Sproton Layer - With Magnetic Fields Disrupted (1970)


In March of 1969, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Miller brothers Roger (17), Benjamin (15) and Laurence (15) had a mind-altering improvisation session on guitar, bass and drums in their basement.  They called it "Freak Trio Electric", and none of them, or their views on music, were the same after this event.  A few days later, after repeated and amazed listening to the tape - "Sounds like Pink Floyd cut with Captain Beefheart!" wrote Roger in his journal - they decided to form a band. 

Roger wrote many songs that spring incorporating riffs and motifs from their improvisations.  Later that year they added trumpeter Harold Kirchen (brother of Bill Kirchen of Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen fame) and changed their name to Sproton Layer.  Benjamin and Laurence began composing around this time. Their music was most definitely psychedelic, with many songs based on the "Toke Mythology."  The band played approximately 20 shows in 1969 and 1970 before folding in the fall of 1970 due to the conservative direction rock music was now moving.


In late summer 1970, they recorded and album's worth of material with classmate Mark Brahce engineering, again in their parents' basement.  Good friend Arnold Lelis drew the front cover illustration. This album, "With Magnetic Fields Disrupted", was released 23 years later on New Alliance, along with a 3-song 45rpm single from their 1969 recording sessions, to very little notice.

In 2010, Wolfgang Reuther, owner of the German label World in Sound found out about the group, contacted Laurence. Further discussions with brother Roger cemented the deal to re-release "With Magnetic Fields Disrupted" in higher fidelity.  To the amazement of the brothers, Wolfgang Reuther offered to include a 24 page booklet with photos, song-lists, drawings, journal entries,  and a history of the group.  The CD and LP was released in summer 2011 causing quite a commotion in the psychedelic-music community. In summer 2013 the band reformed to begin performing "live" once again, after 43 years in hibernation, with much favorable review. Truth is stranger than fiction. (source)

12 komentarzy:

  1. Ugh, the link is down. Any chance of putting this on Mega or somewhere else? thanks for all! Ubu

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  2. The link is working...

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  3. Yes, but sadly, the download link on the site itself is dead...

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  4. It's impossible. It's working. I've just downloaded it for test. :)

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  5. Anonimowy21/5/15

    unfortunately, netkups does not wok for me at all. have used successfully in the past but there are problems now. the page simply freezes and will not accept any commands. very frustrating! a zippy post would be most welcome!
    if not, thank you anyway for your stellar posts! veltej

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  6. Anonimowy22/5/15

    Appreciate the yadi link Ankh, but still no go :-(
    I remain Sproton Layerless...v j

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  7. netkups's link is working fine, just MAKE SURE to DISABLE IDM (Internet Download manager) on your Browser (Mozilla, Chrome, IE, ... ) different file-hosts (Uploaded, Filepost, Turbobit, Oboom, netkups,...) either does not respond to the IDM integration, or block Data-transferring once IDM detected (for Free user DL at least) it's only natural because basically ; they want you to DL it slowly (don't forget they're running a business, not bloggin' x))
    To Disable it:
    go IDM > Options > "General" > Capture downloads from the following browsers: > then 'uncheck' the browser you're using.
    PS: (for Mozilla fire fox users, you'll need to close the browser than start it again so it can detect the IDM's disintegration/ integration )
    Excuse me for doing this around here, but i've seen many alike complains in many blogs, & i believe they're generally reduced to bad manoeuvring.. so i gave it a shot..
    Anyway ; Thank you very much for this post, this is some fantastic heavy psychedelic stuff, Highly recommended. a lossless copy of the 2011 issue is available in the "rockasteria" space, (a Booklet included in x))
    Regards.

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  8. Anonimowy23/5/15

    Brilliant! Many many thanks for the zippy link! You rock!! v j

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