The world of Swiss progressive music
Black rills records are based in Switzerland issueing Swiss related progressive music. With reissues of rare 70's progressive lp's to the talents of modern progressive acts. I will hopefully give you a more clear view in the following reviews, for more details please contact the label on the above link. If you are, like myself, a fan of progressive rock, then you could do worse than investing time in this label.
Ertlif - including plastic queen ( 1994 brr001)
First issue from this label gives us a reworking from early 70's outfit Ertlif, having originally released this work in 1972. After several years giging around Europe, they final split in 78. Rejoining together in 92, see Ertlif play a tight brand of melodic progressive rock with a much harder edge at times. Strong vocals, twin guitars with a wide use of keys/piano, gives a excellent place to start looking at Swiss prog. A fine choice from the label to start with, 9 tracks running in at over 47 minutes.
Alpha to Omega - A life ( 1997 brr002)
Now here is a tale to be told in years to come to the son's of all progressive rock fans. This project started life way back in 1970, when a group of Swiss teenagers came together though church groups in Switzerland, now all of you who will start to pull a face here at the thought of god rock. I would say stay with the story it just gets better, after a cast of 1000's this release final saw the light off day in 1976, in a limited double vinyl pressing of just 600 copies ( which gives a running time of over 60 minutes) all copies sold with a blink of an eye, due to some radio play on the one and only Swiss radio station. After the ex-manager of Cat Steven's had picked up on this, using it in other forms later on, the repressing on vinyl never came, and prices for original copies kept climbing higher. The story of the music is based of the life to death of one man, telling about his life, the music is excellent blending of all elements of European progressive rock, flutes, guitars, keyboards, layered sounds strong vocals all the way though, the tight but laid back guitars sound very late 60's west coast, so with the merging of these sounds we are left with over an hour of progressive heaven, with no weakling in any of the music, this CD reissues will give a wider chance for people to hear this, although this limited CD is sure to sell out quickly.
Welcome - same (1997 brr005 )
Originally issued on EMI records 1976, this the first LP from symphonic progressive trio WELCOME. Tight playing with keys that shoot all over, nice guitar work, and vocals, in a slight Jon Anderson range, gives this a really strong upfront sound, 5 tracks running in at around 47 minutes, with all English vocals, this has a very professional sound (no more that you would expect from EMI) and is a very enjoyable progressive piece which will appeal to all fans of Yes and Genesis alike, WELCOME went on to have a little more musical success with their second release two years later before splitting up in 1981. This CD offer a great chance to get a copy of this progressive gem, without spending too much time trying to track down an oringal vinyl copy. The artwork and book that comes with the CD gives you a great insight into this lost progressive trio.
Spot - same ( 1998 brr006)
A joint project here with German progressive reissues label OHRWASCHI. Spot were a Swiss heavy progressive 4 piece,with English vocals, issuing their one and only LP in 1974 on the Evolution label, if original copies ever come up for sale they usually change hands at over $800, so a reissue on this level is more than welcome. The music is hard driving progressive rock, sounding like a mix of Black Sabbath and at times, not unlike a folkie Led Zeppelin !!!. This CD includes all the original LP plus two bonus tracks. Adding to the music is the excellent digi-pkt a tri foldout sleeve with loads of pictures of the band just ad's to the whole appeal of this. If you collect 70's progressive then this should head to the top of your TO-BUY list.
Starglow Energy - Gates to celdan (1999 brr007)
BRR leading new band, recorded during late 97 early 98, this is the 4th LP from STARGLOW ENERGY. I had come across the band a couple of years ago, on a copy of their TIME MACHINE release. Still supporting the call for vinyl all 4 of their LP's have received very LTD vinyl pressing, so a real treat for the collectors too. This offering is a full blow hard edged progressive piece, some excellent driving guitar lead, and the organ just roars right out at you. They play a blend of European porg that most of you will know all too well, 6 tracks running at 40 minutes ( the only draw back for me ) and one hidden track. The CD kicks off with "DANCE OF THE TROLLS" where the organ just smarts at you. The rest of the CD is full of heavy progressive, the last track and really the main stay of this release is "CELDAN" a total progressive musical feast a song about lost lands and encounters, ads a mystical appeal here, and worth getting this release for, the vocals excellent, I'm sure this will grace the whole of one side on the vinyl release. Which by the time you read this should be ready. The CD comes in a foldout digi pkt, which when given LP size will be fantastic. As STRAGLOW ENERGY grow with age, so does their musical appeal, this is a real treat for anyone who loves the European progressive scene.
Kedama - same (Ch brr/moon99)
The most recent issue from this Swiss label that is giving us the insight into a lost world or progressive rock from Switzerland. With this release BBR have joined forces with Moon Records for a fine release. This CD includes all the bands own LP, plus a LP's worth of bonus stuff, 72 minutes worth in total. Kedama were a little known Swiss three piece instrumental act. Who's one and only LP from 1976, if you can find a copy would set you back around $300, here we get a chance to see inside the world that was KEDAMA. The first four tracks here are from there original "live at sunrise studios" recorded in June 76 this is a fine blend of what European progressive rock was about 23 years ago. A fine use of the limited range of instrumentation bands had to work with then. No muliti tracking, you got what you paid for, hard driving heavy progressive rock, this band pushed hard on the door of technology for the time. The guitar has to be noted for it's exception here, there is a great use of the mini moog, and few sound samples, not like you get today, but they fit real well. After hearing this for the first time ever, I can see why so many collectors want to own the original. Tracks 5 to 9 run from a session recorded again at the famous Sunrise Studios, this time the band went back a few months later running over the winter/spring of 1977. Starting this session, which I can only guess would have been the follow up LP. First we get Chinese dragon, a 9 minute plus driving piece, there is more use of the moog here, than on the previous tracks, more of a ELP feel to this one at times. Next track is Hwrklng, which starts with backwards vocal talk and then moves on with that great roaring organ sound again, moving very up tempo here. Track 7 and for me the track of the release, Honey moon, a really great guitar based offering with a late nite feel to it, this I feel show's ow good a group of musicians, Kadama were. They following tracks from this session are Improvisations ( no explanation nesscerry,an eastern vibe too) and Intermezzo, another great 6 minute tune with that late nite guitar feel again. The last two tracks, Two Souls and Feelings without name, come from a session a few years earlier in 1973, but show how the band matured into one of the great lost European progressive acts.
Liazzard - In Concert (Ch brr 1999)
Now in the world of musical joy, I find two things not over interesting, one is Live stuff, an the other is 2 CD sets. HELP!!!! shouted the mad man in the corner, this is both. OK so I thought I'd start by reading the liner notes, get the feel of what this is all about first. Lizard were a Swiss rock band from Zurich who's short, but as I was later to discover sweet life was just three years old. Coming together in the autumn of 78, Lizard were a classic progressive rock band. Their tale is a long one, I'll try and tell it well. They were a touring band. The CD is recorded live at shows, including the bands final show on the 21st of November 1981. Included are all the tracks from the orignal double LP, issued after the band split, plus more. From the out set I would have guessed that Lizard knew there were never going to be the next Genesis. Time were changing and lovers and tunes over 3 minutes were now few and far between. The complex progressive rock we get here, long tracks time and motion moves, hard vocals, monster keys, is not something the every day music lover wants. This is epic rock, for late nights and long days.... The opening track is nearly 12 minutes, other run in at over 10 minutes, and the even longer 27 minute Jam. If this is a representation of what the band were about then I'm sure if you ever saw Lizard live, then your life was a little bit more fuller for this treat. They giged Switzerland for three years, never reaching out much further. They would I guess have played local hall's and club. The only direction on this I feel is the English vocal, which would have had a wider appeal if they had have had left their home land. The music is full blooded prog rock. With all the appeal it should have. The right moves the right vocal, the right angel on songs, musical experiment's along the way. After listening too all 140 minutes in one go, and to the anger of my wife, again later the same night, I can say my faith in 2 CD live sets has been restored. Bubble Brain, is outstanding, and far too over the top, but who care's. This is what I like about all things progressive in the world of rock. As the liner notes tell, the last track here, Going on, starts with a band member saying, "welcome to the funeral", as this was the opening track on the final show from Lizard, I can only sadly agree.
There are a few other releases from BRR which you can find out more details on their own web site, also you will find full ordering details too. If you do visit let them know where you found the link.