Linda Cohen - Leda (USA, 1972)

 

Linda Cohen was a Philadelphia-based guitarist, who made three albums of instrumental music for classical guitar, augmented with various electronic instruments and effects. Sadly, she passed away recently, but was well-known in Philadelphia both as a musician and a guitar instructor. (Her obituary can be seen here.) Other members of the Philadelphia music scene help out on all her recordings: notably, Craig Anderton and Michal Kac of legendary psych group Mandrake Memorial, as well Charles Cohen, a modular synth player who is well-known to anyone familiar with the Philly underground scene of the past few decades. Leda was followed by Lake of Light (1973) and Angel Alley (1982); of the three, Leda seems to be the most sparse, with the warm nylon-string guitar of most tracks being subtly augmented by bass or synth sounds which remain in the background. Like of Light is available at this Soundcloud page. Although the arrangements of Lake of Light are sometimes more engaging, I think the songs of Leda are stronger, ultimately making it a more enjoyable album. Calm, reflective, psychedelic, and slightly melancholic music, reminiscent of Führs & Fröhling. 

Linda Cohen - Leda

LP, Poppy Records, 1972

A1    Arroyo
A2    Promenade
A3    Leda
A4    Madman Samba
A5    Wisteria
A6    Valentine Suite
B1    Fantasia Inca
B2    The Dust
B3/4 Two Themes     
B5    The Old Castle
B6    Sixth Sense

Link

Sheriff - s/t (Italy/USA, 1979)

In the mid-70s, Sensations' Fix relocated from Florence to California, eventually landing in Virginia in 1979. From their earlier experimental style, they moved towards a thick, otherworldly AOR sound on the later recordings. After recording Boxes Paradise, Vision's Fugitives, and Flying Tapes (I'm not sure if all three were recorded in the US, but the second was released there, as was this record), the group decided to change their name to Sheriff, and recorded this solid rock album at a studio in Fall's Church, VA in 1979. A second guitarist Frank Filfoyt is credited here, but I'm not sure if this is a pesudonym for Falsini (anyone know?). Otherwise the lineup is the same as Sensations' Fix. Falsini's guitar and vocals are unmistakeable here, continuing in the solid, spacey, bluesy rock mode of Boxes Paradise. This record is certainly the least 'prog' of the S.F. albums, but it's never boring, never predictable, ranging from cosmic blues to proto-metal. Uncredited synths bubble in the background, guitars echo and phase, Falsini shreds. If you approve of the later S.F. approach of Boxes Paradise, you'll be feeling Sheriff. I think I originally got this from Lamaraba back in the day.

Sheriff - s/t
LP, Observatory, 1979

A1  Girl with Optional Eyes
A2  Don't Let Go
A3  Troublemaker Blues
A4  Infall Defrauders and Audiphiles
B1  Stranger
B2  Sustain City
B3  There from the Phantom Base (instrumental)
B4  Transfixion Wait-In

Link