Digging in the Crates: Rare Grooves + Samples 3

The Lost Tapes

In Linistea Noptil

homesick

Who's Next

Won't Get Fooled Again (Remix)

Blue Break Beats

My Little Girl

Gentle Eyes

Soulsides

Dancin' & Prancin'

Thousand Finger Man

Ty Segall

Orange Color Queen

For management/ booking: TheFunkyMGMT@gmail.com

The music of Rodion G.A. has, until recently, remained unknown to most of the world. The group was formed in Romania in 1975 by Rodion Roșca with Gicu Fărcaș and Adrian Căpraru, and used Tesla reel-to-reel tape machines to layer sounds and construct a unique stylistic hybrid of electronic music, psychedelia, and progressive rock.

The band combined post-punk’s aural assault, the melodic and motorik sensibilities of Kosmische, heavy classic rock riffing with prog’s lead line explorations, and spaced-out psychedelic sounds to create a captivating and rapturous sonic brew. This unique blend also throws in traditional Romanian folk elements and Mid Eastern modes and rhythms.

Due to a 1971 state regime shift in the country, inspired by the communist policies of North Korea that imposed censorship on artistic production, only two Rodion G.A. tracks ever saw official release, both on state-run label Electrecord’s Formatii Rock Vol. 5 compilation. The band performed throughout the 80s and composed scores for the film Delta Space Mission and the Romanian National Opera, but the majority of their work remained suppressed, despite avoidance of explicitly political content and the overwhelming popularity of their radio-only singles.

In recent years, Romanian filmmaker Luca Sorin began collecting rare film footage of the band, together with experimental music collective Future Nuggets, resurrecting interest in the enigmatic Rodion Roșca and the story of Rodion G.A. In June 2012, Rodion G.A. performed at the Transylvania International Film Festival in Roșca’s hometown of Cluj, Romania. The Lost Tapes, a compilation of remastered original Rodion G.A. reels, was released in May 2013 on Strut Records, increasing interest in the musician outside his home country.

In Linistea Noptil

Rodion G.A.

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