SEVENTH SONS, Raga (psych mantra, 1964)

What may surprise everyone about this recording is the year it was made... 1964, and listen to this! AMON DÜÜL would make the same kind of weird psychedelia in 1968 / 69.
It consists in one single long and freak track, it's surprising but also, I admit, a little boring maybe. But at the time it was played and even released (4 years later), it must have been a shock for those who were there!
Try it here, then buy it there if you like it.

KRAUTROCK TOP50 by Julian Cope

Woouuch!! Thanks to MauroFelipe76, here is a page where you'll find 50 links (!!) to download the top50 krautrock albums described by Julian Cope in his exciting book about krautrock. Of course, most of them are highly recommandable. I think there will be enough good stuff for the end of summer!

This 50 links forum is here. Enjoy!!

STEREOLAB, Miss Modular (japanese single)

Sorry not to post more things, but I really don't have time these days...
Here is a japanese version of the single CD of "Miss Modular" by STEREOLAB. In my opinion, it would not have been interesting without this outstanding remix version of "Refractions in the plastic pulse" by AUTECHRE (track 3). Even if you really don't like STEREOLAB, you may love it!
Try this here.

MIKA VAINIO, Titanik (1998, electronic drone)

The complete title is Titanikin Juhlakantaatti. Probably rather rare, though I'm not sure, a single track by PAN SONIC's MIKA VAINIO, one of his best electronic distruction / distorted drones, especially the first half, and probably palyed live with his prehistoric vintage synths that sound so warm. It still seems available on Boomkat .
If you can't buy it, try it here . Enjoy!

CODE III, Planet of man (krautrock, 1974)

Krautrock again, thanks to TURZI who has just released in second album "A" and makes me listen again and again to krautrock and "psychedelic underground" (for the moment, YA HO WA 13 and THE FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND, and the french AME SON too).
I wanted to upload this incredible kraut-folk-experimental album, when I realized CURVED AIR has already done it. So it's not new on music blog, but it's so good that I could'nt help sharing it too.
Hard to make any comparison for this really bizarre album, the only one by this mysterious band. A touch of FAUST, with much more eastern influence; a gloomy folk that reminds me of DOM's incredible "Edge of time" (to share later maybe?); and probably a general atmosphere that is not far from SAND's Ultrasonic Seraphim. An incredible trip you have to experiment!
Thanks to CURVED AIR you can download it here.

BRAINTICKET, Adventure (1980, electronic soundscapes)

By request.
Nothing in common with the albums BRAINTICKET made in the 1st half of the 70s, as it's virtually not the same band (this one is a solo album by their leader I think). Here it's mostly electronic (but not only). Even if it's pretty good, I share it for collectors first, it's not the most interesting thing BRAINTICKET made.
Check on TURZI's own label the upcoming re-issue of the (probably) best album, "Celectial Ocean".
The curious can download "Adventure" here .

TURZI, Live Paris Boule Noire, 28.6.2007 (krautrock)

Was it in 1971? Not at all, but it could have been and this show could have been a passage in time. Excellent performance in a vintage krautrock style (and not "absolutely new, never heard things like that", as I heard in the audience, pfff, no musical culture at all!!). Those who like Neu, Can, Ash Ra Tempel or Agitation Free, and more generally any good psychedelic music, should try this.
So download the boot here then buy the new album "A" there.

Don't forget I've uploaded a previous show sooner (Paris Point Ephemere 21/3/2006), in my opinion it's even better than their last show, and it's still available here.

TIN FOIL STARS, Mort aux Vaches (1999)

Another gift from our mysterious french friend, I had no time to listen to it yet. It's the 12th Mort aux Vaches you can download here. If any contributors want to add any other session he can...

For the french :
"Avant de s'appeler Styrofoam et de signer des albums chez Morr (d'abord plutôt bons, ensuite plutôt moins pour cause de virage pop moyennement négocié amha), Arne Van Petegen avançait sous le pseudo de Tin Foil Star. Suivant l'humeur, on sera séduit par ses dérives lunaires monochromes ou alors on trouvera ça un poil chiant. Quoi qu'il en soit, cette session contient une reprise inattendue de Nick Drake."

Download it here.

TIM HECKER, Mort aux Vaches (ambient, 2004)

I really love the first albums produced by TIM HECKER, and I confess that in his recent productions I'm a bit disappointed because there isn't really anything new. In this Mort aux vaches session, it is the same, it's good but it probably could have been excellent. Make your own idea by downloading it here.
Oh, I'm a little ashamed to propose it, as you still can buy it (or so it seems) on the Rough Trade website.

TROUM, Mort aux Vaches (dark ambient, 1999)

No particular information about the band, first I've bought the album for the object only (nice artwork). But listening to it, it appears as a rather fascinating exploration of the "dark side of the drone", with infra echoes and melodies emerging from gloomy noises. Hard to describe because of my english, but honestly it's really worth trying. It's here.

OREN AMBARCHI, Mort aux Vaches (drone / ambient, 2001)

Marvellous recording, probably the Mort aux Vaches I prefer. A very deep meditative drone that begins with a soft prepared piano and ends with an incredible "spin" (spined? I don't know the word) drone. Same basis as his album "Suspension", but even better here. Elegant, effective, really moving, brilliant!
If you don't already have it run on this link to download it.
1000 copies.

ROGER ROTOR, Mort aux Vaches (vintage electronics, 2000)

Hum... not bad! Even if it's not the ROTOR's release I prefer, it's a pretty good one. A little too fast for me maybe, when I prefer his downtempo techno (does it mean anything?) tracks.
For those who don't know ROTOR's music, it's quite unique (for me at least), made only with vintage synths and drums, like all the Korg MS series (10, 20, 50 etc...), Prophet 600, MiniMoog and so on, used with much intelligence and virtuosity. Sometimes it's not far from Pansonic's music, except that ROTOR uses more the typical filters of vintage synths, and his tracks are longer, more hypnotic.
You can try it here. 600 copies were made.

MITCHELL AKIYAMA, Mort aux Vaches (2005)

Another Mort aux Vaches uploaded by my mysterious french friend. And for sure a very good one this time! If you're in CHRISTIAN FENNESZ / TIM HECKER things (remember, I've posted some live performances of both) you won't be disappointed.
Once more in the Mort aux Vaches series, incredible artwork, made of metal (bronze maybe? I don't know much about this...).
Anyway, if you don't have it listen to it by downloading it here .

CONTRASTATE, Mort aux Vaches (1996)

Thanks to an unknown friend who posted them in comments some new Mort aux Vaches links.
For this one, I did not have time to listen to it... So, as I did, you can try it here (very nice artwork).

ZOVIET FRANCE, Mort aux Vaches (ambient, 1998)

Nothing particular about this rather good but also rather boring performance by ZOVIET FRANCE, as it looks like what they were making in this period (like "In-Version", but unfortunately not as good; maybe more like "Digilogue", I don't remember well). Personaly I like these Nord Lead sounds (or is it anything else?), it's a pretty good minimalist electronic soundscape, but I confess I have not listened to it for a long time...
Download it here .

Please note I'll have 4 or 5 more Mort aux Vaches CDs to share, and no more...

PAN SONIC / CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE, Mort aux Vaches (drone, 2000)

Of historical interest only, and for the collectors.
Honestly, I'm an absolute fan of Pan Sonic since I saw them live in 1998, and I really like Palestine. But listen to this... It's never interesting in my opinion, just borring. A major deception to my ears.

But you wanted some Mort aux Vaches, so you'll have some.
This one here.

re-up : TURZI live Paris Point Ephemere, 21.3.2006

I'm not sure the old lilnk was working.
If you're in krautrock or modern psychedelic rock, you have to know Turzi, whose 2nd album has just been released - I have not listened to it yet. More info on his MySpace I suppose. Great "modern" krautrock (but with the "old sound" we love), somewhere between Neu and Ash Ra Tempel, with an Agitation Free touch. Played live, it's very tense, there are not many bands that give such a psychedelic impression on scene.
Try this live show (imcomplete, I was late at the show!) here.

Et pour les copains de Paris, Turzi joue au Point FMR le 21 juin à la fête de la musique, même que c'est gratuit, à voir absolument!!

NURSE WITH WOUND, live Paris Trabendo 8.6.2007

What a crazy night... 15mn after PATTON / FENNESZ, it was NWW's turn. It is their first performance in France (and how many in the world from their beginning..? Maybe 10?). I must say that NWW was maybe the band that initiated me to "difficult" sounds 15 years ago. And, more recently, I discovered krautrock and its extraordiary word thanks to Steve Stapleton too.
In such a case, you're really afraid to be disappointed : I imagined Stapleton alone with samples and a mixer and nothing more. But it was far from that : a 10 meter long table with so many things that I cannot describe them (guitar, sound generators, toys, bikes etc... almost everything played live, except the drums), 4 guys (Stapleton, Collin Potter and??) + David Tibet singing on the first and last track, + legendary french underground musician Jac Berrocal singing his own track "Rock'n roll session".
In this 1 hour long performance, you'll find everything we like in NWW : gloomy atmospheres, threatening but sometimes funny sounds, industrial attacks and "groovy" kraut rythms. Extraordinary night (but my pirate tape may not translate the tension we had during the show).
Enjoy it here.

FENNESZ / PATTON, Live Paris Trabendo, 8.6.2007

(photo form another show)
Wouch!! I almost don't know Mike Patton, but one week after a live performance you'll find below, Fennesz made once again something different, and I confess Patton made some incredible and powerfull things just with his voice and some simple effect device. A little too short maybe (35mn), but perfect!!
You'll find this performance here.
Reminder for another FENNESZ collaboration posted in this blog : FENNESZ with SPARKLEHORSE link is still active, and it's a very good performance too.

MUSLIMGAUZE, Mort aux vaches

Honestly I'm a bit disappointed, you don't seem to be so many to want some "Mort aux vaches" albums...
So I may not share all the CDs I stated bellow, but I've begun the job, so... Here is the 1st.
The main problem with the MUSLIMGAUZE's is that it consists in one single track, sometimes it's excellent, sometimes so so, but of course it's hard with your CD to choose the track you'd like to listen and you have to listen to it as a whole. Even if I'm really not a specialist of MUSLIMGAUZE, I think his Mort aux vaches is one of his very good albums.
Can anyone help to say what the good albums are, among the 600 CD released..?
Anyway, for Mort aux vaches it's here.
(I could not find a larger picture, sorry...)

FENNESZ / TIM HECKER, Live in Nanterre, Maison de la musique, France - 1.6.2007

Two separate live performances. First PAN SONIC were planed before they cancel and were replaced by TIM HECKER.
I love TIM HECKER in studio, but I confess that it was a little boring on stage. On the contrary, I think the sound is good enough here to listen to it almost as a new lo-fi album, even if nothing here is really surprising for who knows his beautiful ambient laptop soundscapes. He played first.
Then, FENNESZ, once more, made a brand new live performance, I've seen him more than 10 times and each time it's different, and often outstanding. Here he plays guitar live and processes the sound with his laptop.
Try this here.

Other FENNESZ links are still ok, you'll find here :
1. Paris, Nouveau Casino, 17.12.2001
2. Paris, La Villette, 22.9.2004

If I look for it I may find older live performances but I'm not sure...

MAIN, Ligature remixes (1996?, electronic soundscapes)

By request.
A good introduction to MAIN's world, with some tracks that can be regarded as transition from his previous band LOOP. It's MAIN remixed by : Paul Kendall, Paul Schütze, Jim O'Rourke, and MAIN itself.
But I still prefer other real MAIN albums.
Enjoy it here.
And : I'm still waiting for your "votes" to work on my "Mort aux Vaches" series - see below. I've forgotten one I have : MUSLIMGAUZE (a good one). Thanks for your contribution, special thanks to those who already signed.

MAIN, Mort aux Vaches (2002, ambient electronica)

By request.
Honestly, I have not listened to this short Mort aux Vaches album enough to comment it fairly; all I can say is that it's not MAIN at its best in my opinion : too many "Fennesz-like computer disruptions" in it, I love it when it is FENNESZ, but in MAIN's music I'm not sure. For those who like ambient music, from TANGERINE DREAM's "Zeit" to SUNN O))) (yes!), try "Hz" before this one. It's MAIN's best effort, you'll find this outstanding double LP in an older post here.
Download MAIN's Mort aux Vaches here.

Maybe for the occasion I could share my other "Mort aux Vaches" CDs. I only have : Scanner (from a MD), Mitchell Akiyama, Tim Hecker, Troum, Oren Ambarchi (a must have!), Rger Rotor, Pan Sonic / Charlemagne Palestine, Zoviet France, Ryoji Ikeda, Stillupsteypa (last two I'm not sure...). Maybe some of you have more...
Anyone interested? Let's say that I need 10 votes to work on it if you don't mind...

Thanks for your attention.

ADD N TO (X), singles (1997/2002, electro rock)

I discovered ADD N TO (X) and PANASONIC the same year en 1997, and I confess it was a shock, and the beginning of a true passion for vintage synths - I bought a Korg MS20 immediatly after seeing them playing live...
Regularly, ADD N TO (X) have released rather good singles, apart from their always rejoincing LPs, sometimes containing surprising tracks. You'll find some of them (not all...) here : "Little Black Rocks In The Sun" (1997), a powerful 10 minutes industrial / pop tune, one of their best track in my opinion; "Metal Fingers In My Body" (1999) their "avant-hard" absolute hit; "Revenge Of The Black Regent" (1999), a good 4 tracks EP (2 are not on the LP); "Plug me in" (2000) that contains a good unreleased track; and "Take Me To Your Leader" (2002) from their last album.
If anyone has other EPs (particularly from their 2nd album "On the wire of our nerves") can he post it??
Find my EP selection here

Their live in Paris (Nouveau Casino, 25.10.2002) link is still working. Good live performance, their last in Paris before the end of the band!

20' to 2000 Raster-Noton series (electronica, 1999)

THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3RD LINK IS FIXED, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ALL NOW.
For collectors more than for difficult and minimalist electronic lovers, here are the 12 EP CDs (one per month) released by Raster-Noton in 1999 to celebrate the new century / millenium that was to come at the end of the year. Maybe you have some of them, maybe none, in any case it's interesting for those who love Pan SOnic / Ikeda / Pole etc...
Just one comment about this series : in my opinion some artists are really lazy here; if PanSonic Vainio and Vaisanen (Vaisanen first!) make a great job with very interesting vintage electronics, what about Ikeda with his 440Hz sine wave (divided in 99 tracks - against MP3..?), or the rather mediocre performances by Byetone, Noto or Komet. Brinkmann, COH, Senking and somehow Scanner tracks are ok.
Download this 12 CDs series in 4 parts (click on link) :
Komet / Ilpo Vaisanen / Ryoji Ikeda (Jan / Feb / Mar)
COH / Byetone / Senking (Apr / May / Jun)
Ester Brinkmann / Scanner / Noto (Jul / Aug / Sep)
Mika Vainio / Wolfgang Voigt / ELph (Oct / Noc / Dec)

Thanks for your attention.

CURRENT 93 / HOH, Island + The Nodding Folk

Another thing from the CURRENT 93 galaxy, in its "pop" area. "Island" the only "electronic" album made by David Tibets and his friends. Yes, it's BJORK you hear in the 1st track, but, fortunately, far enough in the mix, so it remains a CURRENT 93 track! You'll find there some of the most beautiful tunes made by C93 (the Dream of a Shadow of Smoke, Fields of Rape, To Blackened Earth...), but some others are hard to listen to in 2007 : old beat box and production don't help...
In "bonus", you'll find in my post a short EP, "The Nodding Folk", released (in 1993 maybe) with a comics paper that told the story of Tibet / Noddy in crazy psychedelic adventures. Two tracks, the 1st one "Children Of The Nodapoc Gathering Round" is a must have!
Download it here.

SPELL, Seasons in the Sun (60s' covers, 1994)

Thanks folks for all your encouraging comments, don't hesitate to add some others of course. To make it clear for the future here, I'll keep on posting some of my prefered krautrock albums (as a krautrock introduction for beginners), some good electronic / drone music, live performances and generally the music I like (even new wave and goth rock!). My goal is not to propose the rarest music like Mutant Sounds, nor an entire collection of rare (and not always good...) kraut like Out of Focus / Krauteam, but only things I like and often seem forgotten.

So here is the easy listening album Boyd Rice made aside from his noise industrial NON project. For this occasion Rose MacDowell (CURRENT 93) joined him, for a beautifull covers' album that I still have pleasure to listen to today. The ideal music for your summer, you'll listen to it in your garden, under a warm sun. And it's here.
More info about Boyd Rice discography on http://www.mutelibtech.com/non/discog.html.

WE WANT YOU

Before I go further, a question if you don't mind : what do you expect from this blog?

From the beginning, I've posted more and more krautrock, but I'm not sure it's my job to do that - "Out of Focus" and "Krauteam" know much more than me about kraut. So... I'm not sure this blog is still usefull, as my electronic, drone and other genre's posts don't seem to interest you much...

Please tell me before I go on... or stop!

Thanks!

AMON DUUL II, Vortex (1981, krautrock?)

By request.
In 1981, Renate Knaup and original members of A.D.II try to come back with songs in the vein of "Wolf City", an album I don't like much. Therefore, of course, I can't like this one, even if there's some rather good pop tracks there (like the opening instrumental). On the contrary, you'll find their worst, like "Wings on the wind", a song that no one will listen entirely I think... I'm really sad to end this AMON DÜÜL II series with such a deceptive album. Nevertheless, try it hereif you want.

What's next? An ASH RA TEMPEL discography maybe..? Anyone interested? Or maybe some vintage goth rock. Well, we'll see...

AMON DUUL II, Utopia (1973, krautrock)

By request. A side project with members of the jazz rock band UTOPIA, composed and released in the "Carnival in Babylon" / "Wolf City" area. Personnaly I don't like it too much, but some tracks are ok. It lacks some craziness of their debut albums, but many titles are well composed. So ok, it's a 5/10.
Download it here and say thanks!

COMETS ON FIRE, live in Paris, Point Ephemere, 23.5.2007

By request.
First performance in France for this incredible psychedelic noise band. A very good show, though I hoped guitarist Ben Chasney (from Six Organs of Admittance) would begin alone with his acoustic guitar; but no.
Recorded with my own mic, sound quality is correct, but don't ask too much... Anyway, everyone interested in psych and kraut should buy their "Blue Cathedral" (at least!).
Download this live performance here , then leave a comment.

AMON DUUL II, "Don't turn to stone" Alternative version (1978, krautrock)

I don't know where this version is from, but certainly not from de CD version of "Only Human". Rythm, guitars and voices seem the same, but the bass line changes and the mix is not the same. Who could tell us where it is from? Anyway, listen to this excellent groovy track here.

At last, here is my top of AMON DÜÜL2 official albums (click on link for Rapidshare downloads) :
1. Yeti
2. Phallus Dei
3. Carnival in Babylon
4. Tanz der Lemminge
5. Vive la trance
6. Wolf City
7. Made in Germany
8. Almost alive
9. Pyragony X
10. Only human
11. Hijack

What's yours?

AMON DUUL II, Only Human (1978, krautrock)

My last post for this AMON DÜÜL 2 series - for me the albums they made in the 80s / 90s are absolutely of no interest. I've stolen this one from OUT OF FOCUS, thanks to him. I will add later an alternative version of one track, definitely the best pop track of the later A.D's albums, "Don't turn too stone" (excellent!!).
For the rest, "Only Human" sounds strictly the same as "Almost Alive", though it might be a little weaker in its compositions. Only 3/10 for this last one you can download here.
For those who want to discover the band, I repeat, once more : go down in this page and try the albums before 1973!
I'm almost sad to end this series, as AMON DÜÜL was a major evolution in the way I listen to music. Discovering it at 25 was the same shock as listening to JOY DIVISION at 15 or SONIC YOUTH at 20... I hope you'll enjoy the same way.
Later, with the "Don't turn to stone" post, a reminder of the links and gradings of their entire official discography.

AMON DUUL II, Almost Alive (1977, krautrock)

"Almost alive", almost the last A.D's album I post here. Here, the best psychedelic band of the early 70s goes even further in its bizarre progressive pop tries; they often seem not to know where they're going, you can find suddenly a beautiful moment (Feeling Uneasy) following the worse (Live in Jericho)... Anyway, it's a very cool and soft pop, in sharp contrast with the punk music of the era. Somehow, I like it, but sometimes with a sense of humour I admit... And you? A 4/10 for me.
Try it here.

AMON DUUL II, Pyragony X (1976, krautrock)

For those who come for the 1st time on AMON DÜÜL, please forget this period and go down on this blog to download their first four albums.
From this one, it's a curious series of bizarre pop / kraut / prog tries; some tracks you can't hear, some very surprising, some are mixed of both. Here for instance, I really enjoy "Lost in Space" or "Crystal Hexagram". Anyway, their sound here has nothing in common with their 1st 3 years, what is easy to understand when you know that it's not really the same band any more, many original members are left and replaced but pop musicians, who have come with their own compositions...
Thanks to some tracks, I give a 4/10 (but be aware, some tracks are really shit, 0/10!!).
Will you dare..? It's here .

AMON DUUL II, Made in Germany (1975, krautrock)

Very ambitious concept / kraut album, often considered as the last A.D's creative effort before their ultimate fall, but deceptive too. Obviously, "Phallus Dei" or "Yeti" are very far now, but personnaly I really like it : you'll find there beautiful instrumental tracks and pop songs but, unfortunately, mixed with some others that are really not convincing. Nevertheless, to my ears it's a 5/10.
Download it here.
PS : please note that it's the full original double LP, a single LP was issued in some countries and for some re-editions.
PS2 : it's also their first awful artwork... and the last album where you hear their singer Renate Knaup.

AMON DUUL II, Hijack (1974, krautrock)

Certainly not recommended for the newcomer in kraut or A.D.'s world! It's by far the worst album the band made. Nothing is good in it, except - how is it possible - their best pop song "Traveller", a kind of classic to my ears. For the rest, it's only lazy 70s pop tunes and maladrwa production. Just boring! Of historical interest only!! I rate it 2/10.
If you're tempted, it's here.
For your information, the upload was made by OUT OF FOCUS, who never put the titles on the tracks. Find them on the artwork he's scanned for you. Thanks to OUT OF FOCUS.

AMON DUUL II, Vive la trance (1973, krautrock)

Hard to describe. A side may contain the best pop material A.D. made, with such strange and magical tracks as "A morning excuse" and "Jalousie". But, after the 6th track (the 1st on B side, "Apocalyptic Bore", still very good), the album turns to a very ordinary pop music, most tracks are of no interest at all. Alas, it's the beginning of A.D's fall, the worst is to come...
Rating : 8/10 for A side, 3/10 for B-side.
Find it here.

AMON DUUL II, Wolf City (1972, krautrock)

Recorded the same year as the magnificent "Carnival in Babylon" and considered by many as its direct follow up (it is said that both could have been gathered as a double LP), "Wolf City" is the 1st failure in A.D's discography in my opinion. The way Renate Knaup's voice is recorded is often too shrill, and on the whole the production is too clean to suit to A.D's sound (their craziness is far now). Nevertheless, you'll find there some beautiful tracks : "Green Bubble Raincoated man", "Jail House Frog" or "Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge" are among my favorite A.D. pop tunes. My rate for this one : 5/10.

Complete your collection here.

AMON DUUL II, Carnival in Babylon (1972, krautrock)

Consider this as a break after 3 different but very psychedelic and excessive albums, as the beginning of their "2nd period" : the tracks are shorter, much more melodic, this is a kind of pop/folk in the Bowie vein of the same era. At first I confess I was disappointed; but be patient and listen to it attentively, you may find (like I do) it's one of their best efforts, with lots of emotion. This is also the 1st time you hear so often the fascinating Renate Knaup. But... why is it so short!? I rate it 9/10.

Download it here and then buy it (we're still waiting for a remastered edition).

AMON DUUL II, Tanz der lemminge (1971, krautrock)

After the heavy psychedelic and distorted guitars of "Yeti", AMON DUUL II try transpose this formula with many and varied instruments, such as 12-strings guitars, sitar, horn, synths, organs etc... But of course in some tracks you'll find those heavy guitars and fabulous "circular" bass you've loved in "Yeti". Like me, you may find some tracks a little boring, like the "Chasmin soundtrack" and, the 1st time you hear it, the 1st track. But some are particularly exciting, most of all the fabulous (even if repetitive) last track.
Less improvised than their first efforts, this album appears as a transition towards their pop/folk/kraut albums to come. My personal rating : a 7/10.
Download the remastered version there.
And of course, if you like it don't hesitate to buy it, the digipack edition is beautiful and cheap!

AMON DUUL II, Yeti (1970, krautrock)

Best album in my opinion, an incredible psychedelic trip, in comparison THE GREATFUL DEAD seem a classic blues / folk band. If you know nothing about kraut, a good album to begin with. But 8 days in april blog, who has uploaded the album, describes it better than me : "This is Krautrock in all it's immense, epic, primal, psychedelic glory. Originally released as two LP's, this features side-long suites and long improvisations marked by a dense, thick sound with inventive instrumental interplay, massive guitar riffs, herculean bass lines and smoldering vocals, male and female. At first listen some of the long improvisations at the end may seem a little too long, but they grow on you."
In my opinion, 10/10!

If you're ready to try it, go there (I don't know which version it is as I was not the uploader, but you have to know that the REPERTOIRE re-edition is far better than the 1st CD editions)
And, of course, IF YOU LIKE IT, YOU BUY IT!

AMON DUUL II, Phallus Dei (1969, krautrock)

Even if I think that every one interested in psych rock should buy at least one AMON DÜÜL's album, I could'nt help sharing all of them. So here starts an AMON DÜÜL II series, I will upload all the official albums, what it's no use for kraut & psych freaks who already owne all of them (I suppose).

At first, their incredible "Phallus Dei", that appears to my ears as a "pre-SONIC YOUTH" album (same strange chords with bizarre distorted guitar), though it's much crazier. Not the easiest way to enter the A.D.'s world. The sound seems a bit amateurish, but it's a good thing : it mixes rock elements with tribal drums and shouts, to the best. Highly recommended (I'd give a 9/10).

Here you'll find the remastered version (re-edited by REPERTOIRE), without the bonus tracks. YOU LIKE IT, YOU BUY IT.

DEUTER, Celebration / Haleakala (1976/77, ambient krautrock)

Back to kraut.
After his second album "Aum" (his best in my opinion), Georg DEUTER moved to India, the country he seemed to dream of when making his music.
Here are the first 2 recordings he produced there; logically, they are even more meditative than "Aum", but, maybe because they are not so richly textured, because they are more abstract and also sound brighter, they are not so touching, though still fascinating (especially "Haleakala"). They are considered a new step towards "new age" music, but are far better than its cliché.
Two CDs in one file that you'll find here.

SETI, Pharos (1995, ambient electronica)

After the incredible TERRE THAEMLITZ album previously posted, another item from the "Instinct Ambient" label (and its awful artworks). Very good floating electronics, meditative and sweat melodies. Not to be confused with Lagowski's S.E.T.I.
Two CDs : 1st here and 2nd here.

UNIT, Hello my name is (electronica)

End of UNIT downloads, with this first EP, a good introduction to its follower, NARCOLEPTIC SYMPHONY.

Try it here

UNIT, I care here to tell you how it's going to begin (2004, electronica)

Back again, sorry for being so long, and thanks for your very appreciated comments.

Here is the 2nd album by UNIT. By far not so interesting as his first, though it contains some interesting tracks. I was told that UNIT is preparing a new album that could be released on WARP. To be confirmed of course.

Download it here
(no artwork found)