Amish - s/t (1972 Canada). Ontario based group who recorded in Detroit, Amish were primarily a hard rock band with organ and guitar providing the solo leads. Heavily influenced by Uriah Heep and Deep Purple. Truthfully, albums like this were a dime a dozen back in those days, but Amish stands out due to the superb progressive oriented organ work, and I like the way they wah-wah-riff the rhythm guitar parts. Even some strange psych era interludes that recall bands like Stone Circus or even Strawberry Alarm Clock. They also cover Traffic’s ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’. Bassist Mike Gingrich was later a member of the progressive rock group Nightwinds. No legit CD, but boots exist.
Harmonia - Live 1974 (1974 Germany). Essential CD pickup for fans of both Harmonia albums (released domestically in the US on Water) . “Live 1974″ is closer to their debut “Musik Von Harmonia”, and thus is more towards their Cluster roots than the Neu! sounds of “Deluxe”. Sound quality is impeccable, and easily on par with the SWF Sessions that have come out on Long Hair in recent years.
Scarecrew - Magical Mind (1975 Germany). Sounding like a lost recording by the Cosmic Jokers clan, Sacrecrew offer up another glimpse into the creative mind process of some of Krautrock’s visonaries. With Steve Shroyder (Tangerine Dream) on keyboards, and John L (Ash Ra Tempel) providing his usual anguished cosmic prayer calls, this is certain to satisfy fans of ART’s “Schwingungen”. The enchanting female vocals instantly recall Gilles Zeitschiff’s “Sternenmadchen” album or some of the echoed phrases by the Galactic Supermarket. Scarecrew were a 6 piece group and features no less than five guest apparances. The recording, while not ready for the Cosmic Courier label, is certainly well preserved. By 1975, this scene was pretty much dead and buried. But as this reel demonstrates, it appears they just went back into the underground, where it seems so natural. CD is on the Ricochet label, based here in the US.