POPOL VUH
"Future Sound Experience"

Sadly the founder of Popol Vuh, Florian Fricke died on 29th December last year but will be proud of his legacy in this, the band's twenty seventh of over thirty albums.
A classically trained pianist, Florian found the name Popol Vuh (meaning God, the Universe and Everything) in the Mayan Book of the Dead. The band released its first electronic album 'Affenstunde ('ape hour'), described by Dave Thompson in his book 'Space Daze: The History and Mystery of Electronic Ambient Space Rock' (Cleopatra) as 'one of the era's most criminally neglected albums' in 1971. Florian guested on Tangerine Dream's double LP 'Zeit' then a second Popol Vuh album described by Martin C. Strong as 'trance meditation' was released in 1972 under the moniker of 'In Den Garten Pharos'. Other highlights of a distinguished career were in association with Werner Herzog for the movies Aguirre, Wrath of God (1976) and the re-make of the 1922 horror film 'Nosferatu' starring Klaus Kinski (1978) Florian also had a cameo role in Herzog's 1975 film 'The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser'.
Popol Vuh also had a close association with Amon Duul 11 with Holger Trulzsch (Still in the band today), Danny Fichelscher and Renate Kraup all recruited from those giants of Kraut Rock.
Always articulate about music, Floran spoke of the type of approach adopted on 'Future Sound Experience': "New age music is a collective name for music which is not played in discos but addresses itself in various ways to your inner self, your soul. The strand of electronic music you call space rock has now become part of New Age music; other strands are developing individually into new styles and names of the future." (Thompson, p119-20)
Most leading writers about progressive rock (Martin, Stump, Lucky) do not mention Popol Vuh. Ed Macan in his 'Rocking the Classics' describes them as 'seminal', pointing up the 'consistent, if often tangential relationship between progressive rock, minimalism and New Age styles'.
Bradley Smith on the other hand devotes 3 whole pages of his book 'The Billboard Guide to Progressive Rock' (1997) analysing their albums. So this is the obvious place to start.
I don't know whether Bill Martin, Paul Stump and Jerry Lucky just missed out on Popol Vuh or didn't consider them relevant to progressive rock. I for one certainly did miss out on them and intend to spend some time catching up with what I missed not just out of curiosity of for the sake of completeness but because 'Future Sound Experience' (My introduction to Popol Vuh) is a wonderful, wonderful album!
The album was originally recorded in 1993 and was released by Mystic Records on 14th January, 2002 in a re-mastered version with new links recorded 'to make the CD one flowing river of music'.
I can do no better here than to quote the Mystic press release, "The joy of 'Future Sound Experience' is that it seems to take the listener on an experimental journey through time- back to an age of peace, contentment and happiness."
I find the music very moving and not just because of the tragic circumstances surrounding its release. Take 'Liedklagen' for instance with its tabla drums and sitar sounds, its lead synthesiser line having the immediacy and charm of a nursery rhyme. This has to be one of the best New Age compositions I have had the pleasure to hear. The music is meditative but not in an abstract way, the accessibility of the beautiful melodies that permeate the album, mostly carried by the synths but sometimes by electric and acoustic guitar ensure that, as Florian himself said (with reference to 'Affenstunde', that what is created is a kind of electronic music that could also be classified as 'a sort of pop music'. This means I think that the music has appeal for anyone with an open mind and heart. Unfortunately the term 'pop' has become synonymous with short sighted commercialism rather than 'in a modern style' and this does a great disservice to the great innovators in the popular music of the sixties
African and American Indian tribal chants are also used at various points in the album with what might loosely be described as medieval/ 'Gregorian chants' (Take your pick- I'm no expert!) favoured on the haunting 'Reines Herz' and the symphonic 'Weinen und Lachen' thus bringing a truly multicultural dimension to the music.
I don't really want to say any more- I'm off now for another listen. This is truly the 'music of the spheres'.
Contact: www.mysticrecords.co.uk

(Mystic Records MYSCD 151)

(Phil JACKSON)

THINKMAN - "The Formula" / "Life is a Full Time Occupation" / "Hard Hat Zone"

Originally released in 1986 'The Formula' was a concept album on the theme of media manipulation with astute political comment and social observation. Take this for example: "You're so messed up by politics, Lady. There's nothing exotic in poverty" on 'The Conflict' (One of the many musical expressions of protest against Thatcher's policies presumably)
The sound is defined of course by some of the rather dubious synth sounds of the time and a penchant for programmed drumming the same constraining factors that stifled Howard Jones' progressive leanings perhaps.
How ironic then that Rupert Hine (who actually was most of Thinkman') has produced Rush, Suzanne Vega and, guess who, Howard Jones. Not a bad curriculum vitae!
Getting back to the drumming it is somewhat surprising to find it is real on 'The Formula' and Stewart Copeland's rather mechanical approach does suit the music well.
The rest of the 'band' was James West Oram on guitars and two additional vocalists. Actually Hine invented Thinkman after a lack of response to solo efforts like 'Waving Not Drowning' and 'The Wildest Wish to Fly' (also released on Voiceprint)
As this was the age of MTV and the music video the other 3 members of Thinkman whose faces adorn the covers were actors and didn't actually play any notes. (Hine took care of most of those) Those familiar with British television will recognise a young Julian Clary!
Hine was of course 'famous' as leader of Quantum Jump. Readers of 'Acid Dragon' may know I reviewed Quantum Jump's two albums (remastered by Voiceprint) in the summer 2000 issue (#27) with a preference for their first album over 'Barricuda'.
I have to say I think 'The Formula' is better than either of those two albums because of the consistency of approach- the concept helps of course! 'The opener' Best Adventures', 'The Ecstasy of Free Thought' and the closing track 'There Shines Our Promised Land' must rank among Hine's best works. Credit must go to Jeanette Obstoj's incisive lyrics on all the Thinkman albums.
The sleeve notes tell us that 'The Formula' was such a success that Hine's record company asked for a follow-up. Creativity can't be forced and Hine agonised over this request: "The first album was already a complete concept. How to make 'Thinkman 11'?"
As a result 'Life is a Full Time Occupation' sounds more like a Quantum Jump/ dance album in places with 'Watchman, Walkman, Thinkman' and the dark 'Walking on my Shadow's Head' oozing with the quality evident on 'The Formula'. Some of the music is more dance oriented and 'Bad Angel', although not my 'cup of tea' is as good as anything of a similar ilk I've heard by Michael Jackson. It is a good album if compromised.
'Hard Hat Zone' was the third and last Thinkman album returning once again to a concept- the environment this time. Prince Charles even gets a name check on 'Take them to the Traitor's Gate'. "Demolishing our history and nature's souvenirs, those mindless profiteers." Hine really throws himself into this and the string arrangement at the end is great. (Prince Charles was making public speeches lamenting modern architecture and development around this time. I wonder if he ever heard the track?)
Another stand out is the 7 minute long' November Whale' where once again the sensitive, caring nature of Hine/ Obstoj comes across. This song tells the story of a poor whale who watches his only mate being harpooned while with child. If this doesn't melt your heart then nothing will! 'Think About It' is also a very thoughtful and intelligent (as well as catchy) ditty about Jung/ Freud/ dreams etc.
I thought long and hard about reference points for the Thinkman sound. I remember the period well although I am no expert on the music because I didn't like most of it. I hear some Bowie in there and other groups as well and I have to say Rupert and Thinkman have produced some wonderful 'period pieces' as good as anything produced in the mid to late eighties.
Although I didn't hear this music at the time of release when I think back to then 'The Formula' will be adopted as my soundtrack I think!
Hine relates the end of the Thinkman story in his notes to 'Hard Hat Zone':
"An extraordinary 'live' two hour East German television special broadcast only a few weeks after the Berlin Wall fell was a memorably and fitting last hurrah for Thinkman." (The band provided musical punctuation and comment)
If I had to recommend one it would be 'The Formula' but I would be inclined to get all three!
http://www.RuperHine.com
(Voiceprint 2001) (MPVP009, 005 and 006 respectively)

Phil Jackson, musician and reviewer

The Formula is available for £12.99 from Amazon, Life Is A Full Time Occupation costs £11.99 from Amazon, and Hard Hat Zone costs £12.99 from Amazon

THE UPPER CRUST - Once More Into The Breeches (Emperor Norton)

So have they equalled the heights of "Let Them Eat Rock"? Well, no, but that doesn;t mean that the well has run dry. Four releases, including the obligatory double live CD, The Upper Crust are keeping the joke alive.

It's taken a couple of years for this to emerge, as the label seemed reluctant to release it, which always raises the spectre of quality, but this is an excellent addition to the canon. Which means that there is some duplication between this and the almost live "Entitled". But when the AC/DC in wigs sound powers out, you won't care.

Rocquing and rolling along, there is one absolute classic here, "Badminton" and some near misses such as "We're Finished With Finishing School" and "Luncheon". There seems to be an improvement in production quality which means they sound better than ever, even if they do fail to meet their own high standards in the songwriting department. But, bear inmind, that average Upper Crust is still better than most, so this comes with a big thumbs up.

I reviewed Here and Now's 'Gospel of Free' back in Acid Dragon #27 and the only thing to add to the brief biography give there is that the band recorded the 'Live Floating Anarchy' album with Daevid Allen of Gong in 1978.
Indeed Gong and Steve Hillage in particular is a pretty obvious influence as the opening track 'What You See is What You get' progresses. Love the infectious chorus line 'Twinkle twinkle little star, what you see is what you are!'
The second track 'Nearer Now' is a brilliant song that would have graced one of David Bowie's earlier albums. Indeed there is a plethora of styles on this album.
'Grate Fire of London' and 'Improvisation' are pretty experimental in approach depending on the vocalisations of Steffy Sharpstrings and the 'Choir of Angels' in some great Hawkwind inspired music.
'This Time' reminded me a bit of Blur's more adventurous moments on the excellent 'Park Life' album while 'Seventies Youth' is the bit of 'Ska' that has become an essential ingredient on space rock albums as produced by Here and Now and Kromlek.
Well done to Voiceprint for distributing this digitally remastered album. It says on the sleeve the CD costs £2.25 (At gigs presumably!) and the gigs are still free. If this is the case get some in and get along! Amazing stuff!
(Tin Toy TTCD015)
www.voiceprint.co.uk Buy it at Amazon for £11.99

Phil Jackson, musician and reviewer )