DE HOMINE URBANO

A low 4 stars. ACHE's debut was released in 1970 the same year CULPEPER'S ORCHARD released their first record. Both bands were from Denmark and CULPEPER'S ORCHARD's debut might be the best album ever to be released from that nation. "De Homine Urbano" features two side long suites including the title track which was composed for a ballet as the cover art shows. ART ZOYD would be commissioned to do the music for ballets some time after this.

A four piece with the organ dominating the sound but the guitar will also lead the way at times. The title track gets us started and we pretty much get organ leading the way throughout in this all instrumental piece. There are calms dotted throughout this suite and they are usually brief then it will kick back in with organ and sometimes guitar leading the way. Kind of predictable I suppose but it sounds good.

"Little Things" features different pieces of music that they composed between 1968 and 1970 and we get vocals here that come and go including some spoken words that get theatrical. I do prefer the second suite a little more and they do use the same formula by adding calms throughout.

I'm impressed enough that I couldn't give this 3 stars by any means but I'm also far from being blown away so the low 4 stars fits for me. Denmark has some great psychedelic bands and jazz influenced groups as well and so I have to give ACHE some love for being a rare symphonic band that rose out of the mediocrity.