Axis S/T 1973 France Hard to Find Greek Prog GATEFOLD COVER 1973 Riviera MINT

$

35

Self-titled LP from Greek band Axis, Riviera 421 088. Gatefold cover.  I've owned this copy since ~1986 and have never played it (yeah, I'm one of *them*).  Close examination under grazing light shows a couple of cm-long very light scuffs, of the sort that I saw from the factory back in the day.  Call the platter condition NM-  to be conservative, basically NM.   Very minimal corner / edge scuffing from storage and the store.  100% of my last batch of vinyl was received intact, and my feedback reflects that.  Platter ships outside of the cardboard jacket to avoid damage.  International bidders:  I'll ship anywhere USPS will go, at cost, but please provide me a complete and valid shipping address.

This LP has recently sold on eBay in lesser condition for $100.  I'm regretfully parting with my cherished rare / obscure vinyl to offset the costs of my son's OT sessions.



 Axis, a band from Greece, had three albums, but this self-titled LP is widely acknowledged as their masterpiece.  Here’s what Dave Wayne had to say about it, writing for Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock: “The music on Axis' self-titled LP from 1973 is an interesting hodge-podge of straight-up hard-rock with good vocals and lyrics in English ("Waiting a Long Time"), keyboard-dominated symphonic progressive rock ("Sewers Down Inside," "Pa Vu Ga Di"), avant-garde jazz / weirdness ("Asymphonia I and II," "Dancing Percussion"), and Soft Machine-ish / Crimson-ish / Brand X-ish jazz-rock ("Materializing the Unlimited," "Suspended Precipice," "Roads," "The Planet Vavoura").

Despite what I just said, none of Axis' music is derivative of anyone in particular. Though Axis remind me somewhat of Morris Pert's Suntreader trio with keyboardist Peter Robinson, this seems a purely coincidental consequence of the musical direction and basic multi-keys / bass / drums instrumentation. Some of the tracks seem to run together, giving the music a sense of continuity despite all of its strange stylistic transitions. The best thing about this LP is that the musicians are able to pull off each of the different styles in a convincing manner. The star of this particular show is keyboardist / vocalist Demis Visvikis.  He is a great player and a master of tweaking all sorts of unexpected sounds out of his keyboards (Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, organ) without resorting to clichéd synthesizer patches. Other members include drummers George Hadjiathanassiou and Christos Stassinopoulos, and bassist Alezandros Fantis. This LP was recorded in France, at the famous Chateau d'Hérouville, the production team is French and it was subsequently issued on a French record label (Riviera, a Barclay subsidiary). Drummer Christos Stassinopoulos later appeared on the second Clearlight LP (his name was misspelled "Stapinopoulos" in the credits). Certainly a must-have for all Mellotron fans.”  Released in France on Riviera in 1973, this comes in a gatefold cover.