Xalph's new Xessander's Present [no download]

 

I was so happy to hear about this release of potentially previously unheard tracks.  In fact, for those well acquainted with this band, both the old collection and the more recent LP release cover almost all the 10 tracks here.  There are only 3 therefore that I haven't heard (although some of the compositions are given a different treatment on this collection): one is the recent electronic track referred to as the "digital bonus track" that is, it's an electronic synth adagio, and the 2 others are absolutely sublime progressive zeuhl stuff.  On the release's Soleil Zeuhl page you can hear them, numbers 7 and 8: Ter and In Memoriam etc.

So it's worth purchasing for those 2 extra tracks which didn't appear on the whole lot once discussed back here on this blog...  

In some way, I think these guys were absolutely exemplary in their style, and better than Magma (sorry to say)...  What an absolute and total joy to listen to this, especially with the remastering.  I do pray a live recording appears, and soon as possible too, as suggested by the Soleil Zeuhl site.

The unbelievable talent of this band, and their ability to craft such complex, creative and interesting music, just leaves me speechless, totally.  Again as I used to say, why is this not played in concert halls instead of the old standards like Stravinsky, when it is just as compelling if not more?

And thanks to the commenter who pointed this out, without whom I would probably never have known about this.

Hawaiian duo Olomana in 3 albums (1976 to 1980)

 

The first 2 albums were requested to be reupped, they were ripped and posted 10 years ago here.  Seagull cover for the first one is still amazing to me.

Information databased here.  Now the third album from 1980, similar in style completely, is available too, so I threw that one in.  Hawaiian folk music of course, but similar in sound to the more simple Seals and Crofts songs.  From the first album, So Free:

Sample from the third album, We are the Children:

Cox Orange 2 LPs + 1 EP, by request

 

Danish funk-fusion band similar to so many others we've encountered from Northern Europe, but heavy on the bass and funky rhythms, less on the fusionary forms.  Like Placebo siamese twinned with Lafayette Afro Rock Band.  All instrumental, sometimes a little too simplistic for me with a handful of chords and not much progressive development.  Or you could say it's as if the Brecker Bros and their atonal funk had been told to tone it down and behave.  Needless to report, there are the usual latin styles too.

Information here.  From the 1978 ST album, the oddness of the riff from Always Public appealed to me:

I notice the 1985 album is missing, anyone have it to share?  It's hit or miss whether or not it will be worth hearing of course, given the late year.

From the second, Sivsko Disko:

To my surprise there is another band with the same name, but this time a German punk band, so that explains the 1989 EP Hypnotized, which I threw in for fun.

Eko Roosevelt in Kilimandjaro my Home from 1976

 

Eko:

Cameroonian musician, pianist and singer (born in Kribi in 1946), studied in Dakar, then Paris, where he released a number of LPs & singles (1975 to 1982), before returning to Kribi.

Ba Bahani sounds like something off the 1970s pop charts, except for the wonderful African lyrics and casually out of sync style of singing:

You should listen all the way to the end when it slows down and gently ends with the wonderful Rhodes complementing the vocalizing.  

By the way I listened to the previous album from 1975 and wasn't too impressed by it compared to this one, which is a bit more developed and varied.  And the next one after this is called Funky Disco Music (1979), so I didn't stray so far.  

But I enjoyed this a lot.

J.O.B. Orquestra's 1978 Open the Doors to Your Faith

 

Complete change in direction now, with mid-1970s funk /soul from this one-off album / group. 

So it's similar to anything from Motown from that period, but lacking the disco moves, thankfully, think The Jackson 5, The Stylistics, or even Marvin Gaye.

This is a creation masterminded by Jorge Barreiro. (Don't know anything about him in particular.)

Without a doubt the 'hit song' from this LP is the one called Only Faith and Hope:

Wow if only we had faith and hope today. Try convincing the 'C'est les Tenebres' French students for example.  Try convincing the Brazilians, half of whom just voted to destroy the Amazon forest and our collective human future.  Try convincing anyone anywhere in the world today who thinks electing authoritarians is going to lead to better lives for everyone plus prudent management of our children's future.  There's this thing called 'history' that tells us what happens in those countries.

Note the track called I believe in thee, which not only sounds like Marvin Gaye but uses the modulated into minor key bridge trick he employed so masterfully for What's Goin' On, and Mercy, Mercy:

It's not progressive, but I love this kind of soulful songwriting, having grown up with it of course.