As is well recorded elsewhere, this LP was cut on the back of an idea David Skillin and Mick Stubbs (lead vocals, guitar) came up with after Stubbs had read a book which explored the spiritual side of alchemy (def: any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value) Any the wiser? No me neither.
However, whilst it’s not really important anymore (well to the majority of us), WHY this LP exists, the music itself is an insight into prog rock evolution and its popularity of the time. Initial impressions immediately had me dancing around the room trying to interpret Jon Anderson of Yes fame. Whilst holding my nether regions slightly too tightly I quickly realised this wasn’t a good, long term investment. So I gave up on that idea. But the music definitely has Yes and Genesis type undertones. And as such, it has its moments.
Side 1 benefits from the piano and mellotron playing of Jimmy Anderson. In contrast, and if I am being honest, the lyrics probably suffer, from them presumably trying to tell a story. Sung beautifully by Mick Stubbs he was sold a pup by having to sing the words written by Skillin. Side 2 has a great longish guitar solo by Laurie Wisefield (I think on Track 3 although as tracks merge it’s difficult to be sure) but if you enjoy the guitar piece I’d be amazed if you like the rather boring percussion which underpins it. Laurie later went on to play with Wishbone Ash and you can probably see why.
Concept albums, by their nature I guess, need to be listened to from start to finish. If you buy into the story, then isolating tracks and picking out favourite sections isn’t the done thing. But there are pleasant sections in here for sure, mainly, in my view Side 1. Perhaps like some books, they entice you in and sometimes fizzle out towards the end. Whilst as a complete set of works you can’t really say that, as far as this LP is concerned, you will probably know by the end of Side 1 whether you will enjoy Side 2.
Worth a listen. After all, how else can you travel back in time to the 70’s aside from perhaps via a novel, a concept LP, a dream or a drug fuelled experience?
