ARZACHEL

This album, in a sense, is the start of something big. Yes, everyone would go in their seperate ways, while some might meet up again, this is the start of Steve Hillage greatness. Of course, none of the other musicians are subpar (actually, the opposite), they didn't have the impact as Hillage did on the music world, besides Dave Stewart possibly. The music itself is good for the times, though it still sounds like a 60s rock album from a jam band and the production is horrible. The album is still somewhat of a obscure oddity.

1.Garden of Earthly Delights - Excellent opener. Very mellow and laid back with excellent organ passages with drug induced lyricism, performed with excellent vocals. The most structured and listenable song on the album. (9/10)

2.Azathoth - This track, i find, much too preachy and sloppy for my tastes, despite the absolutly delicious opening church organ that is bestowed upon this track. The lyrics are not really anything to get excited about, and the vocals maybe even worse. The rythym section seems to be staying in beat just fine; the only part of the track that may be listenable. (3/10)

3.Queen St. Gang - Starts with a very groovy and mellow bass and drum beat, with trippy organ and guitar parts coming in. Very simple yet stylish for the times. (6/10)

4.Leg - Another average track that seems to not go anywhere. The cresendo at the beginning of the song maybe missleading, as it is excellently performed. It dosen't seem to go anywhere for a few minutes, though the guitar and rythym section come in to make an almost garage band type of sound is harsh and forced vocals from Hillage. (4.5/10)

5.Clean Innocent Fun - The lengthy track that I can stand. The vocals and guitar parts are very nice, and the jazzy organ seems to fit in perfect with the almost blues interludes. The lyrics are nothing to get excited by, but the performance is astonishing. (8/10)

6.Metempsychosis - Almost unlistenable. Trying at something huge and failing dosent go without its rewards, though. It's attempts at making an almost Hawkwind type of sound before Hawkwind obviously fail, as they hopelessly jam into inner space with no mission nor goal. Awkward to say the least. (3/10)

Though the album may contain some hopelessly horrific songs, it's not actually that bad. An early almost experimental album (at the least Side 2 is experimental in its own right) the band had huge goals, though these goals are not very prevailent here, they would be in future albums by Egg, Gong, and Steve Hillage. 2 stars for the effort.