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Plain and Fancy

Music gives soul to universe, wings to mind, flight to imagination, charm to sadness, and life to everything.

Plato

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sunday - Sunday (1971 uk, remarkable psych prog rock, 2011 remaster)



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.

 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.
by Marcel Koopman and Alex Gitlin


Tracks
1. Love Is Life - 6:10
2. I Couldn't Face You - 8:03
3. Blues Song - 4:17
4. Man In A Boat - 4:52
5. Ain't It A Pity - 3:52
6. Tree Of Life - 3:55
7. Sad Man Reaching Utopia - 10:50
8. Fussin And Fighting - 6:51
All compositions by Davy Patterson, Jimmy Forest

Sunday
*John Barclay - Guitar, Vocals
*Jimmy Forest - Keyboards, Vocals
*Davy Patterson - Vocals, Bass
*Pete Gavin - Percussion

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Various Artists - Piccadilly Sunshine Part 10 (1966-69 uk, pop psych and lots of treasures, 2012 Particles release)



Volume 10 is the last piece from Piccadilly Sunshine puzzle, came out in October 2012 through Particles label and continues the high level as the previous releases. Including many great stuff from artists such as Peter Frampton's early incarnation The Herd, Kippington Lodge, Wayne Fontana, Shawn Phillips among the others. A 16page booklet with detailed informations completes the package.


Artists - Tracks
1. Warm Sensation - The Clown - 2:16
2. Disciple - Caucasoid Junkie - 3:38
3. Copperfield - Far Away Love - 2:13
4. Free Ferry - Mary What Have You Become - 2:45
5. Kippington Lodge - Tomorrow Today - 2:36
6. Almond Lettuce - Magic Circle - 2:41
7. The Sleepy - Is It Really The Same - 3:32
8. Slender Plenty  -  I've Lost A Friend And Found A Lover - 3:01
9. Wayne Fontana - Charlie Cass - 2:40
10.The Herd - Beauty Queen - 1:55
11.Glass Menagerie - Let's All Run To The Sun - 1:54
12.Happy Magazine - Beautiful Land - 2:06
13.Almond Lettuce - Twenty Weary Miles - 2:36
14.Vigrass - Flying -3:35
15.Kippington Lodge - Turn Out The Light - 3:01
16.The Sleepy - Rosie Can't Fly - 4:13
17.Shawn Phillips - Stargazer - 2:57
18.New York Public Library - Got To Get Away - 2:48
19.Barry Fantoni - Little Man In A Little Box - 3:02
20.Lomax Alliance - Try As You May - 2:28