Show notes
003 A Trip Through Three Seas: Selections from Eastern Europe and The Middle East
01 Breakout - Powiedzielismy Juz Wszystko (Poland 1969) Constantly at odds with their conservative government at the time, these Polish misfits rocked their hair longer than they should and still managed to have hits. This track from their debut album is one of many highlights and shows their unique take on the burgeoning "underground rock" sound.
02 Harout - Taparoum Enk (Armenia 1976) After moving to Los Angeles from Armenia in 1975, singer songwriter Harout Pamboukjian put together his band and debut album less than two months after arriving. This drum heavy number sounds like a lost breakbeat classic that could have fit right in with "The Mexican" or "Scorpio" in old an school DJ set. Harout is still active today and continues to release music.
03 The Cedars - Hide If You Want to Hide (1968 Lebanon) This Lebanese quartet successfully integrated native instrumentation into their sound, which can be heard on this bizarre ode to stalking that fits right in with the UK pop-psych of the era. Though only around for two years, they still managed to record a a string of consistently great singles.
04 Churchills - Subsequent Finale (Israel 1968) Famous in collector's circles for an album that will set you back several thousand dollars, this band's debut is one of the rare examples where the hype is justified. Churchills seamlessly incorporate every psychedelic production trick in the book while still honing a sound that is singular. They would eventually relocate to the UK in 1971 and change their name to Jericho Jones.
05 Illes - Approximacio (Hungary 1971) "The Beatles of Hungary" as they were tagged by the press, Illes were a prolific band that released some of the finest psychedelic music of the time. This tune finds them integrating sitar and percussion into a hazy swirl that sounds like it could have been from three years prior.
06 Axis - Living In (Greece 1970) From the Island of Greece comes a quartet of freaks with afros that could give the MC5 a run for their money. Axis specialized in hard edged pop with a penchant for epic changes and soaring vocals. By 1973 they would switch gears and embrace the prog rock wave for their third and final album.
07 Vangelis - (Greece 1972) Once part of Greek pop-psych/prog kings Aphordite's Child, Vangelis recorded many solo and collaboration albums in the 70's before finding success as a soundtrack composer in the 80's. This drumless masterpiece features the vocals of Robert Fitoussi.
08 Michael Urbaniak's Fusion - Fusion (Poland 1974) Michael Urbaniak and his wife, vocalist Ursula Dudziak, recorded some of the most funky yet progressive jazz fusion ever produced. As if an electronic violinist isn't strange enough in a jazz ensemble, Ursula's instrument was her voice ran through a delay pedal that usually featured intense wordless scatting. Nonetheless, with her husband's keen ear for balance, they managed to present a freak jazz sound that was like no other.
All songs recorded from vinyl and curated by Elvin Estela.
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