Moondog ‎– "Moondog" (CBS ‎– 63906) 1969

Anyone who wears a cloak,a horned vikings helmet,and carries a spear, has gotta be given a chance to make a major label album in my opinion.
Moondog, aka blind bloke Louis Hardin, from his perch on the corner of 54th or 55th street and 6th Avenue,was not a homeless begger,but a revered pioneer on the avant-garde/minimalist scene in New York.Working as a street musician since the late forties,he was a regular sight on his pitch until he moved to Germany in 1972.As he shared the same fascination with the nordic myth as did Wagner and Hitler.Moondog had an idealised view of Germany ("The Holy Land with the Holy River"), where he settled until he died in 1999.There's a Moondog statue spmewhere in Munster apparently!?

"The Viking of 6th Avenue" ,as he was known by the less clued up members of the public, had developed a revolutionary attitude towards composition and melody that was much lauded,and influenced such eminent contemporaries as Philip Glass and Steve Reich. There's also an obvious influence on the Residents,whether thats the similarity to the works of Harry Partch,or not,i dunno,but its there.Only the blind can truly see.

Tracklist:

A1 Theme 2:35
A2 Stamping Ground 2:36
A3 Symphonique #3 (Ode To Venus) 5:51
A4 Symphonique #6 (Good For Goodie) 2:45
B1 Minsym #1 5:45
B2 Lament I, "Bird's Lament" 1:42
B3 Witch Of Endor 6:29
B4 Symphonique #1 (Portrait Of A Monarch) 2:36

DOWNLOAD from minimalist valhalla HERE!