LOOKING BACK ON THE FUTURE

DAWNWIND were a British folk duo that Jon Harflett and John Perkins formed in 1967. Eight years later, during one weekend in 1975, accompanied by three supporting musicians they recorded their only album. Released on an obscure US label Amron, the album was predictably doomed into obscurity. The duo hardly got any money at all. But in 2006 Looking Back on the Future was re-released on CD and it earned a cult status -- albeit only a minor one I presume, since I haven't come across the artist name anywhere before shuffling through the Prog Folk artist list here. Frankly I wonder how they landed on ProgArchives, because I don't hear any prog- mindedness in these acoustic and fairly simple folk-rock songs. But let's not be bothered by that. I will rate the album subjectively based on my liking of the music.

Somewhere they've been compared to Simon & Garfunkel. Well, perhaps to some degree, concerning the American duo's earliest and folkiest albums, but Harflett and Perkins fall far behind both as vocalists and as song- writers. Depending on individual songs I came to think of several other artists, too. The calm songs such as 'Man of Stars' and 'Canticle' remind me of the early output of Tim Buckley, but again paling in comparison, especially for vocals. Another serene song 'The Derelict' sounds a bit like Ralph McTell. 'Concrete Circles' is a faster and more intensive song with a Dylanesque flavour. The mandolin makes me think of Lindisfarne. Most songs are rather calm though, pleasantly. Further references could be Gordon Lightfoot and Magna Carta.

On 'Sam Stone' (a John Prine cover) the piano is slightly better present than on the album in general. Mostly this is just men and acoustic guitars kind of singer-songwriter stuff. But pretty good anyway, in that particular oeuvre. There's a Tom Paxton cover too, I don't actually know which song it is.

So, this is a fairly good listening for those who like this kind of folk stuff, but definitely not essential. Friendly three stars.