TUDOR LODGE

I found a Repertoire's re-issue vinyl of this album when I searched for psych folk albums with lady singers at my youth. I was mostly stunned by the promises of beautiful psychedelic drawings of the album sleeve, and these expectations were quite well met on both musical and aesthetic levels too, though some maturing was needed from my own part.

The medieval elements are mostly focused to instrumental classic guitar song "Madeline", and to the chamber music sequences of wonderful "Willow Tree", which has also fine psychedelic load in the freely weaving starting part. There are also some anti-war 60's folk songs resembling Peter, Paul & Mary like "I See A Man", and more casual folk charmers like "Two Steps Back". A small chamber orchestra is participating on majority of the tracks, and this brings lots of more to listen, but also deepen some slightly banal "Disney emphasizing" of the music. Well, Ann Steuart's voice is very lovely, and his hippie boyfriends do decent support with harmonies and guitars. "Lady's Changing Home" is the solitary folk rock number here with amplified instruments, and "Forest" is also a song worth to mention, painting a light and relaxing scenario of lovely day among the glades.

This album has been produced quite well, so there are no amateurish playing nor arrangements found here, and the sound quality of the recording is excellent. Though there were some characteristics in few compositions which first felt bit unpleasant to me, maybe it is fun to learn adopt all sweet and positive things as favorable experiences. However there are many beautiful scenarios on this album, and I can't emphasize too much to get it as a vinyl with wonderful opening gatefold artwork.