WAKE UP!

4.5 stars. These guys really had a sense of humour even if it was in bad taste at times(haha). The vocalist is tremedous,and quite theatrical at times. The sound on this their debut is psychedelic and heavy with the jazz flavour coming in later albums.

"See How A White Negro Flies" has a repetitive guitar line as organ then flute come in. Vocals 2 minutes in are brief. This sounds great ! Raw guitar solo goes on and on as drums pound away. Organ and flute are back. Vocals too 5 minutes in. "God Save The Queen, Cried Jesus" opens with flute and drums before vocals and guitar join in. Silly lyrics as the vocalist really performs. Low end guitar 2 minutes in is fantastic. Bass joins in before a calm arrives with flute leading the way softly. Vocals don't return until 6 minutes in. "Hey John" features some beautiful flute melodies. Vocals after 2 minutes with a fuller sound a minute later. Love the guitar 4 minutes in as they jam for a while. Organ after 5 minutes with some excellent bass lines a minute later. Flute is back. Guitar after 8 minutes is again just a joy to listen to.This has to be my favourite song and not because my name's in the title. No it's not ! "No Name Hmmm" is more uptempo with flute and drums leading the way until vocals come in. I like how passionately he sings. The guitar's tone is perfect. It comes and goes. Organ solo 1 1/2 minutes in. This is the shortest song at 3 minutes. Some fuzz in that guitar that comes in before 2 1/2 minutes.

"World's End" has a pastoral intro with flute. A fuller sound arrives a minute in. Vocals follow as organ and drums shine. Guitar 3 minutes in is atmospheric and it goes on until stopping 5 minutes in when spoken vocals take over. The lyrics here are political as he talks about then U.S. president Richard Nixon as the band jams. Lots of flute to follow before it gets heavier 8 1/2 minutes in. Vocals end it. "Dark,Darker" opens with ominous flute as a SABBATH-like mood takes over. Vocals follow. This is contrasted with a more uplifting passage. The contrast continues. A change 2 1/2 minutes in as flute,bass and light drums come in. This builds then relaxes again. A vocal melody before 6 minutes. Flute then goes crazy(same with the background vocals) before becoming dissonant then calming down again. It stays pastoral until after 9 minutes when the intensity returns.

Just a killer album ! The flute, organ, guitar and vocals are all outstanding. Love the sound of this one a lot.