H.P. LOVECRAFT

This outstanding debut is from 67 and actually reaches even further ahead than Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow as far as groundbreaking is concerned. The superb and lenghty interplay on most songs leaves you wondering how these guys did not get propelled to superstardom the way some much less gifted groups did in those years.

Heavily leaning on folk - the album has two Fred Neil covers plus the standard Let's Get Together - this absolute and uncanny psychedelic record is simply marvellous from head to toe. From superb opener Wayfaring Stranger to stunning 6 min+ The White Ship (Bolero-paced with outstanding slow and hypnotic and haunting atmosphere), this album is loaded with superb, surprising, sublime and supreme covers of some classic songs, completely re-arranged (resembling somewhat to Vanilla Fudge's debut album although not quite as heavy, but just as spine-chilling) to the point that they could almost be considered as originals. Included in those is a superb rendition of Edmunsson's The Drifter (based on Hesse's Steppenwolf character), a very moody (and chilling with its superb flute) version of Randy Newman's I've Been Wrong Before and a short but stupendous album outro Gloria Patria Gregorian chants showing their incredible vocal harmonies and audacity. A wide array of instruments are used throughout from flutes to harpsichords to bells and chimes.

The only weaker track is a ragtime piece Time Machine, an original, but it is quickly forgotten and completely offset by the rest of the album. However it be unknown to the majority, this album is a real gem and IMHO, a historically important album, even if their second album actually tops this one.

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