Week of April 24, 2005
Personnel:
John Barclay - Guitar, Vocals
Jimmy Forest - Keyboards, Vocals
Davy Patterson - Vocals, Bass
Album:
Sunday (Bellaphon BLPS 19066) 1971 (German only release)
CD: Black Rose BR 125, 1998 - Germany
Although recorded in London, this album of very atmospheric and melodic
progressive rock by what seems to be a Scottish crew was only released in
Germany. The music is generally very thoughtful and in quite a few places
bluesy. Still there is your usual share of guitar solos and organ riffs, at
times provoking Beggars Opera
at their least arty. The album is undoubtedly as good as most in this class and
it is hard to understand why they couldn't secure a UK release. The cover
depicts a miraculous painting by Lyonel Feininger, a sure sign of good taste.
(Marcel Koopman)
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1
The opener, “Love Is Life”, is a rambunctious rocker with a relentless
drum beat, great dynamic breaks and an underlying organ riff, kicking the doors
open in style. “I Couldn’t Face You” is a ballad with an interesting
bluesy melody and a piano-organ arrangement reminiscent of
Procol Harum.
Following the slow melancholy of “Blues Song”, there’s the odd “Man In
A Boat”, a cod-psychedelic trip featuring once again Gary Brooker-like
Hammond sound – slow-paced and majestic and set to an almost marching beat.
Mid-song it resolves into an energetic mid-paced rocker. “Ain’t It A Pity”
captures and preserves for posterity the freewheeling spirit of the times
perfectly – complete with free-flowing organ, piano and guitar parts and
uninhibited, commanding and attention-grabbing vocals. “Tree Of Life”
takes the pace down a notch but continues on in much the same style; and tells a
story. The most meandering track on this otherwise near-perfect album is “Sad
Man Reaching Utopia” – clocking up at 10:51. Almost great, and a shame they
didn’t go beyond this debut. The CD was “mastered” from a vinyl copy, as the
original master tapes were most likely lost.
Alex Gitlin
April 2005