TRAVELLING ON A CLOUD

This compilation from 1992 focuses on Nirvana's recordings from 1967 to 1969. It is essentially a collection of the tracks which were released as singles from the band's first two albums, "The story of Simon Simopath" and "All of us", together with a non-album single and a handful of album tracks. As a result, 8 of the 12 tracks from the second album "All of us" are here.

The four tracks from "Simon Simopath" plus "Tiny goddess" were recorded when Nirvana were a six piece band. The remaining songs are by the core duo of Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Alex Spyropoulos. All are very much based in the psychedelic flower power pop era of the late 1960's, with sweet vocals, pleasant harmonies and sympathetic orchestration. Tracks such as "Pentecost hotel" and "Tiny goddess" have strong melodies the bands influences clearly including the likes of the BEATLES and the BEE GEES.

The stand out track is of course the sublime "Rainbow chaser" which was extracted for inclusion of the Island sampler "You can all join in". This psychedelic classic includes what is generally accepted to be the earliest example of phasing.

The final pair of tracks "Oh what a performance" and ""Darling Darlene" are from a non album single released in 1969. "Oh what a performance" is noticeably different to the rest of the tracks, guest members of SPOOKY TOOTH proving a much harder backing track for this piece of swinging pop rock.

At just over 40 minutes, the compilation is somewhat short and superficial, but it does represent a good way of obtaining the essence of Nirvana from this period.

After the releases covered by this compilation and a further now rare album together, Spyropolous would leave the duo. Campbell-Lyons continued to use the name for what was effectively his solo work. He would however completely change the direction of the band, as evidenced on the "Local Anaesthetic" album.