SKIN ALLEY

A cop (and an ugly one at that) pulling his tongue right in your face under their bloodied name is the opening image that Skin Alley chose as an approach to music fans. Despite such a poor decision, the album was well received by the press and the fans alike, and rightfully so, because this unusual quartet (line-up wise) developed a distinctive mix of jazz and blues into their rock music, fronted by Bob James' wind instruments and Juskiewicz's (bless you ;-) organ and piano and usually offering "male" lyrics.

Opening on one of their most popular track Living In Sin (it was part of the sampler Fill Your Head With Rock), the group sets the tone for the whole album, as their jazz-inflected rock (it can be included in the early 70's UK proto prog) that enthrals the listener directly as the communicative enthusiasm of the band is almost overwhelming. Indeed Bob James alternates between the flute and guitar, while bassist Crimble sounds like Cressida's Angus Cullen on vocals. The same Cressida name is also reminded on Tell Me (mellotrons), this time more to do with the songwriting (I'm sure there is an unintentional borrowing from whomever recorded their track second, which is probably Cressida). The Mother Help Your Child track is one of the album's highlights, as Crimble's voice takes on dramatic Out Of Focus tones, after a menacing church-organ sound and an isolated flute opened it. The lengthier Marsha is an up-tempoed organ-driven groove that allows for a few wild sax solos, alternated by organ lines, reminiscent of the second-era Traffic.

On the flipside, past the short pastoral and medieval (piccolo flute and harpsichord) Country Aire, with the other mammoth track, the dark 8-mins All Alone, SA gets to serious business with the slow sinister organ that will drive the entire track, sharing the spotlight with the sax. Night time is one of my fave from the album, loaded with flute and tron layers, and later on evolving rolling jazzy piano ditty. Juskiewicz gives us another pointless taste of his harpsichord before the group closes the album with a boogie-ing Highway, maybe the album's weaker moment.

Included as bonus tracks are the two songs from the non-album single (engineered by Martin Birch, the first being a fairly different version of Tell Me with some wild cello lines replacing the melotron, the track resembling less the Cressida track, under this version, which I find better. Better Be Blind has a deceiving vocal line coupled with an annoying whistle, but outside this, it remains a worthy SA track, but sounding fairly different from the album per se.

A bit of a lost classic proto-prog album, Skin Alley's debut has recently received a re-issue through Eclectic Discs, with an excellent booklet and extensive liner notes, the object narrowingly missing the perfect mark, because of the band's name being black instead of the orange-blood colour scheme on the front cover, the rear artwork taken from a much weather-beaten vinyl. Besides this nitpicking, Skin Alley's debut comes awfully close to a masterpiece, but no cigar. Essential, certainly!!

Many bands with challenging albums in late-60's remained under the shadow of the masterful King Crimson debut.One of this cases are Skin Alley,a British Proto-Prog band,formed in 1968, guided by the forces of bassist/keyboardist/singer Thomas Crimble, drummer Alvin Pope, keyboardist Krzysztof Henryk Justkiewicz and guitarist/sax player Bob James.Soon they were singed by CBS to record their self-titled debut in 1969.

Quite a daring sound for 1969,Skin Alley mixed Psychedelic Rock and Jazz Rock with some symphonic flute-led parts to present some full-edged Proto-Progressive Rock style,often with a dark sound,not dissimilar to MARSUPILAMI or CATAPILLA.With an obvious tendency towards long instrumental passages,their compositions are characterized by the psychedelic organ sounds, the driving flutes, the bluesy guitar work and the jazzy rhythm section.These elements are often blended with jamming sax parts in a free music form compared to Jazz, together with the good vocals of Crimble.Along with the organ, one can detect some really decent effort on Mellotron and harsichord in a couple of more Classical-inspired tracks as well as some jazzy-inspired piano lines with the band becoming a really versatile beast along the way.However the psychedelic influences are the most dominant throughout the listening with Skin Alley being a significant part of the early UK Psych/Prog movement.

''Skin Alley'' marks another interesting entry in the transmission of UK Rock from the psychedelic flourishes to the more progressive compositions,that dominated England in early-70's.Fans fond of this particular sound should be the first to chase for this release,which already succeeded a couple of CD re-issues.Strongly recommended overall...3.5 stars.

John Peel apparently discovered these guys playing live somewhere and invited them to do a live gig on his show. I really like their sound with the vocals, organ and flute all being for the most part warm and nostalgic for me. A sort of melancholy too bringing CAMEL to mind at times. Two of the guys play mellotron although it's only featured on two tracks. A four piece with sax and harpsichord also in play. There are five really good tracks on here and the only two I'm not into amount to less than 3 minutes so a very solid 4 star album in my books.

"Living In Sin" is an excellent opener and the lyrics from a bye gone day talking about "sin" which is usually boasted about these days and a non-issue. Pulsating bass with a beat and flute as vocals and organ join in. A CAMEL vibe here and the guitar arrives before 1 1/2 minutes. It comes to the fore around 2 minutes as the vocals step aside. Sax replaces the guitar before 3 1/2 minutes some nice prominent bass too. Flute and that earlier sound with vocals returning late.

"Tell Me Why" is my favourite. It's melancholic with picked guitar, mellotron and sad vocals to start. The chorus is meaningful and moving with 60's sounding harmonies. Pulsating organ before 3 minutes during an instrumental section. Just a killer tune. "Mother Please Help Your Child" has meaningful lyrics and after a dramatic intro it settles right down with flute as reserved vocals join in and solemn organ. It turns fuller 1 1/2 minutes in with passionate vocals. The chorus is downright sad then themes are repeated. Some powerful lyrics here.

"Marsha" obviously a Brady Bunch reference(kidding) is an excellent almost 7 1/2 minute instrumental. Love this organ led tune as bass and drums standout as well early on. Sax before 3 minutes as the organ steps aside but it's back before 5 minutes replacing the sax. The sax is back a minute later but the organ continues this time pulsating powerfully before settling back. "Country Aire" has this fairy sounding flute with harpsichord. So not my thing(haha). It's better a minute in though when the drums, bass and more arrive. "All Alone" has relaxed organ to start as bass and drums join in, sax too then reserved vocals. Very laid back then it's fuller after 2 minutes but it settles back quickly. A sax solo follows then organ as it stays laid back. Vocals are back before 6 minutes then it turns fuller with sax after 7 minutes but again it's brief. "Night Time" opens with flute, drums and bass then it kicks in quickly with mellotron too. Nice. Vocals just before a minute. Back to that opening theme and I just love the sound of this one. Some rare piano 2 1/2 minutes in.

"Concerto Grosso(Take Heed)" is but 26 seconds of harpsichord. "(Going Down The)Highway" has a catchy rhythm and is blues flavoured with pulsating organ and vocals. Sax 1 1/2 minutes in as the vocals step aside then the organ takes over. Vocals return but this isn't one of my favs.

Kind of a weird cover not representing the music in any way. I guess they thought it was funny. Anyway the music here is quite amazing for the most part, just a big fan of their sound and easily 4 stars for this one.