik there, staggering work and really quite underrated once you get outside his cult following. [deleted]

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:	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:	Il Prefetto di Ferro/Il Mostro
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14985

2 original soundtracks on 1 CD, both from 1977. "This re-issue supplies a more complete portrait of Morricone. Today's technology enables the listener to appreciate with greater clarity the Mediterranean sounds of Pasquale Squitieri's Il Prefetto... which are sometimes warm and at others harsh but are sounds which unmistakably remind the listener that the composer draws from an intimate knowledge of the folk music of the region."-- Claudio Fuiano.

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.

Previous Page Index of Labels Next Page

Artist:	ASH RA
Title:	Tropical Heat
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14242

Artist:	GÖTTSCHING, MANUEL
Title:	Dream & Desire
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14243

Artist:	ASH RA TEMPEL
Title:	Starring Rosi
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14247

Artist:	FOWLEY, KIM
Title:	The Day the Earth Stood Still
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$16.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14260

Artist:	WALLENSTEIN
Title:	Mother Universe
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14273

Artist:	SCHNITZLER, CONRAD
Title:	Con Brio
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14274

Artist:	RICH, ROBERT
Title:	Geometry
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14279

Artist:	CATHARSIS
Title:	Et S'Aimer... Et Mourir...
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14280

Artist:	DEMON THOR
Title:	Anno 1972
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14290

Artist:	GURU GURU
Title:	UFO
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14296

Artist:	BIRTH CONTROL
Title:	Operation
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14299

Artist:	PAUVROS/GABY BIZIEN, JEAN-FRANCOIS
Title:	No Man's Land
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14506

Artist:	MOTHER GONG
Title:	Wild Child
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14521

Artist:	HOENIG/GOTTSCHING
Title:	Early Water
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14536

Artist:	ULBRICH, LUTZ
Title:	Lüül
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14565

Artist:	FROHMADER, PETER
Title:	Nekropolis 2
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14573

Artist:	KÄNGÜRÜ
Title:	Kangürü
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14574

Artist:	CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY
Title:	Les Contes Du Singe Fou
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14594

Artist:	KESSLER, SIEGFRIED
Title:	Man and Animals
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14613

Artist:	RAS MIDAS
Title:	Stand Up
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14806

Artist:	NINEY THE OBSERVER
Title:	Volume 1
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14807

Artist:	ALLEN, DAEVID
Title:	N'Existe Pas
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14817

Artist:	INNER CITY UNIT
Title:	New Anatomy
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14845

Artist:	HAWKWIND
Title:	Bring Me The Head Of Yuri Gagarin
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14846

Artist:	TANGERINE
Title:	Memoire
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14855

Artist:	EMTIDI
Title:	Saat
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14880

Artist:	RED KRAYOLA, THE
Title:	The Parable Of Arable Land
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14887

Artist:	IHRE KINDER
Title:	Live '82
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14892

Artist:	LA BAMBOCHE
Title:	La Saison des Amours
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14926

Artist:	FREEDOM
Title:	Freedom At Last
Label:	SPALAX (FRANCE)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	SPA 14927