With an issue of only 99 copies, this is one of the rarest records to emerge from the UK that contains some interesting music. The elaborate packaging and the general care which went into the record betray, if nothing else, at least a heartfelt love of recorded music as a means of self-expression. Being a low-budget enterprise, a fact which is never really masked throughout the production, A-Austr went for diversity rather than sales figures. The music is strongly eclectic, with more influences than can be listed. No less than 15 tracks within a broad spectrum of styles can hardly be unanimously satisfying.
In general the music is gentle and even folky, without drawing upon traditional material. At its best it's nothing less than brilliant, though in an unobtrusive sort of way. These highlights include almost all the songs which do not try to be "progressive" or severely emotional, but which instead opt for a simpler approach, thereby succeeding to convey a subtle and almost mythical atmosphere. As soon as the instrumentation gets denser, the sound tends to clog up or even becomes chaotic, being charming still, but nothing more than that. Definitely a very interesting record, though it's near to impossible to dig up an original. A few years ago a limited repro was manufactured, which now sells for a collector's price itself and is worth picking up.
by Marcel Koopman
Tracks
1. Bird (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:45
2. Judy (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:16
3. Mini (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:51
4. Prelude To Change For Arthur (Chris Coombs) - 0:10
5. Thumbquake And Earthscrew (Chris Coombs) - 2:47
6. Change For Arthur (Chris Coombs) - 0:39
7. Between The Road (Chris Coombs) - 2:30
8. Hawaiian War Chant (Brian Calvert) - 1:12
9. It's Alright (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 6:45
10.Reprise Of Bird (Excerpt) (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 0:20
11.Essex Queen (She Dances) (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 3:08
12.D Minor Minuet (Brian Calvert) - 1:00
13.A Curse On You (Brian Calvert) - 3:18
14.What Did You Go? (Chris Coombs) - 7:56
15.Grail Search (Chris Coombs) - 4:36
16.Essex Queen (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 2:48
17.Grail Search (Chris Coombs) - 3:34
18.Judy (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 0:46
19.It's Alright (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 6:46
20.Aren't You Glad You Stayed? (Brian Calvert, Mike Levon) - 4:01
Personnel
*Brian Calvert - Guitar
*Denise Calvert - Vocals
*Yvonne Carrodus - Vocals
*Chris Coombs - Keyboard, Guitar, Vocals, Harmonium, Tambourine, Clapselectric Guitar
*Ted Hepworth - Drums
*Mike Levon - Saxophone, Drums
*Brian Wilson - Bass
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