LIVESTOCK

My copy of Livestock is a plain-label CD release that adds three tracks apparently not from the original album - the two parts of "The Race" bookend the CD, and the original single version of "Seasons of Change" is the second track. That particular configuration of 11 tracks balances the album out perfectly, so credit to whoever put that edition together - pity the band didn't think of it themselves. Anyway...

Fraternity took influences from a few different directions, and that's reflected in this album - in contrast to the proggier moments, there is the Stephen Stills-like title track, and The Band-like "Summerville", and some poppier moments like "Cool Spot" and "Jupiter Landscape" (though the latter still has a slightly proggy keyboard part). These tracks are strong in their own right, and the diversity adds to the strength of the album. On the proggier side: "Raglan's Folly" is the best track, with it's unpredictable chord structure, several changes of mood, and surprising recorder-driven conclusion. The instrumental "Grand Canyon Suites" (not a direct rip-off of Copland, although you'll hear some allusions) is also pleasing, with it's sweeping melody swapping between the organ and guitar. "You Have A God" is more bombastic. "It" unfortunately is the weakest track, several minutes of atonal noodling before it finally finds a song - and it closes the album. (This is why having "The Race part two" at the end on my CD version works very well indeed).

Overall, one of the stronger albums to come out of the Australian prog scene in the early 1970s.