BARREN DREAM

One of the most unique and individual progressive rock albums I have ever heard. I understand why this is in the Canterbury section, because the group do occasionally drift into Canterburified jazz-rock territory reminiscent of National Health's self-titled album, but much of the music here is in a symphonic, pastoral mode. Imagine, if you will, a collaboration between Anthony Philips on acoustic guitar and the Enid's Robert John Godfrey on piano, playing in the most relaxed and tranquil moods they've ever played in, and you might have something that resembles this piece. It took a while for this one to grow on me, but grow it did, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in some genuinely challenging material which challenges all the usual assumptions about the categorisation of progressive rock music.