Komintern - Le Bal du Rat Mort (1971 France). An all over the map type release, with just about every conceivable style being represented somewhere. Avant-rock-cabaret-jazz is about the closest I can come to making any sense of it. Fellow countrymen Red Noise (who Komintern were formed from) and Mahjun are a couple of other references one could point to. A real mystery this is still not on CD, since this was reissued on vinyl in the 1980s (Cryonic). Even though the group was a radical left-wing political collective, there’s (fortunately) little evidence of that here. They just let the music do the talking, as it should be. Had they still been around during the original RIO formation, they most certainly would’ve been a charter member.
Apartment One - Open House (1970 Netherlands). Straightforward hard psych record. Sounds more like what was happening in the 1960s Dutch scene with albums from Cosmic Dealer, The Outsiders and Q65. Some good fuzz and older organ sounds. Opening track on each side is instrumental, and represents the best material. Also reminds me of the vast boneyard of US post psych albums from 1970 on labels like Paramount, ABC, Epic, Rare Earth and Mercury. No reissues exist.
Abrial Stratageme Group - Mannderly (1977 France). Imagine Ange as a hard rock group, or a French Blue Oyster Cult, and you have a pretty good idea of what we’re dealing with here. Also reminds me of the Rictus album that’s also in this list, though this one is much more professionally done. Vocals are in French and have that psychotic touch that I find highly fascinating. Very heavy guitar sound for the early date. A couple of ballads, and one 8 minute progger round out the contents. Interesting album! No reissues exist