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78. SEMOOL: “Essais” (Mellow Records). (CD: Near Mint/ Case: Excellent/ Jacket: Mint) One
of the rarest entries in the always-elusive Futura Records catalogue. Futura LP (Musique-Contemporaire series #02) as seen on The Nurse With
Wound List, recorded in Paris between January 1969 to March 1971. 11 'essays'
by the trio of Philippe Martineau (G/P), Olivier Cauquil (G/P), and Remy Dede
Dreano (D) employing all sorts of ill-advised studio trickery under the
incapable sonic direction of Gerard Terrones (makes the Mahogany Brain Smooth
Slick Lights LP seem positively 24/96). Damaged beyond repair (effectively
totaled), it's a wild ride of questionably doltish (alternatively
outsider-brilliant) ramblings and found-sound experiments, SO much tape delay
and outboard muck, treated piano solos, accidental feedback generation,
borrowed/stolen motifs (Essai 1 briefly dips into a misinterpreted take of Interstellar
Overdrive, Essai 3 ganks the riff from Black Sabbath). Ultimately
patience-trying but so lovely and earnest (the purity of their hallucinogen of
choice never once comes into question). Anyone with a remote tolerance for
say... the No Neck Blues Band might want to investigate into an instance of
their aesthetic beaten to (a pulp) by a window of about 25 years, without all
that pesky baseless spiritualism getting in the way (just a thought). If the
Fille Qui Mousse Trixie Stapleton ... LP rates in your universe, here it's
Basket Case-lineage mutant half brother and glow. Consummately inept and
essential!!! Amazing where the musical soul will travel with a few well-placed
microdots. Or as John Gibson of Other Music used to rave about this
masterpiece: “One
of the greatest avant-jazz/psych albums ever made! I saw an original vinyl copy
at a record fair in Belgium three years ago, very nearly wet myself and quite
happily parted with an outrageous amount of cash. Semool was comprised of three
obscure freaks from Paris (Philippe Martineau, Olivier Cauquil & Remy
"Dede" Dreano) and this monster was recorded between 1969 and 1971,
eventually to be released on the impossible-to-find Futura label. An
exhilarating roller coaster ride of musical styles and semiotics that
continually defy any listener expectations, "Essais" has long held a
place of honor on Steven Stapleton's (Nurse With Wound) list of crucial
influences. For further frame of reference, we might consider the likes of MEV,
Scratch Orchestra, Red Noise, Mahogany Brain, Anima, Fille Qui Mousse, Gruppo
Di Improvvisatione Nuova Consonanza, etc. but, really, "Essais" is a
truly unique and wonderful experience. Complete with backward masked
"sampling" and a rather cheeky reference to "Interstellar
Overdrive", this is what might've happened if an absinthe-laden Pink Floyd
had cut a session for Actuel/BYG! Dare I say essential? [JG]” Price: 20 Euro
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79. SPACE MACHINE: “Modular Series – Vol.1” (PSM-01) (Mini Cd and Paper Sleeve are mint). “Space Machine is Takushi "Maso" Yamazaki's outlet for the use and abuse of vintage analog synth equipment, where he leaves aside the violence and extremity of his work as Masonna in the "Japanese noise" idiom and instead attempts to channel the spirit of early '70s German electronic experimentalists like Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler. After three previous full-length recordings (Cosmos From Diode Ladder Filter on Alchemy being our fave) now comes the first two installments in a series of 3" eps, each of which sees Space Machine operating as a duo of Maso plus guest. For Model-101, the guest is Hiroshi Hasegawa of C.C.C.C./Astro. He also plays the synthesizer. Recorded live at Penguin House in
Tokyo
, February 2004, this starts with a whoosh and whooshes onward and upward. It's a nice, dense twenty or so minutes of droning, whirring, bleeping spaced-out spirals of psychedelic synth! Of the two 3" discs, Model-101 is the more bleepy and loud and science fiction soundtracky, while Model-102 is quieter and perhaps less clichéd” (AQ). Long sold out extremely limited edition, now here for grabs, don't sleep on it. Price: 30 Euro |
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80. SPACE MACHINE: “Modular Series – Vol.2” (PSM-02) (Mini Cd and Paper Sleeve are mint). On “Model-102, Yamazaki and his synths team up with Acid Mothers Temple guitarist Makoto Kawabata for nearly twenty minutes of interstellar exploration, recorded live at Cafe Futuro in Osaka, Japan in April 2003. That it's recorded live in a cafe is evident on the disc, what with the murmer of conversation heard in the background, as Maso and Makoto and their machines hum and drone and drift and glow in the foreground. Abstract yet effective, it's actually incredibly mesmerizing and soothing. Of the two 3" discs, Model-101 is the more bleepy and loud and science fiction soundtracky. Quieter and less cliched perhaps is Model-102. Both are recommended to all Space Machine/AMT/sci-fi synth fans.” (AQ). Both issues are long gone and deleted. Price: 30 Euro |
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81. SUNROOF: “Temple Music Vol. 1 & 2” (Rural Electronification Program) (2 CDR: Mint/
Imprinted Plastic Jacket: Mint/ Imprinted Inserts Inside: Mint). Monstrous double CD-r document of AQ faves Sunroof! live 1997-2001,
featuring members of the Vibracathedral Orchestra and Jazzfinger. 2+ hours of
gorgeous extended drones: endless, epic and hypnotic, deep and dark, lush and
thick, whirring, tinkling, whispering, rumbling, squeaking, screeching,
roaring, and humming beauty. Taking the work of Angus Maclise, Lamonte Young,
John Cale, Jonathan Coleclough, etc. to an entirely different level. Awe
inspiring and totally breathtaking. Price: 45 Euro
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82. SURFACE OF THE EARTH: “S/T” (Corpus Hermeticum – hermes 021) (CD Excellent/ Jacket and inserts: Excellent). Highly acclaimed debut recording by this
New Zealand
geological drone ensemble. This is an antiquated behemoth of a recording, constructed from analogue synthesizers, primitive drum machines, homespun electronics, and numerous effects pedals. Long out of print release that creates an ecstatic paranoia rarely heard with such splendor, rigor, and sublime blackness. Highly recommended. Price: 20 Euro
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83. SUZUKI AKIO: “Oto – Date in Wakayama 2005” (
Museum of Modern Art Wakayama” (Book and CD are Mint). Sound Artist Akio Suzuki carried out an exhibition around Wakayama city (south of Osaka
) in 2005. This catalog contains some photographs of installation, interview, drawing and text. Attended CD includes field recording on his action "Oto-date walk" (hearing the environmental sounds at points of walking area) and performance. Recording and mix by Hans Peter Kuhn. 86pp, text in Japanese, English and French. Price: 60 Euro |
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84. TAKAYANAGI MASAYUKI 5 CD BOX
SET: “Masayuki Takayanagi Archive1” (Jinya Discs
– ndu-a101) (5 CD Set, Box & DVD: SEALED). Limited to 500 copies
only. Long gone and completely out of print. Of those 500, only 300 came with
the DVD as a bonus. No surprise that the set is already out of print following
only a couple of weeks after its release. Splattered across five discs, you get treated to
two years of the life of Takayanagi at the peak of his powers with blood
curdling performances dating back to the years 1977 and 78. Here Takayanagi and
his New Direction Unit are on a king-hell highlife fuck-around and sounds like
the heavy guns coming out of the demon hole form. Takayanagi’s ravaging dust
clouds of radioactive feedback is the civilizing force here on display, flanked
at all times by still under-documented saxophonist Yoshiaki Fujikawa whose
staggering lungpower catapults out boulders and rocks of white-hot volcanic ash
to meet Takayanagi’s high tension by answering it appropriately with a high
reaction as if engage in trench warfare. Even their tiniest gestures trigger
apocalyptic waves of sound. Fujikawa plays on all but one disc, where habitué
Kenji Mori replaces him. The groups just never backs down an inch, catapulting
out a tornado of dusty violent fits of madness that rip what you knew as free
jazz till this day apart like a pile of cheap hay. In short this is music that
sounds like your nuts are on fire and silent screams work their way up down
your throat, aiming for the brain. The whole affair is packed in a slipcase
style box with a Japanese-language booklet (by the hand of Takayanagi’s widow).
This set here comes also with a bonus DVD allowing you a peak at a solo
tabletop guitar performance from Takayanagi, an Action Direct happening from
1990. Just stunning and highly essential, it will fits in nicely next to the 3
pivotal releases out of his oeuvre being Independence, Action Direct and Cool
Jojo. Totally essential and limited!! Price: 150 Euro
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85. TAKEMITSU TORU: “Takemitsu Toru Zenshuu Part 2 – Instrumental Works & Chorale”
(Shogakukan) (11 CD’s: all sealed/ Outer carton box: Near Mint/ Inner slipcase
box: Mint/ Hardcover high grade 340 paged deluxe book: Mint). Second edition in
this massive set of Takemitsu unreleased box set issued as put out by the book
company Shogakukan back in 2003 in a small limited edition. Basically this was
almost subscription only due to the high price for the individual releases but
once you feel the weight of each individual box set and see each detailed book
that comes with each set (different book for each set, you come to understand
that this is one of the most lavish and elaborate releases ever put out that
focuses on one single composer. The book comes on high grade paper and is
filled with rarely seen photo material, essays, interviews, scores, in short
all the works. The audio CD’s enclosed in this set focus on instrumental works
and chorale and amongst other compositions include “Lento in Due Movimenti; Piano Distance; Eclipse; Munari by Munari; For
Away; garden Rain; Folios; les yeux Clos; A Way a Lone; Toward the Sea; Rain
Tree; Cross Hatch; From Far Beyond Chrysanthemums and November Fog; Rain
Dreaming; And Then I Knew ‘twas The Wind In the Woods; Air; 12 Songs for
Guitar; Wind Horse; Handmade Proverbs” etc….just a massive set that
contains even more unbelievable stunning music. These sets dried up as quickly
as they were released. Not cheap but massive…Price: 320 Euro
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86. TAKEMITSU TORU: “Takemitsu Toru Zenshuu Part 4 – Music For Movies 2” Shogakukan) (11 CD’s:
all sealed/ Outer carton box: Excellent ~ near Mint/ Inner slipcase box: Mint/
Hardcover high grade 340 paged deluxe book: Mint). Second edition in this
massive set of Takemitsu unreleased box set issued as put out by the book
company Shogakukan back in 2003 in a small limited edition. Basically this was
almost subscription only due to the high price for the individual releases but
once you feel the weight of each individual box set and see each detailed book
that comes with each set (different book for each set, you come to understand
that this is one of the most lavish and elaborate releases ever put out that
focuses on one single composer. The book comes on high grade paper and is
filled with rarely seen photo material, essays, interviews, scores, in short
all the works. The audio CD’s enclosed in this set focus on film scores and
amongst other compositions include “The
Man Who Left His Will on Film; Dodes’ Kaidan; The ceremony; Silence; Time
Within Memory; Happiness; Kaseki; Orin; L’Empire de la Passion; Glowing Autumn;
House of Blaze; The Story of Minamata Panels; International Military Tribunal
for the Far East; Antonio Gaudi; Fire festival; Ran; The Empty Table; A Boy
Named Hiroshima; Black Rain; Dream Widow; Sharaku” and so much more. Just a
massive set that contains even more unbelievable stunning music. These sets
dried up as quickly as they were released. Not cheap but massive…Price: 320
Euro
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87. TENJOSAJIKI: “Jashumon” (Blues Interaction) (Book, CD and Obi are
mint). Beautiful book/CD Japan-only reissue of another explosive side from
Tenjosajiki, the Japanese avant guerrilla theatre company founded by legendary
poet/film maker/counter-cultural provocateur Shuji Terayama. It was J.A.
Seazer’s first ever full work for the Tenjosajiki company. By 1971 had the Tenjôsajiki Troupe’s
field of interest had shifted into the direction of legends, the incorporation
of superstition and traditional Japanese entertainment into theatre, together
with a renewed interest in visual and aural spectacle effects. These were set
to use to heighten the sense of surrealism. The troupe’s most renowned piece, “Jashûmon”
(Gate Of The Heretics), premiered in
April of 1969 at the Nancy International Theatre festival in France, followed
by an European tour, passing through the Mickery Theatre in Amsterdam in June.
In January 1972 the troupe returned to Japan, where they performed
Jashûmon in Tokyo, followed in May by a recording of the play in Osaka by
RCA Victor. The Jashûmon play itself doesn’t relate to religious heresy or
to a historical incident but instead refers to a brutal massacre that occurred
near by a city gate. The central plot of the plays is centered around a young
man who is forced to choose between his mother and a prostitute he loves. The
whole of the play is presented as a rock opera conducted by J.A. Seazer,
dwelling into the realms of Shinto-Buddhist rituals, lecture and street
entertainment, interwoven with a pulsing rock sound, giving off dark and
ominous sounds. The set-up of the play consisted out of a main stage with six
platforms erected along the sides and rear of the seating area, augmented with
a watchtower that was constructed in the center. The stage itself was draped in
red and completed with reproductions of paintings by Ekin depicting obscene scenes of lust and violence. The musical
accompaniment on the other hand anticipates perfectly to the overall mood with
songs evoking the demons from hell, the taboos of unconscious or forbidden
feelings, esoteric chanting of Buddhist rites, Oedipal yearnings and terrible
guilt, starting of gently, slowly building up and becoming more insistent until
it finally overflows in a bombastic climax filled with juggernaut organ
workouts, Magma choruses, guitar fuzz breakouts and fully out-there acidic
opera-like vocalizing. The play was clearly an experience to be captured by the
senses. Price: 40 Euro
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88.TENJOSAJIKI: “Ahobune” (Blues Interaction) (Book, CD and Obi are mint). Beautiful book/CD
Japan-only reissue of another explosive side from Tenjosajiki, the Japanese
avant guerrilla theatre company founded by legendary poet/film
maker/counter-cultural provocateur Shuji Terayama that existed
contemporaneously to first wave avantists like Flower Travellin' Band, Keiji
Haino's Lost Aaraaff and Les Rallizes Denudes and that featured dusted
acid/rock/folk/avant moves composed and executed by the young wunderkind JA
Seazer. Beautiful LP issue of another explosive side from Tenjosajiki, the
Japanese avant-guerrilla theatre company founded by legendary poet/film
maker/counter-cultural provocateur Shuji Terayama that existed
contemporaneously to first wave avantists like Flower Travellin’ Band, Keiji
Haino’s Lost Aaraaff and Les Rallizes Denudes and that featured dusted
acid/rock/folk/avant moves composed and executed by the young wunderkind JA
Seazer. Ahobune/Ship Of Fools is a rendition of an August 1976 live performance
(augmented with studio material) recorded at the Shiraz Festival in Persepolis
in Iran, That same now hopelessly legendary annual festival was also previously
spearhead by Xenakis’s Persepolis. The Shah of Iran at that time – just
before the Ayatollah Khomeini and redirected the country back to a cultural
Stone Age and right wing dictatorship – surely had is eye on foreign
avant-garde and experimental artists which he used to invite for the festival
each year. During the last year of his reign he invited the Tenjosajiki troupe
over and they brought forth an incinerating performance and possibly this
recording is one of the greatest in the Tenjosajiki canon. The music such in
snippets of deranged orchestrated acid folk, pagan ritualistic-scale ritual,
bleak lullabies and Buddhist ritualistic song cycles and acid drenched head
meting and skull-caving psych rock. Insert is beautiful as well and contains
some eye-popping pics of the performance. Price: 40 Euro
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89. THROBBING GRISTLE: “Live Box” (Alfa Records – ALCB782~785) (4 CD Set: Mint/ Box: Mint/ Inserts/ Mint/ Booklet: Mint/ Obi: Mint).
Japan
only 4 CD set that came out in 1995. Limited edition of only 1000 copies, this one is numbered as 0868/ 1000. Comes with extensive several pages long detailed and illuminating liner notes written by Masami Akita. CD one contains live recordings from 1976 ~ 1978, CD 2 focuses on 1977 ~ 1978; CD 3 has its torpedoes aimed at the years 1978 ~ 1979 and CD 4 wrecks through the years 1979 ~ 1980. Although that the band recorded 5 highly influential albums during their lifetime, their true power always lay in their life performances. The members focused their improvised sounds on a throbbing mass of rhythm and noise. The aim of TG7s live works was to dispel any pre-conceived idea of what a gig should be, and they adopted various tactics and audio experiments to stimulate and involve the audience in their sonic collision courses. These often confrontational shows were physically and mentally exhausting for both TG and the audience but a price worth paying for such rich and positive rewards. TG recorded all of their 36 live appearances and this collection of 4 CD's has been compiled from the tape archives with the aim of representing the very best of these recordings. This was a
Japan
only limited edition that came out in 1995, rarely seen and illuminatingly great. A must. Price: 100 Euro |
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90. TOD DOCKSTADER: “Eight Electronic Pieces” (CD – Locust – L36) (CD and case are both Mint). Seminal electronic music classic recording that was originally released on the Folkways label. Eight Electronic Pieces sounds like some abstract symphony; wistful bleeping, zigging and zagging, oozing in and out of focus, organic static buzzing and whirling that at times swells up like sonic tornado heading your way, filled with hair-raising static interference, well controlled but nevertheless thunderous outbursts of white noise that never fails to amaze the listener due to its wistful and un-academic playful approach. One of the best examples of old-skool electronic music, recorded in 1961. Killer stuff. Price: 15 Euro |
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91. TUDOR DAVID: “Three Works For Live Electronics” (Lovely Music) (CD & Case: Mint). “David Tudor was an avant-garde pianist (most closely associated with John Cage, also performing Feldman, Stockhausen, Wolff, etc), who became a crucial pioneer in the world of live electronic music in the 1960s, developing custom-built electronic devices. These 2 Lovely Music CDs are the only commonly available recordings of his electronic music. Three Works includes: "Pulsers" a work from 1976, exploring the world of rhythms created electronically by analog, rather than, digital, circuity. Incorporates a tape of electronic violin work by Takehisa Kosugi. "Untitled": "a series of works composed in the 1970s that were developed through experiments in generating electronic sound without the use of oscillators, tone generators, or recorded natural sound materials” (Forced). Price: 10 Euro
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92. UCHU: “S/T” (Acid Mothers Temple Gold Disc
Series– AMCD-002)(CDR: Mint/ Jacket: Mint/ Obi: Mint/ Color Pin Up Insert:
Mint). Second early times installment that presented the world in the late
nineties with the versatile output of Kawabata Makoto. To these ears his early
recordings rank amongst his finest. This release came out again as a limited
run of only 100 copies, this copy being 52/ 100. Trio line-up consisted out of
Hiroshi Higashi (guitar & voice), Kawabata Makoto (guitar & voice) and
Ayano (voice). Recorded on 17th, 18th January and 2nd, 3rd February 1998, the
trio creates some psyched out guitar frantic moves that remain unrivaled.
Brilliant. Price: 40 Euro
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93. UEH: “S/T” (Acid Mothers temple – AMTCD-04‾05) (2CD Set: Mint/ Gatefold Paper
sleeve Jacket: Mint). French rural psychedelic folk unit as released on
Kawabata Makoto’s own Acid Mothers Temple label. Comes housed in a carton
gatefold sleeve. Really beautiful music that deserves some wider recognition. “Acid Mothers Temple followers might already be
aware of this obscure French five-piece instrumental psych-rock outfit, if only
because of their inclusion on the Acid Mothers Temple Family Compliation
"Do Whatever You Want" that we listed not so long ago. This double cd
offering (a rare 'real' cd release on the Acid Mothers Temple label) takes off
from the sound of the comp's Ueh track (which appears again here): slowly
unfolding soundscapes featuring tear drops of melancholy, melodic guitar, deep,
warm, almost Bohren-like bass tones, and a sparse, kinda-krautrock-ish rhythmic
base laid down by their drummer, the single-named Frederic (who also had a solo
track on that AMT Family Compilation, and his own disc on AMT, which we haven't
heard). It's psychedelic, we suppose, but really more akin to post rock -- post
rock that Temporary Residence Ltd. bands would envy, although Ueh pretty much
stick to the quiet part of the usual post-rock loud-soft dynamics formula. Kinda
like good old Tortoise. We could imagine this as a Kranky or Strange Audio
Attractors House label release as well. Ueh's languid sunset drones and jazzy,
vibesy details are really, really beautiful. In our reviews, we try not to
quote press releases, but the description we were given of this uses many of
the words we'd like to: dreamy, soft, mellow, film soundtracks... You get the
picture. Great music for when you're not sure you want to listen to anything at
all. Apparently, one disc (the first, louder, jazzier) features their composed
songs, while the other disc (the second, quieter, without song titles) is all
improvised, but you probably couldn't tell which was which if you had to guess!
Limited to 500 copies ns long out of print” (AQ) Highly recommended. Price: 30 Euro
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94. UP-TIGHT: “S/T”
(Private – UT-001) (CD: Mint/ Inlay: Mint). First ever privately release
Up-Tight release. Price: 35 Euro
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95. VIBRACATHEDRAL ORCHESTRA: “Hot Booty! Vibracathedral Orchestra Live 1999!” (VHF) (CDR: Mint/ Case &
Transparent Imprinted Inlays: Mint). “An awesome live document of
AQ faves the Vibracathedral Orchestra recorded in 1999 at shows in Leed,
Glasgow and Manchester as a five piece. But before we get to the music, let's
just talk for a minute about Bill at VHF and how much care and energy he puts
into these cd-rs. This VCO cd-r has a gorgeous cover (as do all the VHF cd-rs)
with printed transparencies, and original art by Japanese artist Yoko Hayashi.
We always question the choice of making cd-rs instead of cds, but with
something that is limited and also perhaps has limited appeal, cd-rs -do- make
sense, and it's nice that VHF decided to make nice covers instead of just
photocopied crap. Other 'cd-r labels' could learn a thing or two. Anyway on to
the music. Dark and slowly building drones, less rumble and more enveloping
mist. If you know what I mean. Let's go track by track.
1. Tinkling
chimes and buzzing metallic grit pierce a monstrous wall of hum.
2.
Seriously intense washes or warbles and roars and thrum, with a simple one-drum
rhythm holding the whole thing together. Epileptic percussion and waves of
cymbal/gong wash give way to squealing horns and a drum corp gone
haywire.
3. An almost-folk song constructed from looped guitars/synths,
shakers, bells and cymbals.
4. Spaced out meditative ur-drone. This time
complemented by the sonic crush of a church organ. The sound of the apocalypse.
Think: Nitsch jamming with Skullflower, or better yet, don't think at all, just
sit back and give up....
5. Noisy chaotic out-rock drone. Sounds like a
rock band, loosed of any sort of ties to 'the proper way of playing' (which it
sort of is) and just letting the instruments do what they want. Thick and
relentless, layers upon layers of electrified fury that eventually dissipates
into tranquil dreaminess.
Live is definitely where the VCO come into
their own, stretching and exploring the sonic possibilities of 'rock and roll',
and coming up with some of the most gorgeous and transcendentally intense
droning free-rock we've heard! So recommended! And again, limited.” (AQ). Price: 40 Euro
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96. YOSHIMURA
MITSUHIRO: “Nov. 28, 1999” (CPO Records) (CD and Case: Mint).
Released in a minuscule run of 100 copies as part of the CPO Records Monthly
CD-R Series, this being their third and last volume to see the light of day.
Price: 30 Euro
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97. YOUNG,
NEIL: “Crime In The City” (Templar) (CD and Insert:
Mint). Price: 20 Euro |
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98. YOUNG,
NEIL: “Live on the River – Recorded Live in USA
1985 and Canada 1984) (CD and Insert are Mint). Price: 20 Euro
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99. YOUNG,
NEIL: “Live Under harvest Moon” (Stars and Stripes
– ADD-006) (CD: Mint/ Insert: Mint). Recorded live in New York, February
14th, 1992. Price: 20 Euro |
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100. ZOFFY: “Zet
CD” (Acid Mothers Temple Gold Disc
Series– AMCD-004)(CDR: Mint/ Jacket: Mint/ Obi: Mint/ Insert: Mint).
Price: 40 Euro
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