Bought my first copy of this at release, but it didn't work for me then so I lost it. Though now after finding another copy over fifty years later I'm really starting to warm up and enjoy. UK progressive band formed 1967 as "Pictures Of Dorian Grey". After a number of member changes and releasing one 45 plus appearing in a movie they got a contract with Deram and recorded their debute album - the mostly psychedelic "Mercator Projected". That didn't sell accordingly and was followed by more member changes ( for more on the band check https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/05/east-of-edenthe-world-of-east-of-eden.html ) . On this follow-up the new setting made an album that was different from the first, offering more of jazzy fusion and art music. In some ways reminding of Gentle Giant, but at least to my taste coming out a lot more playful. While GG a lot of the time require serious listening, this can be caught relaxed with a big smile. Mostly instrumental with occational voices as ornaments makes it easier to concentrate on melodies and performance. Like in the tumultous and jazzy "Xhorkom", the eastern influenced "Gum Arabic/Confusius" or the cool repetetive "Have to Wack It Up". Full album below. This sold better that Mercator Projected, reaching top 30 in UK, and a non-LP single recorded at the same time - "Jig-a-Jig" - climbed to #7 (see link above). So the seventeen year old me probably wasn't mature enough to appreciate what was going on here, but at almost seventy I sure am and it's good. Released on vinyl 1970 in US, Canada, Israel, South Africa, Downunder and all over Europe. Japan 2007 limited ed. CD in paper sleeve (UICY-93370) came with Jig-a-Jig as bonus track. This UK was also issued as a folded mono (DML 1050). Premiere stereo had label as shown here in a laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and blue rim inner.
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