NIK TURNER'S SPHYNX: XITINTODAY

Where do I start - this is quite simply one of the true psychedelic classics - this may be a hackneyed phrase but is still inadequate to describe this album. With flute recorded in the Great Pyramid, Turner and his illustrious guests - notably Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy and Dave Howlett of Gong, a couple of stray Hawkwindites and a few unknowns - bring forth a masterpiece. Originally released in 1978 on Charisma, it found its way on to a limited edition CD in the 1990s (NOT Cleopatra records 1993ish which is a different recording), but has just been re-released (2007) on Eclectic records with a bonus track of the unedited flute music. The album opens with a classic invocation of the Sun God Ra, taking the listener along a journey following the Egyptian Book of the Dead, meeting most of the major deities on the way, and exploding at the end with the title track 'God Rock' (Exit in to day). The original LP and Eclipse remaster come with the original booklet with lyrics and much egyptian detail. The album is not a heavy-rock extravaganza and owes more to the mellower side of the Gong musicians present than to Turner's erstwhile Hawkwind days. Turner's flute is simply inspired, and haunts the album throughout with the natural reverberation produced by kilotons of stone, similarly Miquette Giraudy's vocals on 'Isis and Nephytys' are simply magickal as is her synth work throughout, and Hillages glissando guitar ranks among his finest recorded material - the album ends with sounds from an Egyptian market to complete the eastern theme. Listen on headphones with your head adequately prepared for best effect. I bought the LP first time around and played it to death - it is one of the lost classics - Go Find!