Sunday, April 7, 2024

Group 1850 - Mother No Head Their 45s (1966-71 holland, stunning garage psych, 2012 remaster)



Though they were a product of the beat group age, Group 1850 were the Netherlands’ first progressive band — in every sense of that word. Constantly changing, constantly evolving, Group 1850 were musical extremists on a do-or-die mission to explode all expectations. Sparks flew, ideas flared, feedback swirled through misty nights, the dead walked, skeletons danced, flies buzzed, mountains fell, words rained fire from angry purple skies. Group 1850 raised all kinds of Hell. My god, were they good.

Although the group made two deservedly revered albums, Agemo’s Trip to Mother Earth (1968) and Paradise Now (1969), some of their best work can be found on their singles, where their borderline insane hyper-creativity was focused into highly-concentrated, radically potent three-minute songs like Misty Night, Mother No-Head, Zero, We Love Live (Like We Love You), Don’t Let It Be (We Have to Do It Now), and the magnificent Have You Ever Heard. 

The A- and B-sides of all their singles can be found on this 2-LP set in their original mono mixes, mastered from the original tapes. A number of previously unreleased demos are also included. Pressed on 180gm vinyl, Mother No-Head: Their 45s comes packaged in a breathtaking gatefold cover with rare archival photos and liner notes by Ugly Things’ 
by Mike Stax 
Tracks
1. Misty Night - 3:29
2. Look Around - 2:34
3. I Want More (Finger Tips) (Peter Sjardin) - 2:03
4. I Know (La Pensée) - 3:11
5. Mother No-Head - 3:25
6. Ever Ever Green - 3:17
7. Zero - 3:28
8. Frozen Mind - 3:29
9. We Love Live (Like We Love You) - 4:28
10.Little Fly - 4:17
11.Don’t Let It Be (We Have To Do It Now) (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:13
12.Sun Is Coming (So We’re Calling You) (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:00
13.Fire - 2:30
14.Have You Ever Heard (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:34
15.Mother No-Head (Hans van Hemert, Peter Sjardin) - 3:29
16.Mother No-Head - 3:36
17.1.000 Years Before (Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 2:37
18.Dream Of The Future (Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 2:33
19.Sun Is Coming (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:06
20.Don’t Let It Be (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:08
21.Falling Mountains (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 3:34
22.Liar (Daniel Van Bergen, Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 2:31
23.Dream Of The Future (Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 2:51
24.1.000 Years Before (Dave Duba, Peter Sjardin) - 2:39
Songs written by Daniel Van Bergen, Peter Sjardin except where indicated

Group 1850 
(1966-1969)
*Peter Sjardin - Vocals, Organ, Flute
*Dien Van Bergen - Guitar, Piano (Tracks 1-10, 15-16) 
*Ruud Van Buuren - Bass (Tracks 5-10, 15-16) 
*Rob De Rijke - Bass, Flute (Tracks 1 - 4) 
*Beer Klaasse - Drums (Tracks 1-10, 15-16)
With
*Hans Van Hemert - Vocals (Track 5)

(1969-1971)
*Peter Sjardin - Vocals, Organ, Flute 
*Dien Van Bergen - Guitar (Tracks 11-14, 17 - 24) 
*Dave Duba - Guitar (Tracks 11 - 14, 17 - 24)
*Dolf Geldof - Bass (Tracks 11-14, 17-24)
*Martin Van Duynhoven - Drums (Tracks 11 - 14, 17 - 24)