Walter Wegmüller - Tarot

Label: Kosmische Kuriere

Released: 1973

Style: Krautrock, Prog Rock

"This massive double album is cosmic Krautrock at its finest hour, as visionary Walter Wegmuller leads a tour through the entire major arcane of the Tarot deck while the Cosmic Couriers -- basically Ash Ra Tempel, Wallenstein, and whoever else producer Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser could rope in -- create a remarkable soundtrack encompassing space rock, folk music, funk, psychedelia, and electronic music. Wegmuller's album followed in the footsteps of Timothy Leary's Seven Up, Ash Ra Tempel, and Sergius Golowin's Lord Krishna von Goloka, backed by Wallenstein, the duo Westripp-Witthuser, and keyboardist Klaus Schulze. Tarot, with almost all these musicians on the roster, is the culmination, a bizarre roller coaster ride through sonic soundscapes, while Wegmuller intones in his deep voice, sometimes augmented by more effects, though he often remains silent for long instrumental stretches. From the opening track, a funky number with blazing guitar and rolling piano over which a circus-barker voice announces the band with grand élan, to the side four track's nonstop blast into hallucinogenic after-burn, this one is a monster all the way. Shimmering Ash Ra Tempel guitar freakouts blend with Wallenstein's more rollicking psych rock, Schulze's deep space keyboards, and Westripp's cosmic folk to create strange blitzes of electronic weirdness. This album provide an incredible pallet of styles that all seem to gel in a cohesive mass of pure mystical wonder." - Allmusic

Tracklisting:

1-01 Der Narr (3:55)

1-02 Der Magier (4:39)

1-03 Die Hohepriesterin (4:17)

1-04 Die Herrscherin (4:16)

1-05 Der Herrscher (2:58)

1-06 Der Hohepriester (3:10)

1-07 Die Entscheidung (3:52)

1-08 Der Wagen (5:16)

1-09 Die Gerechtigkeit (3:02)

1-10 Der Weise (4:02)

1-11 Das Glücksrad (3:37)

1-12 Die Kraft (3:28)

2-01 Die Prüfung (4:57)

2-02 Der Tod (1:20)

2-03 Die Mässigkeit (4:47)

2-04 Der Teufel (3:38)

2-05 Die Zerstörung (4:01)

2-06 Die Sterne (6:15)

2-07 Der Mond (2:50)

2-08 Die Sonne (3:03)

2-09 Das Gericht (2:06)

2-10 Die Welt (8:41)

Disc 1

Disc 2

Gong - Gazeuse!

Label: Virgin

Released: 1976

Style: Fusion, Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock

"Gazeuse! was the first in a successful line of strictly jazz-rock sessions for percussionist Pierre Moerlen and company -- compositions that stressed jazz more than rock and which generally strayed away from lyrical content. This 1976 recording, also released under the title Expresso, was the band's first completely instrumental album, a companion piece to the later, somewhat warmer Expresso II, which is quite similar in sound and structure. To say Gazeuse! is percussive is an understatement. Drummer Moerlen is accompanied by brother Benoit and Mirielle Bauer on vibraphones with Mino Cinelu playing other assorted percussion. "Percolations" is a showcase for this foursome: Part one, a display of beautiful vibes and xylophones; part two, a technically superb drum solo. Pierre's playing is fierce in this second part, exhibited by some truly volatile drumming near the close. Allan Holdsworth is the sole guitarist on the album and contributes two of his own compositions. His "Night Illusion" is a standout and reminiscent of Bill Bruford's Feels Good to Me on which Holdsworth collaborated around the same time. Longtime Gong member Didier Malherbe adds spice to the proceedings with jazzy flute on "Shadows Of" and prominent sax on the slightly funky "Esnuria."' - Allmusic

Tracklisting:

1 Expresso (5:58)

2 Night Illusion (3:42)

3 Percolations: Part 1 & 2 (10:02)

4 Shadows Of (7:48)

5 Esnuria (8:02)

6 Mireille (4:11)

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