CLARK HUTCHINSON/GESTALT SML 1090 (-71) UK

The group issued four albums, all in different styles. First 1969 (initially unissued on Decca with only a handful pressed, 1:st stock release by Little Wing 1994) was traditional white blues. Second "A=MH2" had instrumental guitar-driven ragas, and third "Retribution" was wild, turned-on acid blues/rock. This is the forth and last and shows them in a more cool and controlled mood. Most tracks builds on acoustic guitar with spanish or classical figures, very well played by Hutchinson - I'm amazed how one guy can produce both dirty rock'n'roll and carefully tuned Segovian licks at the same place. "Poison" is heavy rock with killer electric guitar and "Mans Best Friend" has a long spanish guitar intro carrying in to a slow, melodic rocker. It's more introvert than commercial, but not in any way uneasy. Co-produced by Mick Hutchinson and a Colin Cauldwell, the latter also studio engineer. Audio is just fine, but a few tracks are strangely mixed and comes through very dense. I don't know of any original issues outside UK, but there has been later re-issues on CD and vinyl, with or without bonus tracks. Early UK with label as shown here, thick unflexible vinyl and thin matt cover. I have also seen laminated covers, but not sure if they're early or later. (DÄRR*)