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Khan - Space Shanty CD (album) cover

SPACE SHANTY

Khan

 

Canterbury Scene

4.29 | 825 ratings

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friso
Prog Reviewer
5 stars I was in love with Khan's 'Space Shanty' before I even listened to it; I find the artwork to be utterly amazing. The music fully deserves it, because this album represents the best of Canterbury type jazzy space (hard)rock. A type of music that would also appeal to listeners of symphonic and eclectic prog. Stylistically the band is most close to the albums Camel would release in the following years, but played by totally different personalities. Furthermore the music was composed to be fully formed with bass, guitar and drums, whereas organ-player Dave Stewart (Arzachel, Egg, National Health) would perform as a guest musician. Stewart doesn't sound anything like s a second fiddle though, playing some of the best rhythmical chords patters and Canterbury solo's ever recorded. Due to the original trio line-up, there's plenty of space for the diverse bass-lines of Nick Greenwood, who would also do most of the lead vocals. Steve Hillage on electric guitar and harmony vocals had already been in an obscure acid/space rock band with Dave Stewart called 'Arzachel' in which his guitar talents are clearly there. Yet, on 'Space Shanty' he has evolved quite a bit with some fine jazz rock touches and a great pallet of clean and distorted sounds. He also added the rock that is so often missing in progressive rock. The drums of Eric Peachey are actually quite much like Camel's 'Andy Ward'; extremely tight, in a jazz'up rock style, well directed and in full sync with the band. Its beyond me how this amazing musician has never appeared on a record again. 'Space Shanty' might be my favorite example of what progressive rock is about; excitement, exploration, musicianship, spaciousness, melancholy, instrumental story-telling and wonder. The album just hasn't a single moment that is anything less than brilliant.
friso | 5/5 |

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