In The Land Of FREE we still Keep on Rockin'

It's Not Dark Yet

Plain and Fancy

Music gives soul to universe, wings to mind, flight to imagination, charm to sadness, and life to everything.

Plato

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Aorta - Aorta (1969 us, excellent wild psychedelia with a hint of early progressive rock)



Aorta was a highly talented rock band from Rockford, IL that released two albums throughout 1969 and 1970. The band was originally known as the Exceptions, a popular soul rock group that played around the Chicago area and released a handful of singles. It’s interesting to note that the Exceptions had at one time included future members of H.P. Lovecraft (another great Chicago psych band), the New Colony Six, Chicago, The Buckinghams, and Illinois Speed Press. The Exceptions eventually morphed into Aorta when band members felt a more progressive direction was needed.

In 1969 Columbia released this startling record which was a mix of psychedelia, soul, jazz, folk, and rock. The album was housed in a beautiful, graphic sleeve that has always overshadowed the great music from within. Musically speaking, Aorta’s sound comes close to Boston band Listening or even the more psychedelic aspects of early Blood, Sweat and Tears during its Al Kooper phase. There seems to be some kind of concept that reoccurs under the Mein Vein theme. Aorta is solid throughout though, featuring strong musicianship, inventive studio wizardry, superb songs with a healthy dose of fuzz guitar and wonderful string and horn arrangements.

Some songs like Heart Attack and Ode To Missy Mxyzosptlk have lots of organ and are very early stabs at what would later be coined progressive rock. Ode to Missy has some intense guitar solos and a great studio psych out ending that will put your stereo speakers on overdrive. A personal favorite is the more restrained Sprinkle Road to Cork Street, which is a dramatic folk-rock track with horns and a beautiful medieval-like intro. Trippier tracks like the spooky Catalyptic with its ethereal, acid church organ work extremely well too and make it clear that these guys could play any style of music well. What’s In My Mind’s Eye is a great lost piece of psychedelic pop that has really cool disembodied vocals and a prominent horn arrangement.

Aorta may seem grandiose and even downright indulgent at times but make no mistake this really is a great lost record. Conclusion: definitely pick this great album up if you’re looking for some far out, wild psychedelia with a hint of early progressive rock.
by Jason Nardelli 


Tracks
1. Main Vein I (Jim Donlinger) - 2:17
2. Heart Attack (J. Donlinger, Jim Nyeholt) - 2:30
3. What's In My Mind's Eye (Ginna Donlinger) - 2:47
4. Magic Bed (Dan Hoagland, J. Donlinger) - 2:37
5. Main Vein II (J. Donlinger, J. Nyeholt) - 1:25
6. Sleep Tight (Lowell George, Russ Titelman) - 4:38
7. Catalyptic (Gary Montgomery, Jack Dalton) - 3:32
8. Main Vein III (J. Donlinger) - 0:42
9. Sprinkle Road To Cork Street (D. Hoagland, J. Nyeholt) - 3:06
10.Ode To Missy Mxyzosptlk (J. Donlinger) - 3:08
11.Strange (D. Hoagland) - 4:18
12.A Thousand Thoughts (Billy Herman, J. Donlinger) - 3:48
13.Thoughts And Feelings / Main Vein IV (J. Donlinger) - 4:07

Aorta
*Jim Nyeholt - Bass
*Billy Herman - Drums
*Bobby Jones - Guitar, Vocals
*Jim Donlinger - Keyboards, Vocals

Free Text
Just Paste

6 comments:

  1. Hi Marios!
    Despite the fact, this album I have for a long time, I have to admit that a 1969 'is my favorite time in the history of music!
    This team was far ahead of its time, what makes this album more musical treasure than ever before, you can hear why they remain timeless.
    Music, which was created in that particular year really suits me and is quite rewarding subject to different considerations. After that is in this and the next yearbook and in the lens focused everything in popular music najlepsze.Eksperymentowano then with everything possible. The technique of recording - for example, refer to the work of avant-garde, even if volatility melodic motifs and rhythmic. All of these patents, which are then introduced, and gave a completely new, original quality, and perhaps only later were modified slightly.
    Marios Thanks for the reminder.
    Axis improved edition of the UK, the sound quality compared to the label "Buy or Die" Records - definitely better sound (such opinions - I'd like to verify)

    ReplyDelete
  2. A classic psych album. Thanks very much...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kan jeg be om at denne CDen blir gjort tilgjengelig igjen?

    Tusen takk.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Groeten aan jullie, Mario, en bedankt dat jullie Aorta opnieuw hebben gepost.

    Aldert

    ReplyDelete
  5. Marios, can you please re-up, many thanks and regards

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous, "Aorta 1969", fixed...

    ReplyDelete