GOOLUTIONITES AND THE REAL PEOPLE

"Australian psych-prog classic". Well, that is saying something, isn't it? I have read that line and similar, some even proclaiming it to be a masterpiece, many times and I always wonder what it is compared to. Is it Spectrums Milesago or The Aztecs or who? I have not an answer for this.

When I bought the album it was by way of lines as those above. Here was this amazing concept album of a progressive pedigree of the highest rank by this australian band, since long disbanded. I had to have it. When I received it, was I blown away? Was my inner feelings aroused by joy and musical fulfillment? Truthfully? No. No, I was not. By God, no.

The only thing I noticed, at first, was the extremely shaky vocals of Lindsay Bjerre. It drowned away everything else and I was deeply troubled. The album was then laid to rest, hidden away amongst the other CD:s of my collection. As time passed by, the feelings of dislike faded away and my interest for Tamam Shud re-emerged. By that time I managed to see through the foggy haze of rather bad vocals. When uncovered I found a treasure. A little gem of progressive rock.

The cover is beautiful with it's simple concept. A totally blue background, a gate and some sort of mythical being leading a parade of people, of sorts. That is alone something to behold. Inside this artistic delight is the music itself. The music of Tamam Shud is a mixture of psych, hard rock, jamming and progressive explorations, with a hint of jazz and folk. It is throughout a moody album. Reflective and pensive at times. Explosive and hard rocking at other times.

The music flows by, in an ever flowing segment, as many a progressive album do. Though comprised of several moods and changes in musical direction the music never strays too far but retains a sense of cohesiveness.

The shorter tracks, like "I love you all" and the jazzy "They'll take you down on the lot", are really effective parts of the equation, acting intermediary to the longer epics of the album. "Heaven is closed" and "A plague". The two songs "Goolutionites theme part 1 and 2" act as one entity and is a fine example of the jazzy progressive jazz-rock of Tamam Shud.

The vocals aren't as bad as I first experienced. They are not the greatest but in context they actually work really well. They are shaky but somewhat charming, ranging from being sometimes bad and sometimes quite good. If you get past the vocals I dare say you are in for a treat, listening to this album.

So, is it an australian masterpiece of prog? I can't say. I know too little about Australia's prog scene of the 1970's (or any decade) to say. It is, however, a great progressive album by any national standard and has that certain australian flavor I have found in Spectrum's music. That tone is very pleasing and makes for a very enjoyable experience. I really recommend anyone into psych-prog or progressive rock with jazzy elements to give it a listen. It is a great example of early progressive rock's attitude towards music in general, blending and twisting all genres into one delicious concoction.