CARNAVAL are a heavy band from Ljubljana strongly influenced by the early 90s stoner rock and late 80s proto-grunge styles. "Miss Universe" is their fourth full length album and an impressive mix of old school desert stoner, bluesy hard rock, spacey grunge eruptions and psyched-up metal heaviness. The seven songs of the album are all a dense affair of savage massive riffing, fat-heavy bass grooves, downtuned guitars and mind-expanding vocal work that contrasts with the rest instrumentation, adding an hypnotic feel to the music. A mature work of relentless heavy rock that urges you to grab a smoke, sit down and listen to it.
"Echo" is the second album from Kiev's ATOMIC SIMAO and we're privileged to issue it on vinyl, as a follow-up to their successful first LP "Nōdo" of two years ago.
On this sophomore effort, the band abandons the Hendrixian jamming of their debut and takes a long head-dive into funked-up spacerock. The style on this release is a complex instrumental mix of acidic guitar, psyched-out electronica and Middle-Eastern influenced laid back space-jazz feel. A multitude of rhythms are swirling everywhere, funky jazz grooves spice up the recipe the Funkadelic way, and a soaring sax brings the compositions to Gong's "Shamal" era territory and beyond. Adjectives to describe the listening experience: trippy, complex, eclectic, intense, surreal...
Overall, "Echo" is not what expected in comparison to the direct psychedelic jam feel of their debut, but in a way it's a more intense and colourful panorama of cosmic sounds and "down and dirty" grooves. This is beautiful music to zone-out. Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the take-off!
Grovjobb went down as one of the under-the-radar obscurities of the 90s
Scandinavian retro progressive scene. They were a Swedish band formed in 1995
that existed for only a few years, performing an interesting hybrid of
progressive rock, psychedelia, forest folk, and world music with a definite
throwback to the early 70s. They released three albums during their active
lifespan, that didn’t receive the attention they deserved. Now, Muzic Bazz is
trying to correct this omission by reissuing their first two albums in vinyl
format (they only received the CD treatment back in the day).
Landet Leverpastej
Originally released in 1998 on the small Garageland label, Grovjobb’s
debut is an excellent example of flute driven prog rock, that can be generally
described as a Scandinavian version of early Jethro Tull (“Stand Up” &
“Benefit” era), though entirely instrumental. There's a genuine lot to be
(re)discovered here. Above all, the band succeeded to sound like a mid 70's
progressive band, while avoiding the predominance of the technical factor in
favour of low-tempo instrumental tunes with a heavy psych vibe, often in a
happy, playful mode. When they jam, there’s a notable Fläsket Brinner influence
enrichened by a constant interplay between fuzz-drenched guitar and flute. The
resulting duels are combined with native folk motives and some jazzy moments,
that give a special “warm summer night air” atmosphere to the pieces. Not the
whole album is tightly structured, as Grovjobb wade also through some loose
arrangements with a jamming feeling and a light improvisational touch. In its
whole, “Landet Leverpastej” is a gloriously vintage and magnificently evocative
recording with an “open” aura: the feeling of nature - the sounds of the forest
and the sea.Everyone who is after
well played instrumental music which rests more in a structured jam
session vein, will love this record. The specific reissue comes in a different
cover to the CD, redesigned by artist Dan Fröberg.
Vättarnas Fest
From the wonderful cover (created by illustrator Hans Arnold) with the parading bodies transformed as music
instruments, one gets the picture that something special goes on with
“Vättarnas Fest”. Following their excellent debut from the year prior, Grovjobb
come with another impressive album, which by many is considered as their “crown
of creation”. The music in this second offering takes a deeper dive in the early
70s in a remarkably convincing result. The jam based approach on the record
takes a more hypnotic, jazzier approach and the flute playing is more fluid
than on the previous album, resulting in a distant krauty vibe. Then comes the
use of sitar and bits of Indian classical music; a fact that adds a spacious
feel to the music and an aura of originality. The listener is transported back
in time, without being (even momentary) let-down through all this well-played,
cohesive, always inspired instrumental delivery. And in true retro spirit, the
high levels of creativity result in an eastern-influenced 19 minute long
instrumental suite, where the raga structured sitar transitions softly into an
electric guitar driven psych journey that near its end dissolves in a sea of
fuzz. Music that good, that never gets old or outdated; a five stars album that
is superb in every respect and a must to every retro psych/prog aficionado.
Both Grovjobb albums are officially reissued from the original masters in
both coloured and black vinyl on COSMIC EYE's parent label
MusicBazz Corporation (http://www.musicbazz.com).
Each album in a total of 200 copies with printed inner sleeves:
Βerits
Halsband were an obscure band from the small coastal town of Hudiksvall, in
central Sweden. Their relative isolation allowed the group an artistic freedom
that ultimately created one of the greatest progressive jazz rock albums...
ever.
In the mid
1970s, Sweden was harboring a handful of jazz bands looking to push the
envelope beyond the usual bebop standards or electric noodling. These groups
were very much influenced by the North American freaky fusion of Miles Davis
and Herbie Hancock. Collectives such as Ibis, Ablution, Egba, Kornet, and
Archimedes Badkar were bringing that same kind of kinetic creativity up to
Scandinavia. And one has to figure those long, dark winters played a role in
creating hallucinations even among the most puritan of Lutherans wandering
about in their show shoes.
This was
the creative environment that Berits Halsband were operating in. Their artistic
contribution to the scene, and most distinctive mark as it were, would be the
musical crossover to the indigenous Scandinavian folklore of the local wooden
dance hall. Berits Halsband's brand of progressive music wasn't dished up
through the Zappa blender (like the popular Samla Mammas Manna for example),
but rather more of an introspective art school approach. As with other large
scale ensembles, the 8 piece Berits Halsband makes full use of its entire
membership in unique ways. To underscore this point, consider the prominent use
of trumpet, which is often filtered and heavily effected through a wah wah
pedal. Their second lead instrument of choice is the lovely flute, often in
unison with the trumpet, or as a peaceful solo alternative. And while Side 1
sounds like the best soundtrack to your dream Stockholm vacation, side 2 takes
us closer to home, near the Arctic Circle, for some serious deep funk grooves.
And here we find some added ring modulated electric piano combined with amazing
fuzz electric guitar soloing. All this layered on top of a trance-like bass and
a very busy percussion section. While the musical ingredients are familiar, the
end result is entirely Berits Halsband - one of a kind.
In
conclusion, Berits Halband's sole album is a strange bedfellow meeting of 1974
electric era Miles Davis, combined with the Swedish ethnic rock of Kebnekaise,
and the psychedelic pyrotechnics of Flasket Brinner. Yes... it’s that good!
(Tom Hayes)
The rare 1975 LP of BERITS HALSBAND is officially reissued from the original masters in both LP and CD on COSMIC EYE's parent label
MusicBazz Corporation (http://www.musicbazz.com).
Listen to the album.
100
coloured vinyl + poster + CD € 27.00
100
coloured vinyl + poster € 24.00
160 black vinyl + poster€ 22.00 350 custom discfolio digipack CD € 16.00
GREY MOUSE is an euphemism in Russian, referring to shy, timid, quiet girls that usually stay unnoticed.
In our case, GREY MOUSE are a five piece from Moscow that play music rooted in 70s hard psych rock, but also includes trippy Indian/Middle Eastern infused elements enhanced by the use of diverse instruments as sitar, didgeridoo, jaw harp, banjo. "Twisted Tango" is the second physical album of the band, to be issued on vinyl.
Driven by the powerful bluesy voice of Victoria Barsukova the album kicks off with the stoner heavy psych of "Animalism" and continues in an inventive interplay of moods that switch from hard psychedelic tunes to ethnic somber atmospheres. As the album goes on, the mood floats into a gentle, somber, and very compelling tapestry of ethno-psych. While it is great music to lay back and drift away to, there are parts that will bring you back from your reverie by virtue of their stunning beauty.
This is a music which expands full of diverse sounds and a variety of styles that demonstrate how gifted GREY MOUSE really are. "Twisted Tango" is the kind of length and depth worth getting lost in. Open your ears and mind…
I feel
blessed that our paths crossed, although it only through recorded music, live shows and writings...
Have a good time Master
Magick Brother on the
Isle of Everywhere.
Weren't for few ones of a kind like yourself, this label would never have existed.
