POLYANDRI

The third and last full length album of Group 1850 is very different from the others. The big differences are in the release date, as the summer of love is long gone and even the psychedelia is changing shape, and in the lineup shown in the album's booklet.

The band originally composed of four members in the first album, five with the addition of Dave Duba in the second is now a patchwork of instrumentists as 13 people are credited and only the bassist Dolf Geldof, a new entry, and the keyboardist Peter Sjardin, one original band member, played on almost all the tracks. This is a consequence of the turbulences which have initially led to a merge of the original band with the "ORANGE BOVEN" and a bit later to the definitive disbanding.

It's interesting the fact that regardless the differences in the lineup that we find from one song to the other the album seems to have an internal coherence and continuity. Apart of the blues of "U" which has krautrock vocals and can be considered a krautrock track, all the other songs are I think precursors of the psychedelia to come like 35007 and OZRIC TENTACLES.

some tracks are very good, specially the most electronic, like "Cages". The sax on "Avant Les Pericles" is remarkable. This is effectively a sax solo with some keyboard background with a little noisy interlude and jazzy drums in the final.

Only the last track "Pumping Up The Rubber Trees" is reminding of the past as it features three of the original band's members.

A good album, so rare to be a valuable collection item (I don't own it on vinyl, unfortunately), but a step behind its predecessors.

3 stars

4.5 stars. I would go as far as saying this is essential if your into Psychedelic music. This Dutch band released three studio albums and this is the final one from 1975. Actually released some 6 years after their last one "Paradise Now" from 1969. So a lot had changed musically over those six years but these guys continue in the same style but this one is the most powerful expression. They went from being a five piece on "Paradise Now" to having up to 13 people helping out although several just played on one track only.

"Jojo" is a short intro track with this cool drum/ bass start as spacey synths create atmosphere then the guitar helps out over top. "Between Eighteen And Fifty" is a top four for me. Sounds echo as drums build. So good! Check out the guitar as he eventually lights up the place. "Flower Garden" is a brief piano vocal piece. "Thousand Years Before" has this dramatic intro, quite powerful. A calm with almost spoken vocals arrive a minute in then it kicks back in. More great guitar 2 minutes in and then it turns experimental to the end.

"Starfighter" opens with sounds that echo as we get another ripping instrumental. "Silver Earring" is a top four for me. Spacey sounds give way to heavy drums and more including flute. Great sound a minute in. Man I could listen to this all day, powerful music with some inventive and prominent flute. The bass is out front too. "Patience" is a trippy tune with piano and guitar standing out although the latter will soon dominate and become the focus. Another excellent song.

"USSR Gossip" opens with a beat as congas, bass and strange sounding vocals join in. A horn joins in as well to this catchy track. I like those keyboards. "Cages" is another top four. Sounds bleep and blip along with the sound of water sloshing around. It turns spacey and drums kick in before 1 1/2 minutes as it builds.The drumming and sound is incredible 3 minutes in. The organ becomes more prominent as we go.

"Avant Les Pericles" opens with keyboards that echo as sax joins in then drums. Dissonant sax with an intense undercurrent of sound. It settles right down at 3 minutes pretty much to the five minute mark when drums and organ kick in. "Pumping Up The Rubber Trees" is my final top four. A guitar led track with passionate vocals. Yes a headbanger.

My kind of music, just a killer Psychedelic album.