THINK PINK

You certainly meet some characters when exploring the world of progressive rock and John Adler really had an influence on early British psychedelic music starting in a band way back in 1963. He used TWINK as his stage name at some point in the 60's, the brand name of a hair product that fans would often send him. A drummer by trade he would be in such bands as TOMORROW, THE PRETTY THINGS, AQUARIAN AGE and more while after this 1970 solo release he would be in the band STARS with Syd Barrett and also was a leading member of THE PINK FAIRIES.

"Think Pink" was recorded in July of 1969 in London and is very 60's sounding but man so adventerous and "out there" at times. A six piece he has friends from TOMORROW, THE PRETTY THINGS, THE DEVIANTS and T-REX. Many feel this is a fundamental release in British psychedelia. Povey from THE PRETTY THINGS really adds some nice flavours with the sitar and mellotron with Wood from THE DEVIANTS playing lead guitar. I'm not often into solo albums just from my experience over the years but man this one is a keeper. As Hugues mentions in his review the first half is almost perfect while the second half sort of dissolves into silliness at times and experimental bits but this is psychedelic music!

You know your in for a trip when the first words you hear on that opener are "In the year 1999 and seven months from the sky will come..." an experimental opener with sitar and at times theatrical vocals, yes this can get insane. The second track is brighter with piano then fuzzed out guitar leads. I like the vocal harmonies too. "Dawn Of Magic" is a short atmospheric piece with vocal expressions and sitar standing out.

"Tiptoe On The Highest Hill" is a relaxed vocal track with mellotron but it will turn a little crazy and I like that guitar when it trips along. Favourite song though is "Fluid" which comes across as being Krautrock-like or early FLOYD-like in the "A Saucerful Of Secrets" vein. "Mexican Grass War" is nuts with people yelling and lots of percussion and drums. A nursery rhyme starts "Rock And Roll The Joint" before we get a heavy groove with guitar over top. Kind of bluesy this one. I really like "Suicide" as well with the vibes and mellotron. "Three Little Piggies" is silly and the closer sounds like a Kevin Ayers tune.

Without question a 4 star album in my world, so adventerous! And is this the first super-group? One of the first no doubt.