COLLECTION

Another one of those unsigned bands of the 70's with no actual releases back around the time, material of which would surface decades later.The Mynd came from the North-East part of England, formed in late-60's/early-70's by brothers Billy Surgeoner (keyboards, vocals) and Bob Surgeoner (guitar, vocals), having Anthony Bradley (bass) and Gordon Larkman (drums) as the original rhythm section.John Cockburn replaced Bradley in 1974 and Martin Atkins came in the place of Larkman the next year.The band reputedly reached the grounds of Holland and Germany for live shows, before dissolving in 1979.The history of The Mynd is documented through 8 recorded tracks in a bandcamp offer, released by Billy Surgeoner on his page in June 2008.

Most of the tracks show a pretty talented act trying to transmit its music from the fading Psychedelic Rock style to a more symphonic and progressive sound, at least the longer ones are great pieces with a symphonic value, highlighted by Billy Surgeoner's omnipresent Mellotron and piano, making this release a must-have for all BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, PROCOL HARUM and early KING CRIMSON fans.The guitars do have a psychedelic touch through this endless scratches, but the domination of the Mellotron throws the long arrangements in the symphonic category.The vocals are great, expressive and emotional, the music contains extended instrumental passages with big time Mellotron orchestrations and flute strings and occasionally some harder guitar moves and even some jamming sections, delivering eventually music with good thematic changes and a convincing sound, despite the mediocre recording quality.The shorter tracks are uneven to say the least, some of them are close to 60's Psych Pop with a flower power mentality, characterized by soft guitars and keyboards and melodic vocal harmonies.Some others though walk on the band's progressve attitude, albeit a bit closer to Hard/Psych Prog with dramatic vocal tones and angular riffs over the Mellotron parts.

Billy Surgeoner played in a Pink Floyd tribute band called Pink Freud from 2003 to 2009 and since 2005 he has been releasing Electronic/New Age albums under the High Chair moniker.

Good, old British Prog with tons of Mellotron and some harder edges in the guitars.Average recording quality but also some nice and long progressive tracks with symphonic and psychedelic leanings.Recommended.