WIGWAM/TOMBSTONE VALENTINE LRLP 19 (-70) FINLAND

Group emerging from Finnish blues/prog combo Blues Section, existing between 1967-69. After first LP as Wigwam - "Hard And Horny" - the bassist and guitarist left. For this follow-up Jussi Pekka Pohjola (1952-2008) - a classically schooled multi-instrumentalist - joined on bass and violin, while Jukka Tolonen from fellow band Tasavallan Presidentii was borrowed in for the guitar parts. Legendary US producer Kim Fowley, who at this time tramped around Scandinavia helping out on recordings for a bunch of small independent labels, arrived to handle the studio work together with engineer Erkki Hyvönen. This renewed outfit resulted in an album unlike any other they made. Some of the cuts are melodic psychedelic pop, reminding of Procol Harum or Traffic, some prog and others having a more folky style. All lyrics in English, done by British born vocalist Jim Pembroke. One track - "The Dance Of The Antropoids" - is an edit from a 1968 experimental electronic recording by composer Erkki Kureniemi, much admired by Fowley who added it to the album. Even if there are lots of unexpected twists and turns the overall impression is cool and collected. Issued in compatible stereo/mono and sounds great whichever you choose - clear, warm and natural. I like it a lot and if it'd been a UK or US effort backed by a big label I'm sure it would have gotten more status and today considered a classic also by a broader public. Favorite tracks "Tombstone Valentine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7HIKvCysR4 and "Frederick & Bill" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONCly6FJ8UU. US release on Verve Forecast (FTS 3089-2) as a two-LP set also included cuts from "Hard And Horny" and Blues Section recordings. CD issues in Japan 2009 ( Belle Antique BELLE 091511) and UK 2013 (Esoteric ECLEC 2372) both came with non-LP bonus tracks. The Finnish vinyl release was pressed through the seventies with shifting label design. To my knowledge this is the very first. Structured surface with blue print track list, heart logo below midhole and no text around the edge. It came on thick vinyl with thin, fully laminated cover. (SCÄ*) (CCÖ*)(NÅY*)