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Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Gabriel Bondage - Angel Dust / Another Trip To Earth (1975/77 us, good space psych prog rock, 2009 digipak release)



Gabriel Bondage was an American post-psych band from Chicago that released the album Angel Dust on local-press Dharma in 1975, followed by Another Trip to Earth in 1977.

Their name was inspired by Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved 18th century blacksmith who — held in bondage on a Richmond, Virginia, plantation — became a martyred early hero of the abolitionist movement after planning one of the earliest anti-slavery revolts.

The group formed in 1973 as One Brain when singer and multi-instrumentalist Rex Bundy, a former writer of religious music, enlisted bassist Tony Stram, once of the Pink Floyd covers band Stark Raving & Mad. They grew to a six-piece with reedist Bill Wisniewski, who once rubbed shoulders with members of Chicago.

As Gabriel Bondage, they opened an early US date by Canadian rockers Rush. Bundy developed a set of originals, influenced by The Beatles, Genesis, and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

Gabriel Bondage signed to Dharma Records, a Libertyville, Ill., indie label whose roster included jazz-rockers Streetdancer and the symphonic trio Atlantis Philharmonic.
Jazz-Rock-Soul
Tracks
1. Babylon - 4:44
2. First Stone In A Pyramid - 3:45
3. You And The Wind - 3:47
4. Take My Eyes - 3:09
5. Ladies And Gentlemen - 4:26
6. Bondage Rust Flakes, Dinosaur, Implosion - 8:10
7. Island - 3:59
8. Sing Me A Song - 3:30
9. Take It On A Dare (Ron Schwartz) - 6:02
10.Long Time - 3:47
11.Living In The City - 4:04
12.Birth Of The Unconquered Sun (L.James Biernacki) - 5:32
13.In The Daylight - 4:00
14.No Winners - 5:01
15.All I Know (L.James Biernacki, Rex Bundy) - 3:51
16.Those Games - 3:51
17.Fallen Angels - 11:11
All songs by Rex Bundy except where stated

Gabriel Bondage
*Rex Bundy - Lead Vocals, Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Drums, Piano, Effects) 
*Tony Stram - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Programming 
*Larry Biernacki - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin 
*Bill Wisniewski - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone             Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet 
*Ron Schwartz - Piano, Synthesizer, Hammond Organ, Programming 
*P.J. Shadowhawk - Drums