MR MICK

After the highly contrasted Extravaganza album, Stackridge returned with a full-blown concept album (it could range as a rock opera) that should please most fans of the genre. With the return of Crun Walker on bass (unfortunately eclipsing the talented Karas) and Bowkett (the main songwriter in the previous Extravaganza album) having left but being replaced by old acquaintance Dave Lawson (ex Web/Samurai and also in Greenslade, but I am not sure he was a full-time member), the album has no more links with the debut album's bizarre folk prog, but this remains prog nevertheless.

The album concept follows Mr Mick (I suppose the old buzzer on the artwork, but if you look next to him, a nurse like that one is a good medication anytime) lost thoughts in boredom, as he is a lonely forgotten old man. In some ways, this reminds me of the Pretty Thing's PF Sorrow or the Cheerful Insanities from GG&F.

After a reggae-opening version of the Beatles's Hold Me Tight, the album veers into more serious business with the superb Breakfast With Von Braun under a slight Arabic feel. Mutter Slater does the recitation between the tracks but the interesting thing is more in the tracks themselves, as Steal Radio Song is a very interesting intricate arrangement. Dump is yet another instrumental taking Stackridge in unexplored territories and Davis' mellotron used to great effects. Save A Red Face is another weirdly rhythmed track that recalls Procol Harum's debut album's craziest and zaniest psych deliriums, but here Stackridge makes a Tony Banks bridge.

Guest vocalist Karlin sings on Slater's Waltz but overall this might be the second side's weakest track until Gemmel's suave clarinet saves the day. The mellotron fest Coniston Water is simply awesome and probably worth the price alone of the record, especially after the atonal piano passage when Gemmel's alto sax is simply heavenly (this is as good as anything he'd done with Audience). Du grand art, Monsieur!! Ensuing is a semi- reggae-ish Hey Good Looking which after the first surprise enthrals as much as the previous with Gemmell pulling in the stars to himself again. The lengthy closer Fish In A Glass is again another great

Mr Mick is hardly a flawless album, but he sure contains some of Stackridge's best moments and is yet another must-have for those wishing to discover this great quintessential British band. Alas, this would the final record in the classic 70's and much later, they would reconvene (two decades later, though) for more albums. But nothing I have heard.