Miranda Sex Garden: Fairytales Of Slavery 1993 + Carnival Of Souls 2000

 

Miranda Sex Garden is an English band from London, formed in 1990 by Katharine Blake, Kelly

McCusker and Jocelyn West. Initially a trio performing a cappella madrigals, the group signed with Mute Records and released its debut album, Madra, in 1991. Its subsequent work incorporated elements of gothic rock, darkwave and industrial. The band released three further albums: Suspiria (1993), Fairytales of Slavery (1994) and Carnival of Souls (2000). 
                  

After the members pursued other projects in the early 2000s, including Blake's work with Mediæval

Bæbes, the band reunited in 2022 and released the EP Velventine in 2024. Produced by Tony Faulkner, the debut album Madra followed on 6 August. It consists of 25 a cappella madrigals and reached number 8 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. In 1991, founding member Jocelyn West left the band. With the addition of Ben Golomstock (guitar, bass, organ) and Trevor Sharpe (drums, percussion, bass), the band expanded beyond the a cappella madrigal style of its debut. 
                   

           

The EP Iris, released in May 1992, introduced string instruments, with Katharine Blake and Kelly

McCusker on violin and new member Donna McKevitt on viola and vocals. The new line-up performed alongside Nick Cave, the Balanescu Quartet and Levitation. McCusker left the band in late 1993 to pursue a career in classical music, leaving Blake as the only remaining original member. 
                                

Their later releases -- like 1993's Suspiria and 1994's Fairytales of Slavery -- saw the group moving

in a more rock/industrial direction, pitting their smooth voices upon layers of distortion, feedback, and heavy drums. Carnival of Souls was released in summer 2000. With the addition of rock instruments and strings, the style subsequently evolved into a blend of gothic rock and darkwave (ethereal wave), incorporating elements of industrial and experimental music. Carnival of Souls combined gothic and industrial rock with lounge jazz, shoegaze and soundtrack-inspired elements.
                            

MIRANDA SEX GARDEN - FAIRYTALES OF SLAVERY 1994

                                

Swirling with a rampaging intensity right from the start thanks to "Cut" and in particular Trevor Sharpe's absolutely massive drumming work in partnership with Donna McKevitt's strings, Fairytales of Slavery

is a lost delight of an album. Out of place in 1994's music scene and even more of a strange jewel when viewed at a distance, the only contemporaries for the group might well have been Cranes, but even that misses the essential differences between the two excellent bands. McKevitt and Katharine Blake aren't Alison Shaw, for one thing, their singing more straightforward and direct even when swathed in layers of music and stretched out syllable by syllable. 
                                 

Miranda Sex Garden – Fairytales Of Slavery
Label: Mute – CDSTUMM129
Format: CD, Album, Nimbus
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1993
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Goth Rock, Experimental, Ethereal

TRACKS

                        

01. Cut   5:01
Viola – Hepzibah Sessa
02. Fly    3:45
Performer [Stones] – F.M. Einheit
Viola – Hepzibah Sessa
03. Peep Show    3:55
04. The Wooden Boat    6:29
05. Havana Lied   2:13
Guitar – Kim Fahey
Music By – Kurt Weill
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Words By – Bertold Brecht
06. Cover My Face   3:59
Keyboards – Hepzibah Sessa    
07. Transit   2:57
Performer [Drill] – F.M. Einheit
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Violin – Hepzibah Sessa
08. Freezing    2:25
09. Serial Angels    3:21
10. Wheel   6:23
Keyboards – Hepzibah Sessa
11. Intermission    1:39
12. The Monk Song    3:25
13. A Fairytale About Slavery   8:48
Guitar – Kim Fahey

LINE - UP

                          

Vocals, Recorder, Glockenspiel, Piano – Katharine Blake
Viola, Violin, Vocals – Donna McKevitt
Bass Guitar – Kim Fahey
Drums, Percussion – Trevor Sharpe
Engineer [All Songs Engineered By] – Stern 
Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards, Harmonium, Glockenspiel, Piano – Ben Golomstock
Lyrics By [Lyrics Written By] – Katharine Blake (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 13)
Songwriter [Songs Written By] – Miranda Sex Garden (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 13)

NOTES

                      

All songs published by Mute Song except "Havana Lied" published by Universal Edition
Recorded at Connys Studio, at The Church and at Konk Studios. Mixed at Konk.
"Havana Lied" originally was part of the drama "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny" by Bertold Brecht.
1994 Mute Records Limited © 1994 Mute Records Limited

Flac Size: 546 MB

MIRANDA SEX GARDEN - CARNIVAL OF SOULS 2000

                       

            
Reissue of this forgotten classic from London-based goth supergroup featuring Mediæval Bæbes

founder Katherine Blake, Miranda Sex Garden! Originally released in April 2000, Carnival Of Souls is the final album to be issued under the MSG name although the band recently reunited for an astounding live show at London's 100 Club! The lyrics are wonderful, and the lead vocalist is incredibly talented. I wish there was more to this album. Heavenly and haunting vocals with many layers of strings. Soaring vocals, dark atmospheres, and hypnotic rhythms make this an undiscovered gem worth checking out! 
                           

Miranda Sex Garden – Carnival Of Souls
Label: Cleopatra – CLP 0884-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue Jul 11, 2000
Country: US
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Goth Rock, Experimental, Ethereal

TRACKS

                           

01. Are You The One?   4:27
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
02. Sleeping Beauty   3:33
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
03. Tonight   4:31
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
Saxophone – Robin Blick
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
04. All There Is   4:26
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
Vocals [Additional] – Audrey Evans
05. Broken Glass   5:02
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
06. Escape From Kilburn (Instrumental)   2:31
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
07. Token (Incidental)   0:42
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
08. Without Trace   4:35
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
09. Caravan   3:41
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Organ [Hammond] – Barney Hollington
Saxophone, French Horn – Robin Blick
Trumpet – Andrew Blick
Vocals [Additional] – Rachel Van Asch
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol
10. Thrusty Bob's Hardcore Lounge (Incidental)  1:27 
Engineer [Mix] – Tom Webster
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – David M. Allen
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
11. Close To The Sky   3:16
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
12. Ever & Ever   4:17
Lyrics By – Katharine Blake
Mixed By – Philip Bagenal
Mixed By [Assistant] – Antti Uusimaki
Music By – Miranda Sex Garden
    

LINE - UP

                          

Recorder, Vocals – Katharine Blake
Violin – Barney Hollington, Katharine Blake
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Carmen Schneider, Claire Ravel, Cylindra Shapphire, Marie Findley, Nichole Sleet, Nicole Frobusch, Ruth Galloway
Bass, Backing Vocals – Teresa Casella
Design – Marc Perilly
Drums, Percussion – Trevor Sharpe
Engineer – David M. Allen
Guitar – Ben Golomstock, Nick Marsh
Keyboards – Mike Servent

NOTES

                             

Recorded at Purple Studios, Norwich and Magic Hat, London in August-September 1999.
Mixed at Eastcote Studios, London.     

Flac Size: 291 MB

Playground Noise: Playground Noise 2010 + 8 Songs 2013

Playground Noise were a Greek band formed in 2006 and have been through several lineup changes before settling on their current lineup which consists of: Nikos Ntentopoulos (keyboards), Theodoros Papadopoulos

(guitar), Timon Kardamas (bass), Andreas Lampropoulos (drums) and Vasilis Sbilias (vocals, guitar). The five piece originates from Patras and they have already won the Greek audience with their live performances during the last three years. Two years after the release of their first 7” single, “Flowers/Sundays”, they return with a highly anticipated debut album, entitled after the name of the band, ready to leave their own mark on the Greek indie music scene.
                                        

The company of Playground Noise grew to include three friends that have contributed to the creation of

this album (Playground Noise 2010): Konstantinos Pavlopoulos plays the trumpet and has taken the album cover photograph, Sofia Ioannidi plays the cello and Eirini Valaoritou plays the violin. The album was produced and mixed by the band’s bassist, Timon Kardamas. Both their English lyrics and their music style reveal their strong emotional bonds with the United Kingdom. The favourite bands of their record collection include among others: Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Interpol and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
                                

The sounds of “Playground Noise” sometimes flow slowly in rhythms similar to those of the process of introspection and other times they travel at full speed like the colourful landscapes ‘in transit’, outside the windows of a train. The bright days of “Today” and “April 24” dip the sunny freshness of love into the fragile, grey hours of “Isolation” and “Divers” and the loneliness of “Last Cigarette” blends into the agony of “Whisper In My Head”. And all these through the romantic glance of a band that above all loves music. 

PLAYGROUND NOISE - PLAYGROUND NOISE 2010
                       

Playground Noise – Playground Noise
Label: Inner Ear – INN017, Inner Ear – 5200347 7003 4 1
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: Mar 2010
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

TRACKS

01. April 24    3:21
02. Last Cigarette   4:10
Mixed By [Additional], Vocals [Additional] – Spyros Papaioannou    
03. The Divers   9:28
Violin – Eirini Valaoritou
04. Today    4:00
05. Distance    4:46
06. Night-Blooming Cereus   3:32
Music By – Timon Kardamas
Violin – Eirini Valaoritou
07. Hearts' Circus    4:57
08. Covered With Snow   4:22
Trumpet – Konstantinos Pavlopoulos
09. Whisper In My Head   4:02
Music By, Lyrics By – Nikos Ntentopoulos
10. Isolation   9:26
Cello – Sofia Ioannidi
Trumpet – Konstantinos Pavlopoulos
Violin – Eirini Valaoritou
    

LINE - UP

Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics By, Music By – Vasilis Sbilias
Bass, Mixed By, Producer, Arranged By [Strings] – Timon Kardamas
Drums – Andreas Lampropoulos
Guitar – Theodoros Papadopoulos
Keyboards – Nikos Ntentopoulos
Vocals [Additional] – Spyros Papaioannou    
Cello – Sofia Ioannidi
Trumpet – Konstantinos Pavlopoulos
Violin – Eirini Valaoritou

Flac Size: 346 MB

PLAYGROUND NOISE - 8 SONGS 2013
                         

Playground Noise – 8 Songs
Label: Inner Ear – INN074L, Inner Ear – 5200347701197
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: Apr 2013
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

TRACKS

01. Wide Dreamy Screens    4:05
02. Drowning    4:39
03. Close My Eyes    2:35
04. Swinging Lowdown    5:20
05. The Plan    4:44
06. Cars Go By    4:03
07. Bodies (Like Empty Houses)    3:42
08. How Does It Make You Feel?    4:41

LINE - UP

Lyrics By, Vocals, Guitar – Bill Sbilias
Bass, Programmed By, Keyboards – Timon Kardamas
Cello, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Sofia Ioannidi
Drums, Percussion – Andreas Lampropoulos
Guitar – Théodoros Papadopoulos
Keyboards – Nikos Ntentopoulos
Trumpet, Photography By – Kostas Pavlopoulos
Violin – Eirini Valaoritou
Music By – Bill Sbilias (tracks: A1, A3 to B4), Theodoros Papadopoulos (tracks: A2)

Flac Size: 217 MB

Premiata Forneria Marconi: Per Un Amico 1972 + Photos Of Ghosts 1973 + L'isola Di Niente 1974

 

Premiata Forneria Marconi (aka PFM) was a well-known band from Italy. Formed in Milan, Italy, in 1970 - Still active (after many changes and a hiatus between 1987 and 1997) as of 2017. The pioneer of

Italian Progressive groups, PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI (PFM for short) is one of the leaders of the 70s prog movement. PFM developed a style which is uniquely Italian while maintaining links with the rest of the prog world. A lyrical, romantic and delicate music, full of fineness. A great melodic and instrumental richness, sumptuous compositions and arrangements. Sometimes compared with the early KING CRIMSON, the group had its own musical personality, with its elegant music.
                          

"Per Un Amico" ("Photos of Ghosts") and "L'Isola di Niente" as well as their first, "Storia di un Minuto" are all virtual classics of progressive music. They plays an excellent symphonic progressive

rock typical of some bands from Italy with a complex, technical and surreal approach and some pastoral influences. The musicianship is stellar: use of flute, violin, mandolone, piano, harpsichord, hammond organ, moog and mellotron. They plays an excellent symphonic progressive rock typical of some bands from Italy with a complex, technical and surreal approach and some pastoral influences. The musicianship is stellar: use of flute, violin, mandolone, piano, harpsichord, hammond organ, moog and mellotron.

                       

01.  P.F.M - PER UN AMICO 1972

                       

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) stands as one of the pioneers of this vanguard, with Per Un Amico

being their true crown jewel. While there is a clear King Crimson influence, the band masterfully blends it with Baroque music and Italian classicism. With this record, PFM takes a significant step forward compared to their debut album, Storia di un Minuto. The band utilizes a rich palette of timbres (mellotron, moog, flutes, violins, and even the harpsichord) to create a soundscape that captures mediterranean melancholy through intricate, rhythmic, and sensitive compositions.
                                     

Premiata Forneria Marconi – Per Un Amico
Label: Sony Records Int'l – SICP 30612
Series: Legacy Recordings
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Blu-spec CD2
Country: Japan
Released: May 28, 2014
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                       

01. Appena Un Po'    7:46
02. Generale    4:13
03. Per Un Amico    5:20
04. Il Banchetto    8:34
05. Geranio    8:04

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. Appena Un Pó (Edit Version)    6:52
07. Il Banchetto (Edit Version)    5:17
08. E' Festa (Edit Version)    2:49

LINE - UP

Franco Mussida – vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, theorbo, mandocello
Flavio Premoli – spinet, keyboards, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Mellotron, tubular bells, harpsichord, piano, vocals
Mauro Pagani – flute, piccolo, violin, vocals
Giorgio Piazza – bass, vocals
Franz Di Cioccio – drums, percussion, vocals

Flac Size: 306 MB

02.  P.F.M - PHOTOS OF GHOSTS 1973

                     

This is one of the best Italian progressive rock albums! It has very mellow, delicate and graceful moments,

followed by powerful and loaded parts. There are many charming childish flute parts, cute and melodic acoustic guitars, many excellent piano parts, all supported by a powerful and bottom bass. The keyboards can be very intensely floating, like on "River of life". The restless but not brutal drums are never the same. There are some excellent violin parts. The lead singer often adopts a smooth voice perfectly matched with the peaceful ambience. The many electric guitar solos have a really soft and inoffensive sound.
                                 

Premiata Forneria Marconi – Photos Of Ghosts
Label: Manticore – MANTCD 1006, Esoteric Recordings – MANTCD 1006
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: 1973    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock

TRACKS

                 

01. River Of Life    6:59
02. Celebration    3:52
03. Photos Of Ghosts    5:22
04. Old Rain    3:41
05. Il Banchetto    8:35
06. Mr. 9 'Till 5    4:10
07. Promenade The Puzzle    7:30

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS        

    
08. Photos Of Ghosts (Instrumental Mix)    5:22
09. River Of Life (First Mix)    7:07
10. Old Rain (First Mix)    3:41
11. Il Banchetto (First Mix)    8:35
12. Mr. 9 'Til 5 (Instrumental Mix)    3:55
13. Celebration (Single Edit)    2:13
14. Mr. 9 'Till 5 (Single edit)   2:52  

LINE - UP

Franco Mussida – vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, theorbo, mandocello
Flavio Premoli – spinet, keyboards, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Mellotron, tubular bells, harpsichord, piano, vocals
Mauro Pagani – flute, piccolo, violin, vocals
Giorgio Piazza – bass guitar, vocals
Franz Di Cioccio – drums, percussion, vocals
Peter Sinfield - English lyrics, producer

Flac Size: 465 MB

03.  P.F.M - L' ISOLA DI NIENTE 1974

               

L'Isola Di Niente is the third album by the Rock Progressivo Italiano band Premiata Forneria Marconi.

This record came hot on the heels of Per Un Amico and Photos of Ghosts, along with Greg Lake's discovery of the band and their signing to Manticore, so you can tell the band is still alive and well. Overall, this is an absolutely amazing album. It has very few points that are generally weak in certain areas (specifically in the one English song), but it's still an excellent record in the Italian prog scene.
                         

Premiata Forneria Marconi – L'Isola Di Niente
Label: Sony Records Int'l – SICP 30613
Series: Legacy Recordings
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered May 28, 2014
Country: Japan
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Symphonic Rock, Prog Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

                       

01. L'Isola Di Niente    10:42
02. Is My Face On Straight    6:36
03. La Luna Nuova    6:21
04. Dolcissima Maria    4:01
05. Via Lumière    7:21
06. Via Lumière (Single Version) (Bonus Track)    3:31

LINE - UP

Franco Mussida – guitars, lead vocals
Flavio Premoli – keyboards, lead vocals
Mau ro Pagani – violin, flute, vocals
Patrick Djivas – bass, vocals
Franz Di Cioccio – drums, percussion, vocals

Flac Size: 435 MB

 P.F.M On Urban Aspirines "Storia Di Un Minuto" 1972 + "Cook" 1974 HERE

The Sacred Mushroom: The Sacred Mushroom 1969

 

Sacred Mushroom -- led by future Pure Prairie League member Larry Goshorn (guitar/vocals) and featuring brother Danny Goshorn (vocals) -- were a short-lived rock/blues quintet based in

Cincinnati, OH active from 1966-1969. The band was led by guitarist and songwriter Larry Goshorn and his younger brother, vocalist Tim Goshorn. All members lived in a house in Cincinnati called "Mushroom House" that "sheltered a small tribe" to escape from "the rich-blundering-narrow-minded-owner-of-the-non-essential-producing-factory." In 1967, the band recorded a debut 45 rpm 7-inch single, "Break Away Girl" b/w "Yellow Fever," which was released in the same year by Nashville-based Minaret Records. 
                             

It was a Four Star Pick in the 11 November issue of Record World. The reviewer wrote that the slow rock single which was about offering advice to a girl with mother problems sounded right. The single received

local and regional airplay, and was a pick at radio station WAAM. The band was focused on guitarist, singer and songwriter Larry Goshorn and his brother, vocalist Danny. They recorded one album in 1969 which included a blend of proficient originals as well as a pair of well-chosen cover tunes, such as the blues standard "Mean Old World" and the Kinks' "I'm Not Like Everybody Else." While their name conjures images of late-'60s psychedelic or acid rock, Sacred Mushroom's roots were decidedly more bluesy than trippy. 
                             

The album was reviewed in the 22 February issue of Record World, where the reviewer wrote that the

group that was interested in the contemporary rock sound knew how to lay it down easy and if they had the right exposure, they could get far. The following week, it debuted at No. 15 in the Record World LP'S Coming Up chart. The band dissolved in 1969. Both Larry and Danny Goshorn later joined the Cincinnati band Pure Prairie League with their other brother Tim Goshorn. The brothers were active in Pure Prairie League in various forms in the 1970s and 1980s before leaving to form The Goshorn Brothers Band.

                                             

It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine (Interview)

                                         

The Sacred Mushroom – The Sacred Mushroom
Label: Eva – EVA B30, Eva – 852 125
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1993
Country: France
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock

TRACKS

                             

01. I Don't Like You   2:50
Written-By – Hamilton, Goshorn
02. You Won't Be Sorry    2:15
03. Catatonic Lover    3:00
04. All Good Things Must Have An End    4:40
05. I'm Not Like Everybody Else  4:34 
Written-By – Ray Davies    
06. I Take Care    4:57
07. Mean Old World
Written-By – Otis Rush  4:38     
08. Lifeline    6:34

LINE - UP

Larry Goshorn - lead guitar, backup vocals
Danny Goshorn - lead vocals
Joe Stewart - bass
Fred Fogwell - rhythm guitar
Doug Hamilton - drums

Flac Size: 214 MB