Sunbirds - Zagara. 1972. A local friend played me his LP copy of this Sunbirds second album about a year ago, and I immediately knew I had to have a copy. “Zagara” is a killer instrumental flute groover in the best European tradition of Chris Hinze or Bjorn J:Son Lindh. There are a couple of duff tracks, but mostly this is open top convertible autobahn music, the perfect soundtrack to “The Girl on a Motorcycle” that you saw on your local cable outlet’s Weird Ass Euro Theater. I’ve been told the first is even better and it’s here somewhere patiently awaiting its turn. Garden of Delights has had these on their “coming soon” list for some time, so hopefully they’ll eventually get around to it, as it’ll be a an immediate buy item for me. In the meantime, these burns will have to suffice, as the originals are up there in $$$.

Flute & Voice - Imaginations of Light. 1971. Going back over 20 years now, “Imaginations of Light” has to be considered one of my very first “Holy Grail” albums, which is a term that reflects the anticipation more than the actual result. It also had to rank as one of my first big disappointments. I just couldn’t see how this could be anything but a winner. A 1971 Krautrock album, on Pilz, with a stunning cover, and flute as a dominant instrument. I said it then, and I’ll say it now, but it sounds like a backroom rehearsal. It’s one of the most low-key albums ever made. But it’s not meditational or peaceful. It just sort of rambles with Les Paul era guitar sounds, flute, sitar, and some disembodied voice. I’ve revisited this album about once every 10 years, and my opinion has changed nada. It’s pretty much a yawner, though I still feel compelled to give it a 9. It’s a street cred kind of thing I think.

Tau - s/t. 1981. A totally unknown name to me until very recently, Tau play in the symphonic rock style, with bits of humor spread throughout. The progressions are very much out of the early Genesis school, and Tau could be considered contemporaries of Ivory or even Neuschwanstein. But there’s also a strain of late 70s Grobschnitt found here and there, both in the zaniness and even in the AOR moments. They sing in German, which is unusual for this type of prog rock. Lots of mellotron for an 80s album. Not a monster or anything, but fans of neo progressive rock are likely to really enjoy this one. As far as I know, this isn’t on anyone’s radar for a reissue.