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Maybe I should had done this sooner instead of waiting for the exact day of Halloween... Oh well, I've been inspired to do this today!

These are basically song that fall under at least one of the following criteria:
- Sound eerie or as dark as the belly of a dragon on a post-hangover Sunday morning.
- Depicts murderous anger.
- Invoke your soul to be part of dark rituals (and try to exorcise them in one of these song)

Needles to say, some of them can get downright terrifying. To be fair, I only included one track per artist and gave them a somewhat logical order.

Mogwai - Christmas Steps
The Besnard Lakes - You've Got to Want to Be a Star
Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - The Owl
Joy Division - Heart and Soul
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand
The Cure - Hanging Garden
The Birthday Party - The Friend Catcher
The Twilight Sad - The Neighbours Can't Breathe
The Horrors - Jack the Ripper
Bauhaus - Stigmata Martyr
Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People
Tool - Die Eier von Satan
Black Sabbath - Children Of The Grave
Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen
The Big Sleep - Slow Race
Metallica - Enter Sandman
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
The Doors - Riders on the Storm
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
The Phantom Band - Burial Sounds
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around
Dead Man's Bones - Lose Your Soul
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
Low - Murderer
Alanis Morissette - Uninvited
Bat for Lashes - The Wizard
To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie - You Guys Talk, We'll Spill Our Guts
Xiu Xiu - Brian the Vampire
M83 - *


I borrowed some picks off the official iMeem playlist. I tried to put together a setlist with all my pick but it was impossible to find them all in the same place. So, these are your options to listen:

> iMeem Playlist
Does not include: Tool, The Big Sleep, Dead Man's Bones or Xiu Xiu

> YouTube Playlist
Does not include: To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie or The Besnard Lakes

Now if you excuse, I'll go wish for a day when all music shall roam free...

Track: End Of The World
Artist: Aphrodite's Child
Album: End Of The World
Tags: 60s, psychedelic, progressive rock, ballads, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic...

YouTube, 1969


This isn't the song I originally wanted to reco this week. The one I wanted to go with is also on this album, the riproaring You Always Stand In My Way, but the video for this one is better.

For those of us born too late, it's hard to imagine Demis Roussos as the love god he was revered for in the 1970s, but once you see this video, you can begin to understand why Beverly made such a big deal about him at Abigail's Party.

In the 1970s, Demis Roussos, along with Nana Mouskouri, represented the height of sophistication and good taste. I always found them funny, but sometimes I'm a bit naughty like that. By then, Demis had let himself go and Nana wore odd glasses, both of which kind of spoilt the effect. There was no doubt they could sing, just by then, it was safe, bland and innocuous and they didn't look like all the other pop stars.

The song in the video, End Of The World, is of the safe, bland, innocuous type, heavily disguised as romantic, dramatic progressive rock. It's a love song, a ballad, sung by someone gorgeous, who knows he's gorgeous, and his friends think they're gorgeous too.



Laughter aside, there's definitely something there. On my first viewing, I was transfixed. That's what Demis looked like?! So which one's Vangelis? He must be the one on keyboards. Trying to go back that far in time and make sense of things was blowing my mind.



Aphrodite's Child was a supergroup of sorts. It was a Greek band, the only one at the time to make an international impact, led by Demis and included the now legendary Vangelis (Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou) and Lucas Sideras. End Of The World was their debut album and this week's reco was the first track off that. It's a patchy album, but imaginative. Overall, it stands as a good representation of ideas and themes in psychedelic progressive rock across late-60s Europe.

The band are most famous for their third, final and best album, the cult classic 6 6 6 (1971). My friend davidjennings has written a good blog about it here. Allmusic describes it as, "An amazingly bombastic concept album about the Apocalypse of St. John seen as a rock spectacle. Demis Roussos wails the lyrics in a frantically operatic falsetto, while the band pound fiercely through Vangelis' furiously complex music. It certainly has its moments, but the entire set eventually becomes too overwhelming to sit through. "



Demis Roussos has come through his awkward years and looks like a venerable, friendly old gentleman now (okay, maybe not in that pic). I'm pleased to discover he's still recording and, moreover, he's still with it and happening and uses social network sites. Here's his MySpace where he's promoting his new album, Love is, released in May this year.




Babs _{My Gang}

Reco of the Week archives



Admin - Stats as of today:

Last.fm listeners of this track - 2,304
No. of plays scrobbled in Last.fm - 6,906
Position in Last 7 Days: 20 / 45
Position in Last 6 Months: 22 / 685

Video
Date Added: May 28, 2006
Views: 220,794, Ratings: 407, Comments: 184, Favourited: n/a times

Stats after 7 days:

Last.fm listeners of this track - 2,326
No. of plays scrobbled in Last.fm - 6,969
Position in Last 7 Days: 21 / 45
Position in Last 6 Months: 22 / 685

Video
Views: 223,281 , Ratings: 410, Comments: 185, Favourited: n/a times


331 Unique Visitors
398 Page Views









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Aphrodite's Child - It's Five O'Clock

Well friends, here are the latest albums I've been playing non-stop/loving this month. If you've heard of them, but never listened before, then now would be a good time to try them! If not, then you should definitely listen to these songs:

Thy Catafalque - Róka hasa rádió


The Ocean - Precambrian


Isis - Celestial


Primordial - Journey's End


Subway to Sally - Bastard


Shalabi Effect - Shalabi Effect


Aphrodite's Child - 666


Sisters of Mercy - Floodland


Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Сегодняшний пост будет лирическим - мы все уже немного устали от статистики. Сегодня я просто хочу рассказать вам о десяти моих любимых альбомах (по версии last.fm, разумеется).

Today's entry is going to be a lyrical one - all of us are a little bit tired of statistics. So, today I just want to tell you about my favourite albums (according to last.fm's version, of course).

1. Aphrodite's Child – 666
184 plays



Этот альбом - лучшее в послужном списке греческой прогрессив-группы Aphrodite's Child и настоящая жемчужина психоделического рока. Апокалипсис Иоанна Богослова в психоделической обработке, с влиянием греческих народных мелодий и ненавязчивым юмором. Ах, да, там же еще присутствует по-настоящему мозгоразрывающая композиция The Four Horsemen. Слушать всем!

The album is the best from greek progressive band Aphrodite's Child and it's a real psychedelic rock masterpiece. In fact, the album is a psychedelic version of St. John's Revelation, with nice humour and greek folk melodies. Oh, yes, it contains absolutely mindblowing composition The Four Horsemen. Everyone is to listen to it!

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2. Tenacious D – The Pick of Destiny
172 plays



Tenacious D в моем понимании - лучшая группа, исполняющая комедийный рок на сегодняшний день. Комедийный он не в смысле пародирования кого-либо а сам по себе. Их второй студийник, The Pick of Destiny, является, насколько я понимаю, саундтреком к одноименному фильму, который я не смотрел и не собираюсь. Почему? Ввиду своеобразного юмора у членов группы. То, что в виде фильма будет смотреться тупой пошлятиной, в виде рок-альбома (причем, отличного хард-рок-альбома!) заставляет ржать в голос. Прямые наследники Заппы, короче.

To my understanding, Tenacious D is today's best comedy rock band. "Comedy" here means not strait caricaturing any band, but humour as it is. Their second studio album, The Pick of Destiny, is a soundtrack to a self-titled film, which I haven't ever seen and I'm not going to see it someday. Why? Because of very specific humour of the band. I suppose, as a film that would look kinda dumb and tasteless, but as a rock album (very good hard-rock one, I should say) it makes me laugh out loud. These guys really seem to be direct inheritors of Frank Zappa.

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3. Peter Hammill – The Fall of the House of Usher
131 plays



Когда говорят о рок-опере, первое что приходит мне на ум - это не какая-нибудь фигня типа "И. Х. - суперзвезда", а "Падение Дома Эшеров" Питера Хэммилла. Мрачная, готическая опера, отлично передающая настроение оригинала, да и всего творчества Эдгара По. Cледует также отметить потрясающую вокальную партию Родерика Эшера, исполненную самим Хэммилом, который лично для меня - вокалист №1 в рок-музыке. Час нервного напряжения гарантирован!

When they speak about rock-opera, the first thing that comes to my mind is not a boring stuff like "J. Christ - superstar", but The Fall of the House of Usher by Peter Hammill. That's a really dark, gothic opera, which brilliantly provides you the mood of Edgar Allan Poe's original short story. One should also lay emphasis on awesome Roderick Usher's vocal part, performed by Hammill, whom I consider to be the vocalist №1 in rock music. Hour of emotional stress is guaranteed!

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4. Joe Satriani – Surfing With the Alien
117 plays



Самый известный альбом одного из самых известных гитаристов современности, Joe Satriani, в особенных представлениях не нуждается. Если вы еще с ним не знакомы, просто прослушайте заглавную композицию из этого альбома)

The most famous album by one of the most famous guitar players Joe Satriani doesn't need any long introduction. If you still not familiar with Satriani, just try the title composition from that album)

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5. Buckethead – Giant Robot
115 plays



От очень известных гитаристов мы переходим к гитаристам авангардным и менее известным. Впрочем, в последнее время Buckethead стремительно набирает популярность. У него много потрясающих и очень разных по стилистике альбомов, и Giant Robot - один из моих любимых. В нем, кажется, даже есть какой-то сюжет, в котором, впрочем, разобраться затруднительно по причине его запредельной сюрреалистичности) В любом случае, это не мешает получать удовольствие от новаторской музыки.

From very famous guitarists we proceed to avant-garde and less famous guitarists. However, currently Buckethead's popularity rapidly grows. He has a lot of very different and very good albums, and Giant Robot is one of my favourites. It seems, like it has a kind of storyline, but it is highly surrealistic and nearly impossible to understand) Anyway, that won't prevent you from being pleasured by such interesting and innovative music.

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6. Jethro Tull – The Broadsword and the Beast
113 plays



The Broadsword and the Beast - далеко не лучший (впрочем, далеко не худший) альбом Jethro Tull. По сравнению с классическими работами группы в 70-х годах, это easy-listening. Накрутке большого числа прослушиваний также способствует большое количество приятных бонус-треков в переиздании.

The Broadsword and the Beast is far from being Jethro Tull's best album (but also far from being worst). Compared to the band's classical work from 70s, it turns out to be easy-listening. A big collection of nice bonus tracks in the remastered edition helps this album to get large number of plays.

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7. Peter Hammill – Roaring Forties
110 plays



Пожалуй, лучший альбом Хэммилла 90-ч годов на мой вкус. Очень цельная и совершенная вещь, хотя и считается некотороыми поклонниками несколько затянутой. Если вам нравится Хэммилл, то вы этот альбом уже слышали. Если нет, то почему бы не попробовать?

I think, that one is the best Hammill's album from 90's. Very entire and perfect piece of music, though some fans consider it to be a little bit dragged. If you like Hammill, you have probably heard that album. If not, why don't you give it a try?

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8. Ian Anderson – Rupi's Dance
109 plays



Просто очень бодрящий и приятный набор песенок от фронтмена Jethro Tull. Тут больше добавить нечего.

Just very exhilarating and nice set of songs by Jethro Tull's frontman Ian Anderson. I've got nothing to add to it.

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9. Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland
109 plays



Альбом исторического значения. Обожаемый всеми Хендрикс просто показал публике, как следует играть на электрогитаре. Кстати, изначально у альбома была другая обложка с голыми тетками, которая была заменена по цензурным соображениям :)

An album of great historical meaning. Appreciated Jimi Hendrix has just shown everyone how to play electric guitar. By the way, the album originally had another cover with naked women, but they had to change it due to censorship :)

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10. Marillion – Misplaced Childhood
108 plays



Есть альбомы, которые невозможно адекватно разделить на песни, потому что они воспринимаются только как единое целое. Misplaced Childhood - как раз случай такого альбома. Каждый раз, когда я включаю его, приходится слушать от начала и до конца. По отдельности композиции оттуда особого интереса не представляют, вместе становятся шедевром.

There is a kind of albums, which can't be separated into singular songs, because they can be perceived only as an entire one. Misplaced Childhood is exactly that case. Every time, I turn it on, I have to listen from the beginning to the end. Taken separately, compositions from the album don't make any sense, but together they form a masterpiece.

Here is a list of great psychedelic rock, heavy psych, hard rock and progressive rock bands of the 60s and 70s, all connections of the Sir Lord Baltimore group on :

• Sir Lord Baltimore
• Van der Graaf Generator
• Wishbone Ash
• Blue Cheer
• Led Zeppelin
• Jacula
• Jimi Hendrix
• Budgie
• High Tide
• Rush
• Uriah Heep
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• Stormy Six
• Leaf Hound
• Arzachel
• Captain Beyond
• Atomic Rooster
• 13th Floor Elevators
• Aphrodite's Child
• Blue Öyster Cult
• The Blues Magoos
• The Chocolate Watch Band
• Flower Travellin' Band
• Grateful Dead
• Kaleidoscope
• King Crimson
• Hawkwind
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• Can
• Amon Düül II
• Aksak Maboul
• Camel
• Invisible
• Sui Generis
• The Trip
• MC5
• Guru Guru
• Aguaturbia
• Black Sabbath
• Birth Control
• Pax
• Pan & Regaliz
• Truth and Janey
• Damnation of Adam Blessing
• black spirit
• Lucifer's Friend
• Os Mutantes
• The Koala
• Second Hand
• Kraan
• Fire
• Bang
• Asterix
• Night Sun
• D.R. Hooker
• Finchley Boys
• Freedom´s Children
• Granicus
• Head Machine
• George Brigman
• Josefus
• Clark Hutchinson
• mr. albert show
• The Lizards
• Roky Erickson
• Bead Game
• Blackwater Park
• Krokodil
• Renaissance
• Foghat
• Iron Butterfly
• Pentagram
• Taste
• Trapeze
• May Blitz
• Fuzzy Duck
• Mendelbaum
• Crazy Mabel
• Joseph
• Karthago
• La Revolucion De Emiliano Zapata
• Khan
• Murphy Blend
• Black Widow
• Coloured Balls
• White Lightning
• Cactus
• UFO
• Morly Grey
• Jethro Tull
• Désirée
• Piel De Pueblo
• Steve Morgen
• Toad
• Pete Brown & Piblokto!
• Silberbart
• Simon Stokes
• Fresh Blueberry Pancake
• Rory Gallagher
• Them
• The Kinks
• Tasavallan Presidentti
• Icecross
• Skin Alley
• GEDO
• Epitaph
• Gentle Giant
• Primevil
• Mountain
• Quicksilver Messenger Service
• Free
• Human Instinct
• Phafner
• Sam Gopal
• Saturnalia
• The Sacred Mushroom
• Jade Warrior
• Steppenwolf
• Mint Tattoo
• Leigh Stephens
• Randy Holden
• Silver Metre
• Blues Creation
• Speed, Glue & Shinki
• Muddy Waters
• Vanilla Fudge
• Ashkan
• Blue Goose
• Bolder Damn
• Tucky Buzzard
• Zior
• The Flock
• Humble Pie
• The Troggs
• Arthur Brown
• Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come
• Art
• Nazareth
• Spooky Tooth
• La Fachada de Piedra
• Biglietto Per L'Inferno
• Fuchsia
• Clear Blue Sky
• Il Rovescio Della Medaglia
• Laghonia
• Luis Alberto Spinetta
• Traffic Sound
• Traffic
• We All Together
• Los Gatos
• Kissing Spell
• Los Mac's
• Los Vidrios Quebrados
• Som Imaginario
• Ladies W.C.
• Módulo 1000
• Dug Dug's
• The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter
• McCully Workshop Inc.
• Otis Waygood
• Abstract Truth
• Freedom's Children
• Suck
• Blind Ravage
• Coven
• If
• Joy Unlimited
• Agnes Strange
• Spontaneous Combustion
• Pescado Rabioso
• The Adventures Of Robert Savage
• Far Out
• Bulbous Creation
• Luv Machine
• The Yardbirds
• Babe Ruth
• Bloodrock
• De De Lind
• HP Lovecraft
• Kahvas Jute
• Los Jaivas
• Love
• It's a Beautiful Day
• Plus
• Edgar Broughton Band
• The Psycheground Group
• Garybaldi
• The Other Half
• Status Quo
• Agitation Free
• Grand Funk Railroad
• Murasaki
• Ruphus
• Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
• Sudden Death
• Beggars Opera
• Kak
• Keef Hartley Band
• Blackfeather
• Metamorfosi
• Curved Air
• Strawberry Alarm Clock
• Muddy Waters
• Bedemon
• Stack Waddy
• Beck, Bogert & Appice
• Bodkin
• Bacamarte
• Banchee
• PSIGLO
• Semiramis
• Arthur Lee
• Skydog
• Hell Preachers Inc.
• Light Of Darkness
• Doctor Downtrip
• I Califfi
• Bear Mountain Band
• Crawler
• Hard Stuff
• Jericho
• Euclid
• Jerusalem
• Badge & Company
• Elf
• Høst
• My Solid Ground
• Ursa Major
• J.E.T.
• Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush
• Råg I Ryggen

TOP 19 MUSICIANS FROM GREECE

1. Maria Callas
2. Vangelis
3. Basil Poledouris
4. Iannis Xenakis
5. Manos Hadjidakis
6. Markos Vamvakaris
7. Aphrodite's Child
8. Haris Alexiou
9. Nana Mouskouri
10. Eleni Karaindrou
11. Psarantonis
12. Stelios Kazantzidis
13. Marinella
14. Chris Spheeris
15. Mikis Theodorakis
16. Vasilis Papakonstantinou
17. Rotting Christ
18. Grigoris Bithikotsis
19. Yanni

Comment about missed names which should be in list and not deserving ones

Welcome to the Department of Aural History. This week Extended Play engages in some reverse archaeology, bringing you a kaleidoscope of re-interpretations of yummies and unsavouries. Selections from all over the pantry, with a particular high-light on the spicy platters from the new limited "Recovery" 10x7inch box set on Fractured Recordings - http://www.fracturedrecordings.com.

Thanks again if you’ve subscribed to Extended Play/2SER during Rewards Radiothon. Remember you can still do so, either by emailing us directly (extendedplay@2ser.com) or by contacting the station - Call 02 9514 9500 or subscribe online - https://www.donations.com.au/2ser/subscribe.asp, but make sure you’re paid up by 11 November if you want to go in the draw for the prizes.


Robert Henke - Lucifer
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by The Alan Parsons Project - from “Eve” - 1979, Arista)

The Human League - Reach Out (I'll Be There) (Instrumental)
(“The Golden Hour Of The Future” - 1977, Black Melody)
(original by Four Tops - from “Reach Out I'll Be There/Until You Love Someone” 7inch - 1966, Motown)

Michaela Melián - Manifesto
(“Los Angeles” - 2007, Monika)
(original by Roxy Music - from “Manifesto” - 1979, EG)

Martin L. Gore - Compulsion
(“Counterfeit EP” - 1989, Mute)
(original by Joe Crow - from “Compulsion” 7inch - 1982, Cherry Red)

Masha Qrella - Goodnight Lovers
(“Monika Bärchen: Songs For Bruno, Knut & Tom” compilation - 2007, Monika)
(original by Depeche Mode - from “Exciter” - 2001, Mute)

7 Hurtz with Peaches - Sexy Dancer
(“Controversy” compilation - 2008, Rapster)
(original by Prince - from “Prince” - 1979, Warner Bros.)

The Soft Pink Truth - Real Shocks
(“Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Soft Pink Truth?” - 2004, Soundslike)
(original by Swell Maps - from “Real Shocks/English Verse/Monologues” 7inch - 1979, Rough Trade)

Laibach - Dogs Of War
(“NATO” - 1994, Mute)
(original by Pink Floyd - from “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” - 1987, EMI)

Borghesia - Ohm Sweet Ohm
(“Trans Slovenia Express” compilation - 1994, Mute)
(original by Kraftwerk - from “Radioaktivität” - 1975, EMI)

Heaven 17 - Are Everything
(“I'm Your Money” 12inch - 1981, Virgin)
(original by Buzzcocks - from “Are Everything/Why She's A Girl From The Chain Store” 7inch - 1980, United Artists)

People Like Us & Ergo Phizmiz - Mull Of Kintyre
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by Wings - from “Mull Of Kintyre” 7inch - 1977, Capitol)

Leila - Norwegian Wood (feat. Luca Santucci)
(“Blood Looms And Blooms” - 2008, Warp)
(original by The Beatles - from “Rubber Soul” - 1965, Parlophone)

Señor Coconut and his Orchestra - Firecracker
(“Yellow Fever” - 2006, Essay)
(original by Martin Denny - from “Quiet Village” - 1959, Liberty)

Hamster Dragster - In The Year 2525
(“Songs Of Loss And Despair” single - 2008, Metal Postcard)
(original by Zager & Evans - from “In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)” 7inch - 1969, rca)

Alva Noto - Planet Rock
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - from “Planet Rock” single - 1983, Tommy Boy)

The Bollock Brothers - Loud, Loud, Loud/The Seventh Seal
(“The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse” - 1985, Charly)
(original by Aphrodite's Child - from “666” - 1972, Vertigo)


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