CRESSIDA

The debut by mostly forgotten proto-Prog band Cressida was dominated by highly harmonic and easily approachable songs quite typical for bands from that era like Moody Blues or Procol Harum. Of course we're in 1970 and therefore it's not surprising that their sound still owns much to 60's flower power era. But this band incorporated already quite well some classical and also jazzy elements in their mostly solemn compositions rooted in the British folk tradition. All the songs presented here are pleasant more a kind of romantic, at times maybe a bit too pathetic ones and in some of them like "Cressida" even anticipate a slight touch of Canterbury. Dominating instruments are the Hammond and guitar, sometimes played acoustically but an occasional harpsichord adds a very nice baroque flavour. Vocals by lead singer Angus Cullen are very palatable and fit nicely into the music. Certainly one should not expect anything extraordinary here and I don't think this work can be considered an essential addition but anyway this album had been a remarkable debut by an interesting little known early Prog band. Their second (and unfortunately last) album had been ever better than this one which is nonetheless worth to be checked out by fans of Proto-Prog (***1/2 really)!!