FOCUS - Focus " 8 " 2002 -

FOCUS \ FOCUS " 8 " 2002.

Link : FOC8

FOCUS - Hamburger Concerto 1974 -

FOCUS \ HAMBURGER CONCERTO 1974.

Link : HACO

FOCUS - At The Rainbow live 1973 -

FOCUS \ AT THE RAINBOW LIVE 1973.

Link :ATRL

FOCUS - Focus 3 1973 -

FOCUS \ FOCUS 3 1973.
Great album.

Link : FOIII

FOCUS - Moving Waves 1972 -

FOCUS
Bio :
Among some groups in the 1970s that combined elements of rock and classical music,
FOCUS is, without a doubt, the most notable Dutch group widely known outside the
Netherlands.
The two main musicians in the band were flutist/keyboardist/singer Thjis Van LEER and
guitarist Jan AKKERMAN.
They played a stylishly inventive rock with flutes, keyboards & dazzling guitar, defining the Dutch prog sound.
In 1978, the group finally split up, without making too much noise.
Best considered albums are "Moving Waves" (1972), "Focus 3" (1973), "Live at the Rainbow" (1973), and "Hamburger Concerto" (1974).
"Waves" and "3" represent the best of the band’s earlier intensely progressive period with plenty of sidelong tracks and healthly extended solos.
Most will agree that "Live at the Rainbow" and "Hamburger Concerto" were their best, moving into a period of more pure classical and jazz influence.
From the other hand another album "Focus 8" marks the return of Thjis Van LEER in the true nature of music: tuneful, memorable and a little bit rocky when they want to be.
This album contains everything you might want from a FOCUS album ... plenty of flute and keyboards from Thijs, tasty guitar playing from Jan DUMÉE and even some yodeling vocals.

FOCUS \ MOVING WAVES 1972.

Link :MOWA

GAZPACHO - FireBird 2005 -

GAZPACHO \ FIREBIRD 2005.

The superb band from Norway in a another excellent work of 2005. Enjoy it.

Link :FIBIR

KARTHAGO - Rock'N Roll Testament 1974 -

KARTHAGO \ ROCK ' N ROLL TESTAMENT 1974.
Bio :

Formed in Berlin in 1970, the musicians of Karthago came from all over Germany and from various backgrounds. They were not a true Berlin band. Strongly inspired by British and American bands, Jimi Hendrix was a notable influence, but more so they were into the type of rock fusion garnered by CBS (like Chicago Transit Authority, Argent, Black Widow, Heaven, etc.).

Karthago developed a more mainstream style than most Berlin acts, with strong songs, jazz and funk elements, backed up by excellent musicianship. Often they were much more Anglo-American sounding than German. It would seem that BASF were really pleased to sign Karthago up, as their debut LP had the most extraordinary multi-fold-out cover. The album was a fine example of the genre, with many excellent tracks, yet unbefitting such a crazily psychedelic cover! It obviously wasn't such a great success though, as it took 21/2 years for the aptly entitled SECOND STEP to appear, and then there was another lengthy gap till their third.

With each album the Karthago sound was becoming less progressive and closer to mainstream rock, though it seems they never gained any greater success due to this. A live double album summed up most of the best material from this era, with some tracks greatly extended.

Line up :

Tommy Goldschmidt (drums, percussion, vocals), Wolfgang Brock (drums, percussion, vocals), Joey Albrecht (guitar, vocals), Ingo Bischof (organ, vocals), Gerald Hartwig (bass, vocals, percussion)

VERY GOOD.

Link :RART