After a very long lay-off, the Strawbs started performing again in the last few years and have been delivering very good shows to old and new fans. Their unique take on folk/folk-progressive was always something that really was their own and they've continued down this path with this very good new studio album. It features long time members Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk and Rod Coombes and also features their former (and long time) keyboardist John Hawkin and fiddler Ian Cutler as guests...

“Nuclear War
Don’t you know
When they push that button
It’s a mother-fucker
Don’t you know
When they push that button
Your ass gotta go.
Oh, what you gonna do, without your ass?”

I had the great pleasure of seeing Ra in 1984 or so at on July 4th at Freedom Plaza in DC (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue) – 3 blocks from the White House. Regan was president and Ra did this song while pointing at the White House. It was beautiful and surreal and that song and others are here

Classic, great, early proto-progressive/progressive hard rock band from the UK. This is one of those albums that lives up to the hype. If that sound interests you, you really won't be able to do much better than this fine record. Conditionally highly recommended!

"Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a re-mastered and expanded 3CD digipack edition of the cult 1970 album by Progressive Rock power trio T2. Formed in 1970 by PETER DUNTON, a former drummer with GUN, and former...

"Jo Sago was the band’s second (and final) album and originally appeared in November 1970 on the now legendary HARVEST label.

The band began life as a Progressive Folk band comprising of the core members JEFF DAW (Vocals, Guitar, Flute), JAMES LANGSTON (Vocals, Guitar) & NIGEL PHILLIPS (Drums, Recorder, Keyboards) and were part of Jim Simpson’s Birmingham-based Big Bear Management stable of artists (who also included BAKERLOO, BLACK SABBATH and LOCOMOTIVE). By the time of the "Jo Sago” album...

"The second album by TEMPEST, the group formed in 1972 by Colosseum drummer JON HISEMAN. Upon the demise of Hiseman’s previous group he formed the muscular outfit Tempest with Colosseum bassist MARK CLARKE, guitarist ALLAN HOLDSWORTH and Vocalist and Keyboard player PAUL WILLIAMS.
Another excellent work, this Esoteric Recordings edition of “Living in Fear” has been re-mastered and restores the albums original elaborate artwork and features two bonus tracks recorded in 1974."

Here are the three, great, classic, influential albums that the Third Ear Band managed to squeeze out on a major label, during their original lifetime:
Alchemy
Third Ear Band (aka Elements)
Music From MacBeth
Essential 60s head music; they could have only come out of the 60s...

"In mid-October, 1969, I left the UK to meet up with bassist Barre Phillips and drummer Stu Martin to begin working with them as "The Trio".-John Surman (notes to “Way Back When”)
This was the band that Surman joined in the fall of 1969 that led to him becoming an early Brit-jazz expatriate for about 3 years but that also led to him becoming internationally known, especially on the European continent.
Their first release was a pretty powerful blast then as it still is today.
Due to his...

After recording The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, VDG added cellist Charles Dickie and hit the road for another year, playing a bunch of loud, wild concerts and generally getting rave reviews.
On January 15 & 16, 1978, the quintet (Charles, Peter, Graham, Guy, Nic) + special guest David Jackson played a concert at the Marquee Club, which was professionally recorded and later released as the double lp set, Vital. It's a pretty loud, wild, sloppy and a good listen. One listen to this will tell you why..

"Remastered edition of RICK WAKEMAN’s 2003 live album with the New English Rock Ensemble, “In the Nick of Time”. Featuring a band comprising ASHLEY HOLT (vocals), ANT GLYNNE (Guitars), LEE POMEROY (Bass), TONY FERNANDEZ (Drums) and ERIK JORDAN (Additional Keyboards) ‘In the Nick of Time’ was an excellent live album that saw Rick and his band perform many classic tracks such as ‘No Earthly Connection’, ‘Catherine Parr’, ‘White Rock’ and ‘Wurm’, alongside the title track from the recently recorded album...