Thanks Chris! I'm sure the Faust will be good, but I am super excited to hear the Rustic Hinge. Excellent way to start the week.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6k406h
Lucifer's Friend - "Lucifer's Friend"
"Lucifer's Friend was a German band who recorded their self-titled debut in 1970. Imagine if Deep Purple had recorded an unknown secret album with a pre-Rainbow Ronnie James Dio on vocals, and you'll have a good idea of what this holds in store. The main difference is that this album lacks the brutally tedious unaccompanied soloing that plagued a great deal of Deep Purple's material ("The Mule," anyone?). This album is tight and concise, with expertly crafted songs and impressive interplay between the musicians, and it doesn't bore for a second.
The album kicks off in grand style with "Ride In The Sky," a short and to the point shuffle that bears more than a passing resemblance to "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, but is simply too fucking good for anyone to care. From there the songs become more epic and unrestrained, as in the case of the album's high point, "Toxic Shadows." This song features incredible interaction between the musicians and features vocal and instrumental hooks so all-consuming that the helpless listener has no choice but to surrender his will to them. By the time the album wraps up with the song "Lucifer's Friend," the band has pretty much had the last word on the correct way to make an early-70's proto-metal album.
Now for the bad news.
There are two major warnings that any responsible journalist must communicate to anyone considering buying this album. The first is for anyone purchasing the 1990 CD reissue. It features five bonus tracks, which sound nothing like the rest of the album, and have more in common with "Penny Lane" by the Beatles. Songs such as these are why the "program" feature on CD players was invented, and the listener is advised to use this technological marvel. The second warning is much more dire: After this album, the band apparently decided that they were being held back by the stylistic limitations of heavy rock, and from their second album onward they pursued a jazzier, more progressive direction. No matter how much you like the debut, whatever you do, do not buy any of their other albums. You may be tempted to do so. You may be so impressed by the debut that curiosity may get the better of you and cause you to splurge for one of the later albums, just to see what it's like. Don't do it. Don't even download it for free. The later Lucifer's Friend albums are to be strenuously avoided. In fact, the later Lucifer's Friend albums are so atrocious that they are to be avoided not just like the plague, but like the most burning, itching, dripping case of gonorrhea ever suffered by the most used-up, chancre-ridden prostitute trolling the strip in Reno, Nevada."
Daniel Bukszpan - smoking in bed records
Enjoy.
