There’s this guy I know. He’s kind of insane. That’s as pleasantly as I can say it. The first several times I met him he did not remember me, so he kept repeating the same story. It was about this band called Zolar X that he used to watch perform around Los Angeles in the 70s and 80s. According to him, the band took their lives as space aliens so seriously and intensely they stayed in character 24 hours a day. He said he used to see the guys walking up and down the Sunset Strip, or sitting waiting for the bus, in full costume, speaking in their own language. He also claimed one of the dudes’ fathers worked on Star Trek, and that’s how the band was able to find all their wardrobe and stage props. Basically, Zolar X was my vision for Obscure References thirty years before I knew who they fuck they even were. For that, I must show them immense respect!
So, yeah, according to We Got The Neutron Bomb (cool book about LA’s early punk scene) Zolar X was the city’s first glam rock band. They formed in 1973, the product of “mastermind” Stephen Della Bosca, who re-named himself Ygarr Ygarrist (Why-Garr Why-Garr-ist) upon forming the band.
So, what does their music sound like? I hear evidence of progressive rock, or David Bowie fronting a more intense Man Or Astro-Man. Of course, it could also be said that the band — at times — sounds like Rush. Ugh. If they had culled their best seven songs and only released those, this would be an absolute classic. After a while though, it starts to drag.
Their recorded output, which consists of one LP called Timeless, was released in 1982 on clear vinyl. There was no cover, only a plastic sleeve. Supposedly there was an insert included with the disc, which was the only way to tell who the hell recorded the album. I’ve heard rumors of a 7″, but that could be a bald faced lie.
In 2004, Alternative Tentacles released, Timeless as a reissue CD. On the CD, “Horizon Suite” is released in its intended form. On the LP, it’s cut into four separate tracks.
Enjoy. I’d like to know what you people think of this madness. Is it shitty Rush? Is it something amazing?
Zolar X
Timeless
MegaUpload Download Link
Tracklist:
01. Recitation
02. Timeless
03. Science
04. Test Tube Baby
05. Rocket Roll
06. Mirrors
07. Jet Star 19
08. Space Age Love
09. Energize Me
10. The Horizon Suite
11. Blues On Blue
12. Nativity
13. What Is Music?
14. Moonbeams
CD Bonus Tracks:
16. EF1142
17. GT3
18. Silver Shapes
19. Parallel Galaxy
20. Plutonian Elf Story
