August 5, 2019

Seirios SAVVAIDIS "Moly" (SER 057 / EYE 018)


Greek musician and singer-songwriter Seirios Savvaidis is the most important figure in the local folk scene for the last 15 years, possessing an edge and originality that sets him apart. His music, influenced by the Greek music tradition and the late 60s/early 70s psych-folk scene, is characterized by a haunted loner folk vibe and a genuine pagan lyricism that shape the mystical, wonderful world of his unique personal style.

In Homer's Odyssey, "Moly" was the herb the God Hermes handed to Odysseus to release his men from Circe's sorcery. "Moly" also serves as the title for Savvaidis' latest studio album, a low-key effort full of excellent tracks of serious acoustic bliss! Seirios' unique blend of acid folk takes the traditional aura of mountain songs and transforms it into pure lysergic folk heaven. All six album tracks create their own unique style with acoustic guitars and tribal percussion; they are otherworldly, haunted psych mantras that expand beyond typical acoustic songwriting. Like with the Incredible String Band, Comus or Nick Drake, these melodies stretch out, meander, get lost, find themselves again, always surprising the listener with their sudden flights of passion. Songs that are complex, sacred, serene... sounding like hymns to ancient gods & demons; dancing to an aura of ecstasy and redemption. 

"Moly" can easily be your lost 1971 acid folk masterpiece; an album that resonates an era where artists were nothing more of just themselves and dedicated their art into creating a unique vision of their universe. A joint release from Sound Effect Records and Cosmic Eye.


Sample here.


Limited Edition of 300 copies
- 100 coloured vinyl  € 24.00
- 200 black vinyl  € 20.00


Release Date: 01 August 2019

Buy at our e-shop.


June 23, 2019

Respect!

BOMBAY GROOVY's LP endorsed by the great Jimmy Page. Mega-respects and well done boys. Thank you!


June 22, 2019

BOMBAY GROOVY "Odyssey" (EYE 017)


Hailing from the celebrated new wave of Brazilian psych, BOMBAY GROOVY are an instrumental group essentially consisting of the transcendental sound of the indian sitar, the intense and versatile grunt of the hammond organ and notably syncopated drum lines. A renewed alliance between East and West within a boundless rock concept can be defined as the quest of the three young musicians from São Paulo, who are heavily inspired by the sounds and general aesthetics of the early 1970s.

The listener can expect influences of bands such as The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Ananda Shankar, Jeff Beck, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Herbie Hancock, Soft Machine, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, Graham Bond and even James Brown. However, the late 60s & early 70s references are adorned with an intensified Eastern twist. Vocal and verbal elements are replaced by a singular blend of sounds and mystic themes which gained the attention of the Brazilian music press and experimental retro rock music enthusiasts from all over the planet.

"Odyssey" is a compilation curated by Cosmic Eye alongside the group, featuring tracks from all the band's releases, from the accentuated psych sound of the self-titled debut album (2014) to the progressive/jazz rock sonorities of its successor, "Dandy do Dendê" (2016), and the art-funk double A single "Saturnalia/Devi" (2019).


Sample here.


Limited Edition of 300 copies
- 100 coloured vinyl  € 24.00
- 200 black vinyl  € 21.00


Release Date: 24 June 2019

Buy at our e-shop.


May 3, 2017

CARNAVAL "Miss Universe" (EYE 016)


CARNAVAL are a heavy band from Ljubljana strongly influenced by the early 90s stoner rock and late 80s proto-grunge styles. "Miss Universe" is their fourth full length album and an impressive mix of old school desert stoner, bluesy hard rock, spacey grunge eruptions and psyched-up metal heaviness. The seven songs of the album are all a dense affair of savage massive riffing, fat-heavy bass grooves, downtuned guitars and mind-expanding vocal work that contrasts with the rest instrumentation, adding an hypnotic feel to the music. A mature work of relentless heavy rock that urges you to grab a smoke, sit down and listen to it.

Sample here.


Limited Edition of 300 copies
- 150 coloured vinyl  € 24.00
- 150 black vinyl  € 21.00


Release Date: 5 May 2017

Buy at our e-shop.
 

March 25, 2017

ATOMIC SIMAO "Echo" (EYE 015)


"Echo" is the second album from Kiev's ATOMIC SIMAO and we're privileged to issue it on vinyl, as a follow-up to their successful first LP "Nōdo" of two years ago.

On this sophomore effort, the band abandons the Hendrixian jamming of their debut and takes a long head-dive into funked-up spacerock. The style on this release is a complex instrumental mix of acidic guitar, psyched-out electronica and Middle-Eastern influenced laid back space-jazz feel. A multitude of rhythms are swirling everywhere, funky jazz grooves spice up the recipe the Funkadelic way, and a soaring sax brings the compositions to Gong's "Shamal" era territory and beyond. Adjectives to describe the listening experience: trippy, complex, eclectic, intense, surreal...

Overall, "Echo" is not what expected in comparison to the direct psychedelic jam feel of their debut, but in a way it's a more intense and colourful panorama of cosmic sounds and "down and dirty" grooves. This is beautiful music to zone-out. Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the take-off!


Sample here.



Limited Edition of 300 copies
- 150 coloured vinyl  € 23.00
- 150 black vinyl  € 20.00


Release Date: 4 Apr. 2017

Buy at our e-shop.


November 1, 2016

GROVJOBB "Landet Leverpastej" & "Vättarnas Fest" LP reissues

Grovjobb went down as one of the under-the-radar obscurities of the 90s Scandinavian retro progressive scene. They were a Swedish band formed in 1995 that existed for only a few years, performing an interesting hybrid of progressive rock, psychedelia, forest folk, and world music with a definite throwback to the early 70s. They released three albums during their active lifespan, that didn’t receive the attention they deserved. Now, Muzic Bazz is trying to correct this omission by reissuing their first two albums in vinyl format (they only received the CD treatment back in the day).
 
Landet Leverpastej

Originally released in 1998 on the small Garageland label, Grovjobb’s debut is an excellent example of flute driven prog rock, that can be generally described as a Scandinavian version of early Jethro Tull (“Stand Up” & “Benefit” era), though entirely instrumental. There's a genuine lot to be (re)discovered here. Above all, the band succeeded to sound like a mid 70's progressive band, while avoiding the predominance of the technical factor in favour of low-tempo instrumental tunes with a heavy psych vibe, often in a happy, playful mode. When they jam, there’s a notable Fläsket Brinner influence enrichened by a constant interplay between fuzz-drenched guitar and flute. The resulting duels are combined with native folk motives and some jazzy moments, that give a special “warm summer night air” atmosphere to the pieces. Not the whole album is tightly structured, as Grovjobb wade also through some loose arrangements with a jamming feeling and a light improvisational touch. In its whole, “Landet Leverpastej” is a gloriously vintage and magnificently evocative recording with an “open” aura: the feeling of nature - the sounds of the forest and the sea. Everyone who is after well played instrumental music which rests more in a structured  jam session vein, will love this record. The specific reissue comes in a different cover to the CD, redesigned by artist Dan Fröberg.
  

Vättarnas Fest

From the wonderful cover (created by illustrator Hans Arnold) with the parading bodies transformed as music instruments, one gets the picture that something special goes on with “Vättarnas Fest”. Following their excellent debut from the year prior, Grovjobb come with another impressive album, which by many is considered as their “crown of creation”. The music in this second offering takes a deeper dive in the early 70s in a remarkably convincing result. The jam based approach on the record takes a more hypnotic, jazzier approach and the flute playing is more fluid than on the previous album, resulting in a distant krauty vibe. Then comes the use of sitar and bits of Indian classical music; a fact that adds a spacious feel to the music and an aura of originality. The listener is transported back in time, without being (even momentary) let-down through all this well-played, cohesive, always inspired instrumental delivery. And in true retro spirit, the high levels of creativity result in an eastern-influenced 19 minute long instrumental suite, where the raga structured sitar transitions softly into an electric guitar driven psych journey that near its end dissolves in a sea of fuzz. Music that good, that never gets old or outdated; a five stars album that is superb in every respect and a must to every retro psych/prog aficionado.

Listen here.

Both Grovjobb albums are officially reissued from the original masters in both coloured and black vinyl on COSMIC EYE's parent label MusicBazz Corporation (http://www.musicbazz.com).

Each album in a total of 200 copies with printed inner sleeves:
200 coloured vinyl   € 24.00



Release Date: 20 Nov. 2016

You can get your own copy HERE.


November 21, 2015

BERITS HALSBAND "Berits Halsband" LP & CD reissue

Βerits Halsband were an obscure band from the small coastal town of Hudiksvall, in central Sweden. Their relative isolation allowed the group an artistic freedom that ultimately created one of the greatest progressive jazz rock albums... ever.

In the mid 1970s, Sweden was harboring a handful of jazz bands looking to push the envelope beyond the usual bebop standards or electric noodling. These groups were very much influenced by the North American freaky fusion of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Collectives such as Ibis, Ablution, Egba, Kornet, and Archimedes Badkar were bringing that same kind of kinetic creativity up to Scandinavia. And one has to figure those long, dark winters played a role in creating hallucinations even among the most puritan of Lutherans wandering about in their show shoes.

 
This was the creative environment that Berits Halsband were operating in. Their artistic contribution to the scene, and most distinctive mark as it were, would be the musical crossover to the indigenous Scandinavian folklore of the local wooden dance hall. Berits Halsband's brand of progressive music wasn't dished up through the Zappa blender (like the popular Samla Mammas Manna for example), but rather more of an introspective art school approach. As with other large scale ensembles, the 8 piece Berits Halsband makes full use of its entire membership in unique ways. To underscore this point, consider the prominent use of trumpet, which is often filtered and heavily effected through a wah wah pedal. Their second lead instrument of choice is the lovely flute, often in unison with the trumpet, or as a peaceful solo alternative. And while Side 1 sounds like the best soundtrack to your dream Stockholm vacation, side 2 takes us closer to home, near the Arctic Circle, for some serious deep funk grooves. And here we find some added ring modulated electric piano combined with amazing fuzz electric guitar soloing. All this layered on top of a trance-like bass and a very busy percussion section. While the musical ingredients are familiar, the end result is entirely Berits Halsband - one of a kind.

In conclusion, Berits Halband's sole album is a strange bedfellow meeting of 1974 electric era Miles Davis, combined with the Swedish ethnic rock of Kebnekaise, and the psychedelic pyrotechnics of Flasket Brinner. Yes... it’s that good!
(Tom Hayes)


The rare 1975 LP of BERITS HALSBAND is officially reissued from the original masters in both LP and CD on COSMIC EYE's parent label MusicBazz Corporation (http://www.musicbazz.com).

Listen to the album.

100 coloured vinyl + poster + CD   € 27.00
100 coloured vinyl + poster            € 24.00
160 black vinyl + poster                 € 22.00
350 custom discfolio digipack CD  € 16.00

Release Date: 23 Nov. 2015

You can get your own copy HERE.