CARGO

Cargo - Cargo (1972)

This is one of few unknown Dutch gems of the psych/progressive period of the early seventies. Most progressive music listeners will know about classical/jazz-influence rock made by Focus and perhaps even the symphonic albums of Kayak. Some listen to the Canterbury styled prog of Supersister and most of us would like the advanced symphonic prog style of Finch. Besides that the psych/space lover should check out Group 1850, whilst the heavy rock and jam- session listener shouldn't skip on this sole Cargo record.

Cargo offers a heavy rock styled album with 20% songwriting and 80% jamming with the 'De Hont brothers' delivering some great (twin) guitarsolo's with a great seventies reverb-rock guitar sound. The album has two long tracks and two shorter tracks to complement each side of the vinyl. All four tracks have some catchy moments before becoming vehicles for the spacey solo's. I really like the sound of this album, a bit underground-like, but still very well produced with a warm sound that even works when listening to a digital version. The vinyls are by the way very hard to find and expensive, I'm still looking for a reprint myself. During the song-moments Cargo impressed with a nice rockin' out feel and some vocals with soul. The composition is fairly simple, but when rock is played tight it can still impress a lot.

The cd version offers some bonustracks from the time the band wasn't even called Cargo. They are worthwhile rock tracks, but I myself prefer listening to the album in it's original form.

Conclusion. This type of heavy rock with spacey guitar solo's and extended jamming is a typical product of the seventies underground rock scene. It's second hand prove of a zeitgeist that empowered people to really focus on something. When it comes down to it, I really think it is the affinity for this zeitgeist that makes music like Cargo's sole album so great to listen to. Fours magic carpets.

This is the eponymous disc published by Cargo, dutch heavy prog band. Cargo consist of Willem DeVries on bass and vocals, brothers Ad and Jan De Hont on guitars, and Denis Whitbread on drums. Born as "September", they has no great success in their early career. Changed its name to Cargo, they decided to release their first and only album in 1972. "Cargo" is a real gem of the underground prog scene, that can be added to the large list of "lonely" masterpieces published by bands virtually ignored by the mass, but really appreciated by prog-heads (such as Space Shanty by Khan, "lonely" masterpiece of the Canterbury scene, released the same year moreover). The disc contains four tracks of very good heavy prog, in which the guitar carpets of brothers De Hont intertwine with funk and psychedelic sounds. So we hear space atmospheres alternating with more heavy and rhythmic sections, following the classic hard rock style while maintaining a reasonable degree of originality (we're still talking about a prog band!). DeVries's singing is fairly anonymous to me, while doing his job pretty well. Particular attention should be paid to the production, which is perfectly balanced and able to enhance the sound of each instrument as only the tube mastering of those years can do. In conclusion, if you appreciate the work of bands like Atomic Rooster or Wishbone Ash, this album is for you.

Vote: 3.75 stars, rounded to 4.

So who's smuggling this Cargo now ? Nobody, so let this be the first review after little bit more than 5 years (!!!), even it's still better than after 6 years.

Album consists of 4 quite long tracks and 8 bonus tracks. At first I thought this has some kind of epic concept story about a ship, or about shipyard, workers that carries cargo from point A to point B, something like that.

Piter (I mean) Willem De Vries provides fine vocals, that's true, even most of the times, these songs are filled by solos. They are the main predator of this album. At first I wanted to mention this in connection to 1st track, but I realized that all of these tracks has fine, long guitar soloing, improvisation-like patterns and other goodies. This suggest to some kind of Psychedelic elements too.

Bonus tracks aren't so good from Prog point of view (even more Rock and even one Beatlesque), but they're enjoyable.

4(-), may be too "classic rocking" for some.

In October'06, I got this album for $25.00 through mail order,as I have been wanting to hear it,and when I did, I thought ''What can I say..great stuff! I would call this hard rock along the lines of 1973-era Montrose,as the singer of Cargo sounds like Sammy Hagar at times. But this is mostly instrumental stuff. The song ''Finding Out'' sort of reminds me of the Van Halen song ''Hot For Teacher'' for it's rhythm part. ''Sail Inside'' and ''Cross Talking'' are great song's, along with ''Summerfair'', which rocks out before slowing down towards the end. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give this a 4.25. I recommend buying this...if you can find it. As I know, it is still out of print..unfortunately! If any album should have sold big numbers, it is this one. It is too bad that record companies do not promote some of their product too well.

Sometimes you have to wonder what people were smoking back in the day. How you could space out and let so many good albums pass you by is a mystery to me. This album is no exception, it is very good. It is a little heavy and I would not label it as art rock. Art rock tends to be shorter, more pop oriented songs. These songs are a lot longer and include very long jams. Well, its a shame many of the baby boomers don't know who cargo is when I talk music with them. Many of the albums I have reviewed on this site seem (I am only 20) to have been ignored when they were released. Were people just to stoned and lazy to check out anything beyond deep purple, zeppelin and the beatles? With the lack of musical variety today, I grow jealous of all the possibilities people had in the 70s. So many good bands were passed by back than..spring, CARGO, the flock and so many others.

If this had been the Cargo album alone , it might have gained another halfstar but the bonus tracks are from their previous group called September actually ruin (a bit) the wholeness of the album. Although not bad in themselves , those tracks add absolutely nothing to Cargo and even ruin slightly the pleasure. On Cargo itself there is no flaws at all if it was not that this is a lone album and a pity they only made this one . Very exciting guitar work from the De Hont brother who have learned to work together quite early in their lives , one can hear it on here. Their interplay is really delicious and they do not try to outdo the other and remind me of the twin lead guitar from Wishbone Ash in their heyday (Argus & Pilgrimmage)

Aaahhh...extremely nice sounds are coming from this very capable dutch outfit:Cargo. They "only" did one album (and apparently some singles and stuff...note the bonus tracks 8 tracks to be exactly!!)...but what an album.....the driving force of the two guitarplayers and the solid back-up of the bass and drum. Actually it reminds me of a hybrid between Wishbone & Epitaph...but still very much their own style.....lots of wonderfull guitaring ...themes....and...ohhh..the vocals are quite nice too!! Plenty of improvising (or so it seems)...in those looong ("Summerfair")numbers. Finally someone (the excellent dutch record label Pseudonym)dared to put it out on cd!! And it is really, a wonderfull piece of musichistory...thank you Pseudonym..keep up the- good work!!! For all you guys (and galls) out there who like their prog/psych "meat" well done!! This is really the meal to enjoy!!! Great stuff!! Highly recommended!!!

As far as I know CARGO only managed to release in their short history a few 7" singles and one killer album on Harvest records back in 1972. Comprised of dual guitarists (Jan De Hoyt and Ad De Hont), bass (Willem De Vries) and drummer (Dennis Whitbread), CARGO deliver some pretty magical musical expressions of classic rock and progressive all in one. Obviously this is heavy guitar driven music with clever bass and drum interplay. Lead vocalist Willem De Vries has one of those amazing rock voices which you swear you have heard before and in many ways completes this album. When the twin guitars get crackling along we are provided some of the most thought provoking music you will ever hear. Up until now this gem of an album was not available and through Pseudonym records we are now able to enjoy a re-mastered transfer with their earlier 7" singles as bonus tracks as well. Breathtaking and inspired music for your mind.