Reviews by berl1nchair

For those playing on Apple Music, this appears to be the link to the proper version from late 1960s of the album, rather than the 2007 one that is linked (?made by one of the player's sons?)

https://music.apple.com/us/album/call-of-the-valley/1789340619

This was a pleasant meander through the Himalayas, with lots of recognisable Indian-type sounds, but still accessible for Western audiences. I can't say I'd be rushing back to listen to this, but if I decide to take up meditation and mindfulness, this will be my first stop. Although the last track took too long meandering and devolved into random Hindu noises that was approaching some kind of Indian jazz, but not in a good way. Might’ve been a 4, but drops down to a 3

Thrash metal with ....... prog overtones?? This was obviously their magnum opus before they decided to go over the top with '...And Justice For All'. And then they degenerated into an over-rated heavy rock band.
This is great. Self-indulgent, and probably overly long, but generally great. Highlights include Battery, Damage Inc, Disposable Heroes and Sanitarium.

Screeching, howling, end of the 60s rock 'n' roll. Piece of My Heart rocks as you'd expect, but it's Ball and Chain that floats my boat the most here, mostly due to the tortured sounds coming out of the guitar, which match nicely with Janis's tortured vocals. The rest is all good, although not sure why the producer felt the need to add fake crowd noise to make it seem like a live album.

This passed me by when it was released - it came out when my kids were quite young so radio wasn’t getting much of a spin, more likely kids music!!!
Synth pop has a tendency to sound all a bit the same, which this can fall victim to at times, but sometimes a groove would punch through and I’d find myself nodding my head. I think the temptation with this sort of programmed stuff is to always have something happening, and to add layers, with the result that sometimes there is no space left in the recording. Not bad, and I will look to check out their later recordings, to see where they go from here

Haven’t heard this much Muzak since being stuck in an elevator in 1979. Kinda groovy in some way, as long as you can get past the many many layers of cheese and gratuitous saxophone

Bowie doing Philly soul, eh? Never heard the whole album before but very familiar with the title track and Fame. The cover of Across The Universe is ass (don’t care if Lennon liked it!!!), but the rest is alright, probably the best of the rest is Somebody Up There Likes Me. I’d probably give this 3.5 if I could, but it is only getting a 3 today.

Hawkwind? More like Passedwind, amiright?!?!?!?!?

OK, the Generator is clearly messing with me now.
More 70s bollocks, this time - SPAAAAAAACE ROOOOOCCCCCKKKKKKK!!

The music isn't absolutely terrible (but it isn't great, either), but the ridiculous, portentous voiceovers between some of the songs have to be heard to be believed - total shite!!

How anyone can think this is an essential album to listen to before one shuffles off this mortal coil and back to being part of the space rock that we formed upon, it's just totally beyond me. Nearly 2 hours that I’ll never get back…….

I knew ‘The Weight’, obviously, but the rest is kinda boring to me. Dimery’s boner for 60s/70s folk rock is wearing very thin.
This might have squeaked in to a 3, but that final cover of I Shall Be Released is total shit, and I never want to hear it again. 2 stars

It’s jazz. It’s got all the required bits in there and they are all jamming their little hearts out, making a decent racket that is pleasant enough. But I’m not quite seeing why this is regarded as such a landmark album. Maybe I’m just not cool enough. And I’m ok with that.

Geez, she really tries to sounds like she's from Jamaica, even though she's British/Sri Lankan?!??! Anyway, this had the distinction of having some of the most annoying sounds you are likely to hear on an album any time soon.
There are moments where it rises up a bit, like the slightly sweet Sunflowers, but the rest of it I was mostly just waiting for it to end.

This certainly has its moments - when they hit their groove on tracks like Tennessee, People Everyday and Mr Wendal, they sound like the group you never knew you'd been missing all your life. Give A Man A Fish is also worthy of a mention, but there is a bit of a filler problem where Speech spends a bit too much time yacking on about what a freak he is and how he never fit in, which is nice and all, but gets a bit boring after a while.
Close to a 4, but doesn't quite make it there

Not a lot of interest here. Yes, it's 60s folky-rock with some maybe psychedelic influences, but having said that, the whole is so much less than the sum of its parts. I'm sure this spot could have been used by something a little more worthy. At least it's over quickly, though

I really enjoyed this. The backstory probably makes it more interesting, but the way this guy can just rock up and play compelling piano off the top of his head for an hour solid is pretty impressive. I love the way the recording captures him tapping his foot and crying out at times, it makes you feel like you are right there on the stage with him.
Not something I am likely to go back to a lot, but definitely worth my time to listen to.

I was not prepared for how perfect pop this was. This probably should be up there for consideration along with anything that Taylor, Katy or Olivia can put out, but I am guessing the marketing for a slightly androgynous woman with a male alter-ego means this is a bit less likely to hit the mainstream. Well, that is their loss.

A bit surprised by the low average on the site for this. It's is PEAK 80's with the production, with backing singers chiming in and cheap sounding electronics on a large portion of the songs, but to me that is part of the charm!!
Tower of Song, First We Take Manhattan, Everybody Knows, I'm Your Man, there is some fantastic songs on here. Give it a chance and see behind the cheesiness and you will be rewarded!!

It’s not bad, it’s just not as good as their later stuff. This probably sounded amazing in 1980, but time has not been kind, and I really miss Bruce Dickinson’s screaming vocals.

A bit torn on this one. The opening two tracks, Protection and Karmacoma, are absolute top notch and I could listen to them over and over. The album then meanders along without anything quite getting near that level, before redeeming itself with Heatmiser. Then for some unknown reason, they decide to have a live cover of The Doors’ Light My Fire. Which is weird af, although I kinda like it. Probably edging up to a 4, as I’m feeling generous today.

Fuck this album. I was about an hour in and pretty much hating it, THEN I discover that it’s not even the correct one!! (on Apple Music) anyway, the one that I listened to bored the shit out of me - all the songs are forever long, there is absolutely NOTHING going on during most of them, and I was pretty much bored shitless after the first song-and-a-half. DnB should be renamed S&M as you’d have to be a masochist to subject yourself to 1 hour, let alone 3 or more

This is fine, I guess. A little more folky pastoral style than I've previously heard from Goldfrapp, but pleasant enough. I actually listened a few days ago and I'm having trouble even recalling one of these tracks from this album, so that tells you how much of an impression it made. I do recall some nicely sung vocals but the music seems to wash over me, leaving little trace

Smooth, funky sounds of the 70s. Music to be in love with and make love to. Not my usual jam but ate up a long car drive with ease.