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Freak Valley 2015: Seedy Jeezus Added to Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 17th, 2015 by JJ Koczan

seedy jeezus

German festival Freak Valley adds its first Australian band in the form of Melbourne’s Seedy Jeezus. The trio will play the festival following the release of their self-titled debut album, which was recorded by Tony Reed of Mos Generator last year. They’re playing a release show for the record on March 20 in Collingwood with Sun God Replica and River of Snakes, but the CD and vinyl seem to already be available, so if it was a nebulous kind of thing, that would at least be fitting for the band’s sound itself, which as you can hear in the 15-minute “How Ya Doin'” below, runs a line between straightforward classic heavy rock and hypnotic stretches of psychedelia.

The announcement follows:

seedy jeezus freak valley 2015

It’s time for the first ever Aussie band playing Freak Valley Festival – SEEDY JEEZUS!!

Seedy Jeezus are a band from Melbourne, Australia. Established in early 2010 the band went on to quickly gain a local reputation of being a ‘must see’ live band with this powerhouse trio drawing its influences from all over the musical spectrum.

Seedy Jeezus get compared to a weird blend of Pink Floyd meets Black Sabbath on an acid trip at an Experience concert (alot of space guitar and heavy riffing).

Seedy Jeezus is known to explore their own compositions onstage pushing each band member to stretch well beyond the original confines of the song. They might easily rewrite to songs vibe, feel and groove spontaneously and morph into other songs along the way.

If you’re in need of some 70s stoner space rock psychedelia then turn in, turn on, drop out… and get SEEDY !!!

Killer poster art by Mr Seedy Jeezus himself: Mr-Frumpy Frumpedia

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015
www.freakvalley.de www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 3-day tickets are SOLD OUT – but you’ll have a last chance to grab one! We’ll sell 50 more tickets at the Greenleaf & The Midnight Ghost Train & Three Eyes Left show @ Vortex Surfer Musikclub Siegen, Friday Feb 27th – more infos about this soon!

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/746137418800212/

A few 1-day tickets are still available.

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Blues Pills – Orchid – Eyehategod – Earthless – Goatsnake – Crippled Black Phoenix – Horisont – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – The Muggs – Freedom Hawk – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – Travelin’ Jack – Seedy Jeezus – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/seedyjeezuspage
http://www.seedyjeezus.com/
http://www.freakvalley.de
www.rockfreaks.de

Seedy Jeezus, “How Ya Doin'”

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Freak Valley 2015: Blues Pills Added as Thursday Headliner

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 23rd, 2015 by JJ Koczan

freak valley 2015 banner

The ties between Blues Pills and the Freak Valley festival run pretty deep. For one thing, the band is named after fest-founder Jens Heide‘s old ‘zine, and my understanding is they’ve been tight all along as Blues Pills have ascended to such high profile over the last couple years, leading to the release of their massively-well-received 2014 self-titled full-length debut. Blues Pills played the fest last year and they’ll be at Freak Valley 2015 as well, headlining Thursday night, June 4, and their 2014 set will be released in limited vinyl/CD fashion. Presumably copies will be on hand in Netphen, Germany.

Freak Valley 2015 runs from June 4-6:

freak valley 2015 blues pills

+++ FREAKIN’ AWESOME NEWS +++

While BLUES PILLS say “thank you” to Freak Valley Festival with the release of a superlimited Live @ Freak Valley Festival 2014 album on Vinyl and CD we are proud and more than happy to announce that Blues Pills will return and headline Thursday June 4th!!

We are totally thrilled and honoured about these two massive news!

Thank you so much Elin, Zack, Dorian & André. We’ll never forget!

The mindblowing poster beauty is done by Mr-Frumpy Frumpedia

Tickets are running low already. Please make sure you get yours in time!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015
www.freakvalley.de www.rockfreaks.de

FVF tickets are selling like KADAVAR vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!! We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

Also: At our Club shows @ Vortex Surfer Musikclub (next show Saturday Jan. 24th w/ Vibravoid Official, HARSH TOKE & Comet Control

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers
Blues Pills – Orchid – Eyehategod – Earthless – Goatsnake – Crippled Black Phoenix – Horisont – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Freedom Hawk – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – Travelin’ Jack – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.facebook.com/BluesPills
http://www.freakvalley.de
www.rockfreaks.de

Blues Pills, Blues Pills (2014)

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Freak Valley 2015: Orchid Added as Headliner

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 16th, 2015 by JJ Koczan

freak valley 2015 banner

San Francisco’s Orchid have been announced as Friday-night headliners at Freak Valley 2015. The festival is set to run June 4-6 in Netphen, Germany, and Orchid join the ranks of Goatsnake and Earthless in headlining, rounding out an all-Californian top rank for the event. Says something about the reach of the Golden State, perhaps, but you can’t really argue that any of the three don’t deserve the spot. In the case of Orchid, their Nuclear Blast-proliferated Sabbath worship has made them a household name among heavy rock aficionados, and they’ll also appear in April at Kirk von Hammet‘s Fear FestEvil in San Jose with High on FireMeshuggah and more.

Freak Valley got some Vance Kelly art to mark the occasion and put it this way:

orchid freak valley 2015

ORCHID TO HEADLINE FRIDAY NIGHT AT FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2015!!

Classic Heavy Rock is once again making an unstoppable advance onto the music scene. One of the greatest new acts of its kind is surely ORCHID. Founded in 2007 in San Francisco, the band is rapidly overtaking and destroying each and every competitor; and there are many reasons why.

Musically, Orchid owe their sound to the grand masters of rock. They walk in the footsteps of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and even Pink Floyd – they certainly are generating abundant exhilaration wherever they roam. This musical genre, the mix of blues, folk and hard rock, was surely the most widespread bravura in the early seventies, and those legendary acts mentioned above would easily fill stadiums even today. Their timeless music has survived decades of trends and fashions. It has inspired multiple generations of hard rock acts and is once again spreading to the forefront of rock. It is hard music, music with groove, music that is authentic and true to its roots. It can fill the largest of arenas to enthrall millions of concertgoers around the globe.

Thanks to Vance Kelly for the mindblowing poster art!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015
www.freakvalley.de www.rockfreaks.de

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Orchid – Goatsnake – Earthless – Crippled Black Phoenix – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Horisont – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Freedom Hawk – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – Travelin’ Jack – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/orchidsf
http://www.orchidsf.com/
http://www.merchaye-revolve.com/orchid

Orchid, “Masters of it All” live in San Francisco, CA, Feb. 8, 2014

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Horisont Added to Freak Valley 2015

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 29th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

horisont (Photo by Anders Bergstedt)

Swedish five-piece Horisont have been announced for Freak Valley 2015. The retro heavy rockers join an already massive bill headlined by Earthless and Goatsnake and featuring EgyptSigiriya and many others alongside whom the kickass classic-style riffing of Horisont should feel right at home. Their latest single, “Break the Limit,” is out now on Rise Above and has produced a not-surprisingly-grainy video for the A-side that you can see below.

Word came the other day they’ll also take part in Heavy Days in Doomtown, so at least we know they’ll be busy. Freak Valley 2015 is set for June 4-6 in Netphen, Germany. Here’s the announcement:

horisont freak valley 2015

Hey Freaks! We have a little X-mas present for you!!

Finest proto metal riffs and enviable moustaches by Swedish retro rockers HORISONT – they will play Freak Valley Festival 2015!!

Real rock‘n’roll cannot be faked. It is the immortal celebration of prized atavistic values – power and volume, sweat and adrenalin, uncompromising good times and the invigorating squall of past, present and future colliding. Those with the artistry and soul required to make music that stirs the blood will never stop chasing that distant horizon, and so Horisont have both the name and the know-how to blow minds and disperse life’s oppressive clouds. They are real rock’n’roll incarnate: an exhilarating blast of sonic euphoria, custom built to raise spirits and quicken the pulse of any right-thinking rock or metal fan.

Since forming in 2006, this Swedish quintet have steadily established themselves as one of Europe’s premier underground Rock bands.

Their first two albums made it plain that the band have tapped directly into the heart of heaviness and guitar-wielding derring-do. Now, with their latest masterpiece, the vividly realised Time Warriors, Horisont are raising their game, refining and re-defining themselves and leaving the competition spluttering in the dust.

Cover art by Jo Riou Graphic Designer // Headbang Design

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets now @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Goatsnake – Earthless – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Horisont – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Freedom Hawk – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – more tba soon!!

https://twitter.com/horisontmusic
https://www.facebook.com/horisontmusic
http://www.riseaboverecords.com/store/category/horisont/

Horisont, “Break the Limit” official video

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Freedom Hawk Added to Freak Valley 2015

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 16th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

freedom hawk

Now a trio after parting ways this year with guitarist Matt Cave — his brother, Mark, still handles bass — Virginia Beach heavy rockers Freedom Hawk have been announced as the latest addition to the 2015 Freak Valley festival in Germany. Their appearance at Freak Valley 2015 follows a quick run through parts of Europe this past spring that included a stop at the Roadburn festival in the Netherlands. Freedom Hawk also recently were in the studio recording for the follow-up to their 2011 Small Stone label debut, Holding On (review here). No word on a release date yet or whether the Freak Valley gig will be part of another round of European tour dates, but there’s time yet for such things to align and be revealed. In any case, if you’re keeping a running list of stuff to look forward to in 2015, Freedom Hawk isn’t a name to be left out.

Freak Valley put it thusly:

freedom hawk freak valley 2015

We are stoked to announce that Virginia Riff-Wranglers FREEDOM HAWK will play Freak Valley Festival 2015 !!

Hailing from the barrier dunes of Virginia, this quartet blends heavy riffs, a rolling groove, and soulful guitar melodies to produce the sound that is Freedom Hawk. Their brand of heavy rock coupled with a high energy live show, leaves many wondering if they’ve stepped through a time warp that has taken them to rock’s heyday of the 70’s by the power of their dark music fueled by the sun.

FREEDOM HAWK’s sound is large, like trying to force an elephant to fit in a closet. It’s also melodic for such heavy-handed playing. Walls of guitar riffs were pushed out heavy, soaring and moving like swells and waves at the same time.

Mindblowing cover art by Antoine Defarges // Headbang Design

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets now @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Goatsnake – Earthless – Crippled Black Phoenix – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Freedom Hawk – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/freedomhawkmusic
http://freedomhawk.net/
https://freedomhawk.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley

Freedom Hawk, Holding On (2011)

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Earthless Added to Freak Valley 2015

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 4th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

earthless

San Diego instrumental trio Earthless have been announced as the latest addition to Freak Valley 2015. The heavy psych rockers also recently gave notice they’ll be touring Japan in January alongside Eternal Elysium, and no doubt their stop at Freak Valley will come complemented by other European dates as well as they continue to support 2013’s excellent From the Ages (review here), which was released on Tee Pee Records.

Freak Valley 2015 is set for June 4, 5 and 6 in Netphen, Germany, and in joining the lineup, Earthless move into position among other headliners like Goatsnake and Crippled Black Phoenix. It’s a fitting place for the three-piece of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell (also Golden Void), bassist Mike Eginton and drummer Mario Rubalcaba (also OFF!), whose influence has had a significant impact the last several years on San Diego’s burgeoning heavy psych scene, bands like Joy and Psicomagia, among others in and beyond the city limits, taking cues from their dynamic righteousness and classic-style chemistry.

Announcement follows, courtesy of Freak Valley:

earthless freak valley 2015

Listen Freaks!!!

EARTHLESS will bring their Cosmic Jams from San Diego to the holy fields of Freak Valley !!

Formed in 2001, Earthless prides itself on creating energetic, utterly unique and free thinking instrumental music inspired by an eclectic mix of German krautrock and Japanese heavy blues-rock. The Californian trio has dedicated itself to mastery of the mind-bending jam session, evoking the spirits of Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath in equal measure. Named after a song title from vintage New York garage-psych band The Druids of Stonehenge, EARTHLESS’ sound has been called “A sonic kaleidoscope of lava and lightning”, earning it the title of “California’s loudest band”. The group delivers “one of the best live shows in all of modern, heavy rock,” leading to one reviewer stating that the band’s “epic shredding harkens back to the days were psychedelic rock had balls the size of grapefruits and wasn’t afraid to take its listeners on a ride for which they may never return.”

Each member of EARTHLESS has done time in many other bands. Drummer (and former pro skater) Mario Rubalcaba currently plays in the hardcore punk band OFF! and has also occupied the drum throne in Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes amongst many others. Bassist Mike Eginton played with Electric Nazarene and guitarist Isaiah Mitchell was most recently in Howlin’ Rain, has played with Nebula and Drunk Horse and also heads up the Bay Area band Golden Void. In the end, EARTHLESS is the musical rock that grounds the three musicians and now, after more than half a decade since the release of their last studio LP, EARTHLESS has returned and is out to prove — through sheer rock power — why they are considered the cream of the modern day heavy psych scene.

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets now @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Goatsnake – Earthless – Crippled Black Phoenix – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – more tba soon!!

http://www.merchlackey.com/earthless/
https://www.facebook.com/earthlessrips
https://twitter.com/earthlessrips
http://teepeerecords.com/bands/earthless/index.php

Earthless, From the Ages (2013)

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Peter Bursch’s Bröselmaschine Added to Freak Valley 2015

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 1st, 2014 by JJ Koczan

broselmaschine

As they continue to branch out stylistically, the Freak Valley festival 2015 has begun taking the sloshing steps into the vast ocean that is krautrock. Led by guitarist/vocalist Peter Bursch, Bröselmaschine got together in 1969 and released their self-titled debut in 1971, blending psychedelic folk and nascent prog rock influences into a distinctive, warm sound that continues to resonate more than 40 years later. I don’t imagine they’ll be paired next to Goatsnake on the Freak Valley 2015 bill — though of course one never really knows until the schedule is out — but they bring a touch of serenity to the increasing sonic diversity of the festival, and for the excuse to dive into the self-titled alone, I’m glad to see them added.

The announcement came through as follows:

broselmaschine freak valley 2015

Hey Freaks – please welcome one of the oldest German Krautrock bands to our 2015 line-up: Peter Bursch’s BRÖSELMASCHINE!!

From their 1969 origins in Duisburg, Germany, Bröselmaschine began engaging with the psychedelic throughline that marks so many of the more progressively minded krautrock bands. But rather than rely on watery electric guitars and reverb-laden vocals, founders Peter Bursch and Willi Kissmer pushed their band toward cavernous, labyrinthine folk compositions, which their 1971 self-titled debut has in spades. Reliant largely on plaintive acoustic guitar strumming, BRÖSELMASCHINE sounds decades ahead of its time. Though there’s no concrete evidence that Devendra Banhart and all the rest of those early aughts freak folkies were taking in ’70s German prog records, the Duisburg quartet at least anticipated the craze of acid-addled acoustic music.

Michael Dommers – guitar, Vocals
Tom Plötzer – Keyboards
Manni von Bohr – Drums
Anja Lerch – Vocals
Peter Bursch- Guitar, Sitar, Vocals
Detlef Wiederhöft – Bass

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets now @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Goatsnake – Crippled Black Phoenix – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Bröselmaschine – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/Broeselmaschine/
http://www.broeselmaschine.de/

Bröselmaschine, Bröselmaschine (1971)

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Mountain Witch Added to Freak Valley 2015

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 26th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

mountain witch

Being German and being ingrained in ’70s-style classic heavy rock, Hamburg trio Mountain Witch have garnered a fair amount of comparisons to Kadavar since they released their 2013 debut full-length, Cold River (review here). Fair enough, but the vibe I got from that record was a little more doom and classic metal, a little grimmer in its intent than Kadavar, whose ’70s worship is more about warm groove and catchy hooks. Maybe it’s splitting hairs one to the next — I’m not sure how many microgenres ’70s-style heavy really needs to be divided into — but in any case, I didn’t think Mountain Witch were trying to ride the same wave as their countrymen, just that everybody digs Sabbath. That’s universal, right?

Their current 7″, which adds Judas Priest-style vocals to Cold River opener “Snake Wand” and pairs it with a cover of Deep Purple‘s classic “Black Night,” I think backs up that supposition. Or maybe my head’s up my ass. Always a possibility.

In any case, Mountain Witch are the latest act to join the golly-that’s-good lineup of next year’s Freak Valley festival. Freak Valley 2015 is set for June 4, 5 and 6 in Netphen, Germany, and if you don’t want to go, you’re not paying attention:

mountain witch freak valley festival

We are stoked to welcome Hamburgs Proto-Doom / psychedelic Stoner-Rock masters MOUNTAIN WITCH to the Freak Valley 2015 family !!

Mountain Witch’s sound is strengthened by an unmistakable 70s psych rock majesty. With vintage tones and killer riffs reminiscent of early Sabbath, their new direction also takes in the boogie of Blue Cheer, ballsy strut of Deep Purple and the total ambition of Pink Floyd. A sound that doesn’t shy away from its hard rock roots and at the same time doesn’t stop long enough to rest on them.

There’s also a distinct feeling that while the Mountain Witch of old were content to plug in and rock out, the epic guitar assaults and rhythm and doom sections of ‘Sleepers Chant’ and ‘The Covey’ give this latest incarnation a newfound purpose. One that could give the likes of Dead Meadow, Uncle Acid and the deadbeats and former label mates Kadavar a serious run for their money.

MOUNTAIN WITCH is out for the crown and it’s only a matter if time before they take the empire.

Awesome poster art by Michael Imhof / Wallze Design & Poster Art

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 4th-5th-6th June 2015

FVF tickets are selling like Blues Pills vinyls already – get yours in time – the first 3 editions have been sold out early!!
We are selling tix to all parts of this planet!!

Tickets: www.freakvalley.de | Only 66€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!

Hardtickets now @ our onlineshop: http://shop.rockfreaks.de/

Also: http://kozmik-artifactz.com/ | Kozmik Artifactz

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers

Goatsnake – Crippled Black Phoenix – The Vintage Caravan – Electric Moon – Gas Giant – Monkey3 – Danava – Egypt – Siena Root – Sigiryia – Kamchatka – Purson – Dead Man – Mountain Witch – Tuber – Valley of the Sun – Tombstones – more tba soon!!

https://www.facebook.com/mountainwitch/
http://www.thischarmingmanrecords.com/

Mountain Witch, Snake Wand 7″ (2014)

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