TWO QUID DEAL?

Skin Alley is an anglo-american band formed in late'60's . After a couple of so so succes albums , released both in 1970, third album proves a turning point in their career, who was short anyway. The album was named Two quid deal release in summer of 1972, refering name for singning to a new record deal, CBS former label kicked them out for some odd reasons. The new album was out on Transatlantic records, but with all that with the new label, even a new member came in Nick Graham from Atomic Rooster, the sound and manner of composing never gave them to much recognision in that period. To many this third album is less good than the predecesors. Here they melted some elements from progressive jazz rock with some funky tunes and even in places some melodic aproach of R'n'B. So a mixt bag, but in the end not so bad as many said. For many listners Skin Alley was to mainstream with a fiew elemnts of traditional progressive sound of early '70's, being far from Genesis, Yes or Nektar for ex. The best pieces are all to me, not a weak moment here, some very strong vocal parts through the album like on So Many People or So glad. Some brass arrangements are here and there given to the album an enjoyble atmosphere. 3 stars for Two quid deal, a good album for sure, but in places less captivating than the predecesors. And by the way, the cover art in cartoon way made by comic artist Edward Barker is not necessarly bad , but for sure a very unpleasent for the album. In the end, an underrated band, their albums are not easy to find, but if you do worth listen if you are in this kind of music.