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The Collectors - The Collectors CD (album) cover

THE COLLECTORS

The Collectors

 

Proto-Prog

4.10 | 60 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
4 stars 4,5 stars really!!!

Behind this superb Art Nouveau artwork sleeve is hiding one of the true, hidden and forgotten gems of Canada. To achieve this kind of perfection as a first try, back in the late 60's is simply astounding (the only had a few singles beforehand) and unfortunately all too rare. Bill Henderson and Claire Lawrence (the main core of the group) make a fantastic songwriting partnership that will last a few albums, and even if not perfect,

Right from the start , guys know how to bait a discerning proghead, by giving us a taste of what is to come without revealing how the main course with the opening (but rather light ) What Is Love and then plunging into serious business with She, a real feast for vocal harmonies; But they are still teasing us (especially with that flute around the end), but the wait is over; Everything we suspected in the first two songs get confirmation with Howard Christian's Older, loaded with drama, suspense and that typical late 60's flavour when everything was still to be done musically, artistically, socially, sexually, and generally progressive-wise. A full blown epic in just five min, even if the superb vocals account for roughly 50% of the spine chills; Lydia Purple is more popish, just to give us a break, but then comes the first nail in your coffin, One Act Play. Somehow not far away from very cheesy moments of Moody Blues or Rare Bird's vocal orgies, without Mellotrons, these guys bring you to ecstasy without any gadgets.

But all of that you have heard so far was simply foreplay, just getting your ears/appetite warmed-up for the main orgy: the 19 min+ What Love where not one single second is wasted in self-indulging solos (as was the craze back then): no we are dealing with an epic that could've been divided into multi-movement suite (like Supper or even contemporary Procol Harum's In Twas Held In I - if they even knew it was hip to do such a thing) and outside a few moments that clearly outline we are in 68, this is one of the earliest prog epics. These guys are not content to rivet you to your seat, they are holding you still so they are driving nails into your coffin and every minute going by is sealing your fate. Don't even think for a second they are taking the easy road either, a round the 1§ min mark, they drive a spike right through heart, another through your brains and the last one right in your genitals. A slight flute warns you that you have reached paradise. This record might just drive this atheist to heaven!!!!!!!

Need I say more??????????????????????????????????????

Actually, yes!!! The record company says New Vibrations From Canada on the back sleeve, but when some almost 30 years later, you listen to this record, WOW!!! They are still brand new vibrations.

Sean Trane | 4/5 |

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