Kaleidoscope "Faintly Blowing" (Fontana / 1969)
Do you know what a wall record is? It's terrible. A wall record is something a record dealer hangs behind his tables at a convention to send the depraved masses into a hysteria when they walk on by. One who is well-read on the trade that he or she is plying will know what albums to hang up: original jazz pressings from all the obvious labels, the Beatles "butcher" cover, local funk classics, box sets, and almost always there is rare classic rock...most importantly, rare psychrock. But all that shit is priced accordingly and you will begin looking at the rest of their bins instead and so it begins.
This one here, "Faintly Blowing" by Kaleidoscope, is a wall record of the highest order, mainly because we all know about it (and probably want a copy). Released in 1969 on the crest of whimsical psychedelia, this sophomore album covers so much wonderful ground that it seems puzzling why it sold poorly until being rediscovered by record collectors via the Nuggets series. Perfect for Floyd fans who always liked Syd the best since some of the lyrical imagery and vocal delivery is almost the same, if not more cognizant. Some tunes are all heavy fuzz and loud Hammond organ that'll turn on a dime and become like a stoned Zombies and ride out waves of phased drums. Great guitar playing of all sorts, above average for the time and not at all show-offish. Not surprisingly, some of it sounds like the Beatles and Dylan folkrock. I would also say that this record is unmistakably British in the way that it revels in quaintness, history, and fairy tale-inspired content (not to mention record cover).
All songs are recommended but my favorites are: "(Love Song) For Annie", "Opinion", "Bless The Executioner", "Poem", and "Do It Again For Jeffrey" of course. The reissues are probably the way to go because Fontana Records butchered the original mix if you ask me, plus there are bonus tracks and such. Why isn't rock n' roll fun like this anymore?
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