viernes, 1 de octubre de 2021

Alco – Threads Of Life [LP] (1972, Alco)

 
Among the most expensive private-pressed Rock albums, emerging from early-70's British lands, 'Threads of Life' was an album recorded by four high school seniors at the Itchen College, these were Tim Ceasar on keyboard/lead vocals, Paul Fidlin and Ben Brooke on bass/guitars and Julian Ceasar on drums/synthesizers. Although recorded at the University Of Surrey, the first side was executed with the help of the Itchen College orchestra and contains cinematic Psychedelic Rock, based on arrangments for Rock band and orchestra, swirling around chamber orchestrations with full strings and dated psych-realmes rhythms with organ and guitar in evidence. The flipside contains a number of very short songs with psychedelic and poppy influences, very far from the slightly progressive vibes of the opening side. The best the band has to offer during these pieces are the well-arranged polyphonic harmonies and some cuts are based exclusively on a-capella vocal workouts.The material is melodic with organ, synth and piano accompanying the typical bass/guitar/drums output and includes some rural vibes as well. 

Musicians’ statement, from back cover: "'Threads of Life’ evolved as a result of the group Alco being involved in a concert containing both rock and classical music. The idea of juxtaposing these different idioms was novel, but not as exiting as the decision to amalgamate the two in a new work to consist of three songs. Existing original material by the group was used as a base onto which additional material was superimposed for the orchestra, which here contains saxophone, six timpani, amplified harpsichord, and synthesister. Both the group and the orchestra are heard separately as well as together and climactic sections are contrasted with passages for solo display. Although the scoring of a work for rock group and orchestra is by no means a new idea, previous attempts have often resulted in the two forces remaining separate. We hope you will enjoy our combined attempt at such a synthesis." [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC


 
Label: Alco – ALC 530 
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 
Country: UK 
Released: 1972 
Style: Progressive Folk, Folk Rock, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock 
 
Tracklist:
A1 Alco – When I Was A Child 
A2 Alco – Rain Upon My Mind 
A3 Alco – In My Dreams 
B1 Alco – Waiting To Be Born 
B2 Alco – Look At The Clouds 
B3 Alco – Linda 
B4 Alco – Hello Love 
B5 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – The Cordbuster March 
B6 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – Carry Me Back To Old Virginny 
B7 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – De Animals 
B8 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – Humble 
B9 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – Bill Grogar'S Goat 
B10 Itchen College Barber Shoppers – Ashmolian Band 
 
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2 comentarios:

  1. This is perhaps the most correct critique and musicical content of the album Threads OF Life by the band ALCO. As a member of the band only a few of us know how to determine fake copies of this very rare record. Do not buy an album with a white center to the disk. This a fake and not worth anything.
    If you want to hear the music Official CD'S will be available in the coming year. Thankyou for your interest in this historic cultural record. Only 260 records were pressed. Sincerely, ben brooke.

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    1. Hey Ben, thanks for your words and for the music. If you're planning to release an official CD please let me know to delete this post, since I only upload material out of print.

      Best,

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