Reissues
Der Abend Der Schwarzen Folklore
Originally released in 1992, Der Abend Der Schwarzen Folklore is the third Massaker album, originally released by Rough Trade Germany. According to Caspar Brötzmann, the title track and Bass Totem are the band’s most accomplished songs. It’s certainly the most sonicly refined of their albums, recorded during a residency over several weeks at the pastoral site of Conny Plank’s studio near Cologne, and produced by Ingo Krauss and Bruno Gebhard, who had worked with the famed Krautrock producer unti…
Koksofen
Koksofen (which translates as blast furnace), originally released in 1993, has become one of Massaker’s most popular albums. Like it’s predecessor, Der Abend Der Schwarzen Folklore, the album took shape in Massaker’s rehearsal room below the Berlin subway station Schlesisches Tor, and was recorded at Conny Plank’s studio near Cologne, with Plank’s former associates Ingo Krauss and Bruno Gephard producing. There’s a different kind of intensity to Koksofen. The features of Massaker’s sound are in …
First Meeting
**2019 stock, reduced price** First Meeting is the only album from the short-lived British Jazz-Rock septet Trifle, founded by singer George Bean, which also included trumpeter Dick Cuthell, saxophonist Barrie Martin, keyboardist Alan Fealdman, guitarist John Hitchen, bassist Patrick King and drummer Chico Greenwood. The group folded shortly after this album was recorded as a result of the tragic death of its leader. The brass arrangements are excellent and the mostly original material is defini…
Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina
**2019 stock, reduced price** The baroque pop band The Left Banke formed back in 1965 in New York City. With their debut album Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina they hit the charts and both title songs became hit singles in the US. They're known for their vocal harmonies, which can be heard on most of the tracks of the album. With their pioneering use of strings, harpsichord and woodwinds they created a unique baroque sound. The beautiful and emotional vibe they laid down in their music can be …
The Road
**2019 stock, reduced price** Formed in Lancashire in 1969 around the nucleus of three brothers, John, Lea and Neil Heather - also known as The Heather Brothers - Quiet World was a studio recording project best known for being the first album to feature future Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett and with a guest appearance from Steve's brother, John. As was common practice in those early days The Road is a conceptual album, and in this case flavored with religious leanings (actually based on the cul…
Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters
**2019 stock, reduced price** Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters is the solo debut album by Robert Calvert, former singer of the space-rock band Hawkwind. It's a satirical concept album with both songs and spoken interludes based on the story of the poor quality of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter planes. The sputtering and sprawling planes starts up the album, which portrays the West German minister of defense as a psychopath who's furious about the Luftwaffe. It's the effective combination of…
The Birthday Party
**2019 stock, reduced price** In 1967, The Idle Race were the first major signing by the new British arm of Liberty Records. The group were well received by the music press for their melodies, whimsical lyrics and inventive production. They often appeared on the same bill with such bands as The Spencer Davis Group, The Who, Small Faces, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Status Quo, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Yes, Free, and The Move. Influential BBC disc jockeys such as John Peel and Kenny Everett were big bo…
Help Yourself
**2019 stock, reduced price** Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 70s. Formed in London, originally as a backing band for singer-songwriter Malcolm Morley, who had left Sam Apple Pie and had been signed as a solo act by Famepushers. The band was assembled by John Eichler who, as well as working for Famepushers, was a production manager at Strand Cosmetics. Their eponymous debut album Help Yourself was recorded from late 1970 to early 1971 wit…
Hard Rock From the Middle East
**2019 stock, reduced price** The Devil's Anvil was a 1960s band based in New York City, and Hard Rock From the Middle East, released in 1967, was their one and only album. Showcasing a mix of 1960s rock sound with Arab, Greek and Turkish melodies, the songs on the album are often sung in Arabic. The arrangements walk a tightrope between the modern psychedelia of the day and centuries-old traditional folk modalities and melodies. Hard Rock from the Middle East was released during escalating tens…
Flames / Salisbury Plain
**750 copies - 2019 stock, reduced price** Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as Velvet Opera, was a British Rock band active in the late 1960s. The group emerged from a soul / blues band called The Five Proud Walkers, and after supporting Pink Floyd on tour, they were inspired to change their approach and become a more psychedelic outfit. Their first recording was the single Flames b/w Salisbury Plain - published in November 1967 - which was later covered on stage by Led Z…
The Wildest Guitar
**2019 stock, reduced price** Mickey Baker, also known as Mickey "Guitar" Baker, was an American guitarist. He is widely held to be a critical force in the bridging of rhythm and blues and rock and roll, along with Bo Diddley, Ike Turner and Chuck Berry. His musical style was influenced by saxophonist Charlie Parker. In the 50s Baker did sessions with The Drifters, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan and many more artists. During this time, Baker played on numerous hit records.…
Please Do Not Steal It!
**1000 copies on transparent vinyl** The Residents are one of pop history's best kept secrets; throughout the group's existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to operate under anonymity, preferring instead to have attention focused on their art output. Much outside speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tails, a long-lasting costume now recognized as its signat…
Intermission
**1000 copies on pink vinyl** The Residents are one of pop history's best kept secrets; throughout the group's existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to operate under anonymity, preferring instead to have attention focused on their art output. Much outside speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tails, a long-lasting costume now recognized as its signature ico…
The Photographer
**2019 stock, reduced price** The Photographer is a chamber opera by world renowned composer Philip Glass, first performed in 1982 at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. The story revolves around the life and work of photographer Eadweard Muybridge, the 19th century pioneer in photographic studies of motion and motion-picture projection. The centerpiece of the story is the trial for Muybridge's murder of the alleged real father of his child, an accusation Muybridge was indeed found guilty of. Remarka…
Live at Yubin Chokin Kaikan Hall, Tokyo,14.05.1986
For this historical concert held at the Yubin Chokin Hall, in Tokyo on May 14, 1986, the legendary Japanese drummer Masahiko Togashi brought together an amazing line-up with such modern jazz luminaries as Steve Lacy (soprano sax), Don Cherry (pocket trumpet) and Dave Holland (bass). This particular album consists of four previously unpublished tracks (on vinyl), including some highly regarded Lacy's compositions such as The Crus and Quakes, and Don Cherry's African flavored anthem called Mopti. …
Spirits Rejoice!
**1000 copies** Otoroku is extremely proud to present the first vinyl reissue of one of the most legendary free jazz records ever produced. Originally released in 1978 on Ogun recordings, Louis Moholo Octet’s Spirits Rejoice! is a high achievement in the movement of the era as it soars beyond oppression with a raucous and spiritually uplifting surge of movement and melody. Featuring Harry Miller, Johnny Dyani, Keith Tippett, Evan Parker, Nick Evans, Radu Malfatti and Kenny Wheeler, this is forme…
Alligator Bogaloo
To believe in serendipity - that’s the operative word when it comes to alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson’s soul-jazz hit, Alligator Bogaloo, the opening track from the leader’s heralded -artistically and commercially - album of the same name, released by Blue Note in 1967. The tale of its origin has been told so many times that it holds mythic status of affirming the power of improvisational jazz. For his LP session at Rudy Van Gelder’s Englewood Cliffs, N.J., studio, Lou finished recording five tr…
Ethiopian Knights
Right from the stop-start bass groove that opens The Emperor, it's immediately clear that Ethiopian Knights is more indebted to funk - not just funky jazz, but the straight-up James Brown / Sly Stone variety - than any previous Donald Byrd project. And, like a true funk band, Byrd and his group work the same driving, polyrhythmic grooves over and over, making rhythm the focal point of the music. Although the musicians do improvise, their main objective is to keep the grooves pumping, using their…
Universal Beings
Paris-born, New England-raised, long-time Chicago-residing Makaya McCraven has been at the forefront of genre-redefining movements in jazz since 2015, when he introduced the world to his unique brand of ‘organic beat music’ on the breakout album In the Moment. Culled, cut, post-produced and re-composed by Makaya using recordings of free improvisation he collected over dozens of live sessions in Chicago, through incubation and experimentation In the Moment established a procedural blueprint that …
McGear
Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 3 disc clamshell box set edition of the album, McGear by Mike McGear, featuring 2CDs and a DVD. Originally released in 1974, McGear was the second solo album by Mike McGear (younger brother of Paul McCartney) and was a more “serious” record than his work with the Liverpool satirical trio Scaffold, or his work with Roger McGough on the McGough & McGear album. Recorded at Strawberry studios in Stockport, (th…