SACRED BABOON

3.5 stars. YEZDA URFA's debut album "Boris" was recorded and released in 1975 but no record label would take them on, but the following year (1976) a record label called "Dharma" agreed to release an album. So they recorded "Sacred Baboon" and re-recorded several tracks from the debut along with 3 new ones. Anyway "Dharma" began to flounder and the deal fell apart leaving this album to sit there collecting dust. "Synphonic" eventually released it in 1989. I feel that "Boris" is an amazing recording. If it didn't exist i'd probably give this 4 stars, but because my 4 favourite tracks on here were already on "Boris" it's hard to give this that rating. Especially when in my opinion those songs sound better on the debut. Still if you can't track down "Boris" i'd definitely recommend you listen to this one. What we have here is a sound that reminds me of both YES and GENTLE GIANT. Even the vocalist to me sounds better on "Boris" . At times he sounds like he's strained and maybe having trouble keeping up with the fast pace on this album. I'll touch on the 3 tracks not on the debut.

"Give 'Em Some Rawhide Chewies" features some huge bass lines and Howe-like guitar. Vocals come in fairly quickly. This sounds like YES until before 2 minutes when we get a brief GENTLE GIANT flavour. "Cancer Of The Band" is melancholic with flute to begin with. Vocals and piano a minute in. Nice vocal arrangements bringing to mind GENTLE GIANT. An acoustic guitar solo follows before vocals return. Good song. "(My Doc Told Me I Had) Doggie Head" opens with some chunky bass. The vocals seemed strained here at times.Synths are a nice touch when they arrive. A GG vocal arrangement and then some good organ 4 minutes in.

If I didn't have "Boris" this would be a valued recording, please track down one of these two albums if you'd like to own some early and impressive American Prog.