Granicus – s/t. 1973. 10+11. Ohio based group and one of the rare US bands to attempt a Led Zeppelin like raucous electric blues sound. Mellotron touches and my-a my-a vocals puts this album somewhere between LZ’s “IV” and “House of the Holy”. Would be tough to find a more harder rocking band on a major (Capitol) during this era. A must for hard rock hounds and a tribute to the deep amount of talent the region produced during the 1970s.

Thunder and Roses – King of the Black Sunrise. 1969. D: 9.  Yet another US major label group few have heard of. This time it’s United Artists’ Thunder and Roses. After a promising kick ass opener with ripping guitar, the remainder of the album bogs down in a post Cream, post Hendrix humdrum. Throw in a country tune and a I-got-the-blues-real-bad type song, and you have something along the lines of just above average. Good album but there are better obscurities from the era.

Banco de Gaia – Farewell Ferengistan. 2006. D: 9. Chill out music with world music overtones. Seemed pretty generic to me, but possibly a few more listens will bring out more of the subtleties, presuming there are some.