News and Updates

NEWS & UPDATES

September 2019

Early Quintessence at All Saints Church Hall, London, 1969 (Film)
(Excerpt from the film "Getting It Straight In Notting Hill Gate" (1970)

Link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws1Tm97YqkE&list=RDWs1Tm97YqkE&start_radio=1

July 2019

- R.I.P. Mah Dev a.k.a. Dave Codling
After a short illness Maha Dev, Quintessence rhythm guitarist from 1969 - 1972, left this earthly sphere on July 5, 2019.

Tribute by Jeremy Dunn here: Hari Om - all glories to Maha Dev!

'The Great Illusion came when we said 'Goodbye' to the natural forces in the sky, maybe we should all let go, and not lean too heavily upon it. And ride the energies of sunlight down the hall to be presented to the Universal Form, leaving messages for others on the wall,'Life's far too serious to take seriously!' (from KALA 'Thirsty Generation')

May 2018

- Interview with Raja Ram of Quintessence in Italian socialist magazine RE NUDO/57 from June 1977. He talks about the split of the original band, coming up with some original if not far-fetched explanations. The music the band were playing during this period was just instrumental stuff with the odd Beatles number thrown in. The band in 1977 consisted of Raja Ram (flute), Sambhu (Acoustic guitar, bass), Jake (drums) and Sita Devi (keyboards,violin).

For those who understand Italian, you can read the original text on the website here .

July 2017

-The Lufbra Tape: Quintessence at Loughborough Uni, sometime in September1971.
New Cassette sent to us by courtesy of Christopher Clifton. Thank you so much, great stuff! The gig must have taken place in early autumn of 1971, but Christopher cannot remember the exact date. Another good recording documenting the exuberance and joy this band used to bring to the people! A great find indeed! For more information scroll down a wee bit here .

June 2017

- Review of Quintessence - Move Into The Light by Brian R. Banks in Psychedelic Baby magazine.
Raja Ram & Quintessence's Complete Island Recordings contains a rare Raja Ram interview via email.
Replying to the question whether he had ever considered a possible Quintessence reunion, Raja Ram said that he would rather carry a sack load of bricks and walk up Everest in winter backwards! There are also a few other niceties in there about certain people wagging their finger, and other curious mumblings.Such is the longtime fall-out of these guys with one another after so many years. The mind boggles!

Read it all here: www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2017/06/raja-ram-quintessences-complete-island.html

April 2017

- Quintessence - Move Into The Light. New digitally remastered two CD anthology of the Island albums by Esoteric Records. Featuring an essay by Malcolm Dome und interviews with both Shiva and Maha Dev.

June 2016

- Review of the Quintessence album 'Spirits from another Time' Written by old friend Brian Banks in Psychedelic Baby Magazine.

Read it all here: www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2016/06/quintessence-spirits-from-another-time.html

May 2016

- Quintessence ‚Spirits From Another Time 19969 - 1971' HUX Records Archive material digitised at Abbey Road Studios taken from 13 multitrack reels. These tracks are not just curiosities for completists, although it must be said that another pair of ears seasoned in Quintessence music could have been useful here and there. Details and background story by Colin Harper in Shindig Magazine 04/05/2016.

Read it all here.

July 2015

- The Afterword, February 2, 2015: Quintessence: A History by Colin Harper
http://theafterword.co.uk/quintessence-a-history/

Originally written for Record Collector magazine in 2014, the article on the band's history is now online and is certainly worth reading.

April 2015

- QUINTESSENCE: THE HIGHDELBERG TAPE

A gathering place for the hippies and seekers, beautiful Heidelberg was a centre for the spiritually inclined in the early 70s. We recently got hold of a tape of a Quintessence gig there at the Church of the Holy Spirit (Heiliggeist-Kirche) from November 18,1972. The band played as a quartet, as Shiv and Mahadev had been sacked from the band in June of that year. No wonder the music is a bit, well, different, but the overall sound is amazingly good! For more information scroll down a wee bit here .

March 2015

Entry in ROXIKON (in German), an online encyclopedia of rock and pop music with more than 2000 articles.

http://www.roxikon.de/rock/rock-formationen/quintessence-band/

Factual information, also mentioning follow-up projects like SHIVA SHAKTI or SHIVA'S QUINTESSENCE

October 2014

- Psychedelic Baby Magazine from September 14, 2014: Quintessentially a cosmic trip

www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2014/09/quintessentially-cosmic-trip.html

In-depth narration of the Quintessence story and a fantastic read indeed by writer Brian R. Banks. Featuring a great number of graphics from this website, all with our consent. With many links to our webpages and also to others - greatly recommended!

June 2014

Online article in a blog about Quintessence

- the garage, April 25, 2014: Quintessence in never never land

http://thegarage13.blogspot.ch/2014/04/quintessence-in-never-never-land.html

As usual, pix/graphics taken from this website without our consent, no link to our website either

Still, a nice narration of what Quintessence were about, not shying away from mentioning the strange and contradictory machinations of its so-called leader concerning money and the sacking of group members…

March 2014

- All the re-issues of Quintessence material on HUX Records (2014).

- A review by Colin Harper on his website 'where music matters more…':
http://www.colin-harper.com/cd-reissue-projects/quintessence/

- His review of the SHIVA'S QUINTESSENCE album ONLY LOVE CAN SAVE US also here.

May 2012

- Uploaded some Ralph Beauvert videos on Youtube:

WYLD SPACE JAM (1988): www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLwdkGnxAZE

TIME & DISTANCE (1989): www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLkkVtA6io8

ANOTHER LIFE ANOTHER DREAM (1991): www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLBovg6XUk8

I BELIEVE IN YOU (1991): www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjruakZ2JuI

March 2012

- Six new articles scanned and sent to us from the great Jonathan Simpson who is a longtime Quintessence friend and connoisseur. Articles are from diverse sources such as International Times (1969), Record Song Book which was printed in 1970, Disc and Music Echo (1971), Sounds from June 1972, and Rolling Stone from June 1972. Look here.

February 2012

- New page for Ralph Beauvert. Biography and Discography of Ralph 'Rudra' Beauvert - his musical journey from the early '70s heady Krautrock origins to the Mooncow Project, Shiva Shakti and Shiva's Quintessence. Look here.

June 2011

- New release from HUX Records. Shiva performing with Maha Dev's Quintessence at the 40th Glastonbury Festival, produced by John Barham and dedicated to Stanly Barr. See here.

June 2011

- New compilation release from HUX Records. Two new songs coupled with tracks from the Shiva Shakti and Shiva's Quintessence 'Cosmic Surfer'albums, with 8-page booklet and great graphics. See here.

April 2011

- This performance by Quintessence was at the last Hyde Park Free Concert - which also featured The Soft Machine, The Social Deviants, Al Stewart and The Edgar Broughton Band. This Youtube clip is a real gem and is the earliest known live footage of the band. Look here.

October 2010

Allan Mostert returns to the stage. Living in Spain with his wife Moni since 2006, they gave a rare performance at the Teatro Casa De La Musica in Carboneras De Guadazaón, Spain. See the main Quintessence page here.

September 2010

New release from HUX Records.Exquisitely remastered by Ron Geesin, with two previously unreleased live tracks and two brand new vocal takes, this CD debut of Kala's complete works has been compiled with the full co-operation of Phil and Dave. See the main Quintessence page here.

July 2010

- It was Karma that brought Shiva Jones back to England this year to perform with Maha Dev's Quintessence at the 40th Glastonbury Festival. The BBC showed a few snippets from an upcoming documentary. Also present was original drummer Jake Milton who didn't perform though.