Niche Nook

I want to begin this article by thanking the myriad of bloggers who have been tirelessly uncovering the lost psych and prog bands from yesteryear. I’ve spent countless hours digging through the tunes and bios of unsung musicians that plyed their wares during the heyday of the genre in the late 1960s to mid-1970s. Over the past few years these bloggers have introduced me to literally hundreds of artists from around the globe who, in the face of giants like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Hendrix, et al, have all but disappeared into the ether. The quality of the music runs the gamut, with most of it being enjoyable, if average, and some of it downright awful. But once in a while, I’ll stumble upon something positively revelatory. These latter finds make the whole search worth the time and effort.

In Niche Nook, the first in an ongoing series of articles bringing to light forgotten bands of a very specific genre, I’ve compiled fifteen prog and psych tracks from 1969-1977 that just might blow your mind. Try them out and then share with me in the comments section some of your favorite lost bands.

“Ki Tiltija Meg” by Sarolta Zalatnay

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Hailing from Hungary, Sarolta Zalatnay has been getting some deserved attention lately thanks to a recent compilation from Finders Keepers. Despite being a star in her native country, Zalatnay never made the leap across the ocean to the U.S. Clearly influenced by the hard edged blues rock of bands like Cream, Blue Cheer, and most obviously Janis Joplin era Big Brother & the Holding Company, “Ki Tiltija Meg” is a real groover with thick bass lines and Zalatnay’s wailing vocals. This track was taken from a comp that’s easy to come by. There’s a range of styles represented and I highly recommend picking it up. Dig that awesome cover, too!

“Idag Sticker Jag Bort” by Charlie & Esdor (1970)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A Swedish duo that combined sitar and guitar with a grooving backbeat and hard rock trappings, Charlie & Esdor were active on the fertile psychedelic scene that spawned Trad Gras och Stenar and Bo Hansson. Other Music aptly describes them as “one of the more diverse and distinct artists of the time, with mind-melding raga-easternisms burning into heavy-rock bliss, plat with enough acid-volk hallucinogens to last you an endless Midsommar.” Plus, you gotta love a Swedish band that has a song called “Fuck the Cops.” They had N.W.A beat by 20 years. Listen with headphones!

“Revelation” by Virus (1971)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I was turned on to the German prog band Virus by the wonderful Venenosdorock blog. Taking their cue from Pink Floyd and Deep Purple, Virus churned out a minor classic with the 1971 album, Revelations. The record features five extended tunes that range from gentle space rock to more blissed out rave-ups. Highlights include the scorching acid rock trips, “Facts of Death” and “Burning Candle,” and the title track, an organ and percussion-driven 12 minute jam that features shifting tempos, great dueling electric guitar solos, a wild flute improvisation, and an instrumental take on the Rolling Stones’ “Paint in Black.”

“Finding Out” by Elder Kindred (1971)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Elder Kindred were an English prog outfit that was recently featured on ChrisGoesRock, one of my favorite rare music blogs. The band specialized in a melodic, harmony-drenched brand of prog rock using an assortment of instruments, including organ, saxophone, flute, percussion and guitars. For fans of Yes, Genesis, and ELP.

“No More White Horses” by T2 (1970)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

T2’s 1970 album It’ll All Work Out In Boomland was the first and only record released during the band’s very short existence. Although they appeared at the famed Isle of Wight festival in August 1970, they disappeared as quickly as they surfaced. T2 centered around the accomplished guitar heroics of 17 year old Keith Cross. Check out the majestic horns and fuzzed freak out at the end of the track included here. Pure psych bliss!

“Day Without the Sun” by Galaxy (1976)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I discovered this bizarre little space prog record on the Orexis of Death blog (which I highly recommend you paying a visit to) and I know nothing about this U.S. band other than what is on the site. According to Orexis of Death, Day Without the Sun was released in 1976. “The original private pressing has always been very hard to come by and demands a small fortune now. This collectors item delivers tripped out psychy prog rock with guitars, vocals, bass, keys and drums” and bandmembers with the aptly celestial names of Space Mama Geiger, Pepper Leonardy, Frenzi Fabbri, and Miss Gunner Powell. The title track is a 14 minute cosmic epic replete with echoed vocals, gurgling keyboards, and plenty of distortion explosions.

“Mr. Walking Drugstore Man” by Speed, Glue & Shinki (1970)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Given the band’s name and such song titles as “Stoned Out of My Mind,” “Sniffin’ & Snortin’” and “Mr. Walking Drugstore Man” you can imagine what’s on the mind of this blistering Japanese acid rock combo. Led by guitarist Shinki Chen (who was labelled by some as the Japanese Hendrix), the trio released two albums before splitting up. With a sound reminiscent of Iggy and the Stooges, Speed, Glue & Shinki were about as punk rock as you could get and their euphoric psych rock is a powerful joy ride that I take quite often. A big shout out to the Japanese Old Prog/Psych Rock blog for hipping me to this killer band.

“Butterking” by Twenty Sixty Six and Then (1972)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I just recently found this curiosity at PhrockBlog and I’ve been digging it consistently for the past few months. A German prog band fronted by an American vocalist, the oddly named Twenty Sixty Six and Then released their debut album, Reflections On The Future in 1972 and then immediately broke up. It’s a shame because this record is a real gem, populated with deep organ grooves, heavy guitar and some tripped out lyrics. You got to check out the killer ragtime piano interlude that bursts in at around 2:15 on the enchantingly bizarre “Butterking.”

Go to Page 2 >>