Pianist Eddie Hardin (1949-2015) and drummer Peter York (1942-) left Spencer Davies group 1968 due to disagreement with musical direction and continued as a duo to and from, recording eight albums up to 1995. This was their third. Don't remember having heard anything from the duo before, but was recommended this from a friend and now after finding a copy at a good price in a bin I'm ready to hear. Listening through it's a rather odd mix of hymnlike ballads and prog, shifting between stillness and adventurous moves. For exemple side on starts with "Deep In My Dispair" - a slow heavy orchestraded piece and continues with the soul rock "Have Mercy Woman". Then follows two more ballads before ending with a jazzy instrumental, filld with rich organ. Side two has about the same disposition. All cuts self-penned, including lots of piano and organ, some guitar and some orchestral backing. All high quality, but to my taste maybe with a little too much emphasis on ballads. I wish more had been like the rocking "Have Mercy Woman", the country prog "Cowboy" and the jazzy "Xtension 345", still those are enough to make it a keeper. Originally also released in US and Canada (London XPS 602), France and Germany. German 1995 CD on Repertoire Records (REP 4489-WY) came with six bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated structured cover with "blue box" stereo inner.
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