SACRED SCENES AND CHARACTERS

Rock died. So did progressive rock. But CANTERBURY GLASS are still alive for us progressive rock fans. They had recorded some demonstrated material for their debut album, that finally could not see the light, and released in a compiled album in 2007 ... the four tracks are so lively enough to make us crazie. Such a sound innovation can be called as progressive, let me say.

A UK obscurity (but simultaneously a psychedelic rock legend) CANTERBURY GLASS' "Sacred Scenes And Characters" has notified us they played psychedelic progressive rock with quite eccentric style for 40 or more years ago. The first track "Kyrie" tells us all of late-60s sound innovation. Varelie's deep and solemn voices, weird flute sounds made a drastic attack upon psychedelic keyboard bases. This psychedelia reminds me something like 13th Floor Elevators but yes, not only such a pure psych but also complexity, eccentricity (partially leaning toward Barrett's Pink Floyd but ... not all). In the following "Nunc Dimittis" we can touch kinda "Wall Of Sounds" established by Phil Spector. Able to feel sound depth and atmospheric euphoria, based upon repetitive keyboard plays and crazy flute sound dissemination. Not simple pop but persistently distorted harmony really.

A vague, evasive first departure can be heard in the third track "Gloria", that consists of sticky voice riffs, German-rock-ish guitar picks, and simple hypnotic keyboard tips. Their slippery chorus are funky and addictive. The middle part reminds me Floyd-y air with Happenings Four's dramatic storytelling ... one of my favourite phrases in this album actually. The last is sooo dreamy, beautiful that we must get immersed into their inner muddy world. Which can we feel, brilliant sunshine or dim moonlight? The fourth "Prologue" sounds more and more heavier, clearer ... with Steve's excellent wowwow guitar sounds.This stuff is a tad simple but with flexible psychedelic jamming featured. Aside from the last bonus track just in the same vein of 13th Floor Elevators, we can listen to their kaleidoscopic, innovative psychedelia all through this album.

Why not call they ARE progressive? Recommended strongly.