Friday, 26 September 2025

More from Simon Park: Good Company (1975); Stretch (1976) [FLAC limited time only]








These albums are very similar to the previously posted Bird one, but perhaps slightly less inspired overall.  Overall I was more disappointed with Good Company, but from Stretch with the brilliant graphic cover, the very pleasant Daffodil:



Again, not sure if there's more of interest in there, but I stopped before breaching the 1980 barrier.


Wednesday, 24 September 2025

By Request, Arjuna's La Montagna Sacra from 1999





 

This one definitely sounds like it should have appeared in the late 70s Italian prog scene, and seems very indebted to it.  It might be a second album from Maxophone or Triade or something like that.

Information page with scant results here for the artist, and here for the release.

The Genesis / Maxophone influence is evident here on the sweet Song for Timothy:



Then the next track brings out the traditional flute sound of the prog classics on top of dissonant electric guitar clangings:



So an interesting suggestion to listen to.

Back to library albums in a bit.

Monday, 22 September 2025

Simon Park's 1974 Electric Bird [FLAC limited time]

 



That's a great cover too with the turkey. Should've waited until Thanksgiving.

Simon Park:

Composer (b. 13 March 1946, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England).

Son of architect Ronald Stewart Park (1921-1985) and Cynthia Mary Briggs (1 August 1921, Leicester-14 August 1946, London).

This wonderful album came out in 1974, and has some great instrumental compositions with a basic lineup of electric piano, guitar, plus rhythm.  Most of his discography looks like it's easy listening playing standards or orchestral music, for ex. soundstracks for movies.  Samples, Bells:


Slow Ride:



Friday, 19 September 2025

Pierpaolo Bibbo, Part 2: 2012 Genemesi, 2018 Via Lattea [nonFLAC]






His much later follow up albums were not quite as delicate as the first one, with the addition of electric guitars, electronics, vocals, and usually driving beats.  First track of Genemesi, as a sample:


From 2018's Via Lattea, a vocals track that closes out the CD:



 

Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Pierpaolo Bibbo, Part 1: 1980's Diapason [FLAC limited time only]

 



 
Discographed here

Italian singer/songwriter born in Cagliari, 20th February 1954.

Not as much output as the earlier posted Italian keyboardist Pepe Maina, but still quite good and in the same vein.  He plays all the instruments and the music flows quite beautifully in the typical electronic / prog Italian way.
A diapason is a tuning fork, btw.

Contaminazione: