Andy Votel Mixtape & Twisted Nerve Compilation.

Been listening to this non-stop since we got it. And selling 'em too, as soon as customers hear it (or even just hear about it, if they're like us). Wow. Now, you probably know that here at Aquarius we're partial to the prog. So, when we heard that a DJ mix of obscure tracks from the catalog of '70s UK label Vertigo, who specialized in prog, heavy psych, and weird-ass jazz rock was to be released, we were, well, psyched. And jazzed. And, uh, progged? Indeed. We were thinking that this could be something really great, as after all there were a lot of great records released on Vertigo (home of the famed "swirl" label). And great it IS, both in terms of the source material and the "60 course psychedelic smorgasbord" medley-like sound-collage approach taken to putting it together, which maximizes the amount of brilliant hooks and grooves that could be packed into one cd, while making for one dizzying, "swirl" worthy ride.
The story there is that DJ Andy Votel (who compiled the Folk Is Not A Four Letter Word disc we listed last time, among other things) was asked, in a dream-come-true moment, to put together a "best of Vertigo" collection. But since, in his own words, progressive rock tracks are "not short, they're EPIC" he was faced with a dilemma. How to fit more than just three or four songs on the cd?? His solution was to boil down his favorite Vertigo LPs to short excerpts, stitching together these many "vinyl snippets" into a 68 minute mega-mix. The overall effect is still very "prog" indeed, as it's definitely a prog move to jump around from one motif to the next, dynamically or schizophrenically changing things up in a short span of time. Yet it all flows well together, this could almost be one tour-de-force album from one AMAZING band!!
The credits list 38 songs by 29 artists, all from Votel's personal Vertigo vinyl collection -- Aphrodite's Child, Gracious, Colosseum, Affinity, Juicy Lucy, Uriah Heep, May Blitz, Warhorse, Gravy Train, Baker Gurvitz Army, Cressida, Patto, Flied Egg, Nucleus, Atlantis, Frumpy, Freedom, and many more, most of 'em hailing from the UK but also some from overseas, including Japan and Greece. Vertigo's best known signing has to be Black Sabbath, and while they don't appear in the credits I trust you'll hear something from 'em on here too, first thing (and later on as well, when Votel mixes the harp blowing from "The Wizard" into a May Blitz tune).

Thusly loaded with heaviness, groove, and Mellotrons, you get everthing from (old school) acid jazz to flutey prog to raw proto-metal -- all kinds of what gets called "hairy funk" here. Votel also makes use of interjections from what might be radio promo spots for Vertigo -- voices exclaiming "Vertigo! Vertigo!" and the like -- in order to smooth up his segues. In some ways, this might remind you a little bit of DJ Shadow's Entroducing, actually, not that these tracks have been fully edited into new compostions. But the love of dusty old prog grooves is the same.
Votel provides liner notes elaborating his enthusiasm for Vertigo (the label's role in his musical development, as a hip hop DJ with a fondness for prog) and his agonies over this project. Also you get a profile of Barry Winton, famed as the world's foremost Vertigo vinyl collector. And in addition, a portion of the cd booket is devoted to an appreciation of Keef, resident cover artist/graphic designer for Vertigo...which makes us think it would have been cool if they also presented a selection of covers here to look at, ah well.
Could be the best comp/DJ mix we've heard in ages. Boiling down an entire label to its essence over the span of one cd has got to be a tough task, and of course what Votel has selected is only a portion of the whole Vertigo story. But we can't nitpick with what he's done, this is a classy piece of work and deserving of kudos from all lovers of ye olde prog/psych. It might even convert some new lovers too! Recommended!!! (Description By Aquarius Records)

Vertigo Mixtape...By Andy Votel
Out in Family Recordings

TRACKLISTING:
Linda Hoyle – Morning for One
Lighthouse – Love of A Woman
Cracious – Introduction
Nirvana – Modus Operandi
Aphrodite’s Child – Battle of The Locusts
Colosseum – The Kettle
Manfredd Mann – One Way Glass
Black Sabbath – Behind The Wall of Sleep
Assagai – Telephone Girl
Marsha Hunt’s 22 – (Oh No Not) The Beast Day
Affinity – Three Sisters
Juicy Lucy – Willie The Pimp
Gravy Train – Think of Life
Freedom – Toe Grabber
Flied Egg – Leave Me Woman
Frumpy – I’m Afraid Big Moon
Warhorse – Vulture Blood
Thin Lizzy – Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
Uriah Heep – Walking In Your Shadow
Tea – Through Scarlet
Juicy Lucy – Train
Bob Downes – Piccadilly Circles
Juicy Lucy – She’s Mine
Buffalo – Ballade of Irvin Fink
Atlantis – It’s Getting Better
Janne Schaffer – Air Mattress
Ian Carr – Hector’s House
Patto – Government Man
Atlantis – Living At The End of Time
Affinity – I Am You
Beggars Opera – Time Machine
Alan Stivell – An Dro Nevez
Agitation Free – Rucksturrz
ZAO – La Soupe
Catapilla – Embryonic Future
Brave New World – The End
Dr. Z – In A Tocken of Dispair
Atlantis – Let’s Get on The Road Again
Aphrodite’s Child – Do It
Black Sabbath – The Wizard
May Blitz – For Madmen Only
Baker Gurvitz Army – Memory Lane
May Blitz – In Part
Daddy Longlegs – Wheelin’ And Dealin’
Cressida – Lights In My Mind
Affinity – All Along The Watchtower
Trace – Galliarde
Brave New World – The End
May Blitz – Snakes And Ladders
Nucleus – Roots
Agitation Free – Haunted Island
Cressida – Let Them Come When They Will

More About Andy Votel

2 Minutes Samples From The Mix:

Media Player - Sample No' 1...Sample No' 2

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"Now Is The Winter Of Our Discount Tents"
- Compilation -

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