ASYLUM

In March 1970 Cressida travelled to France to play alongside East Of Eden and Brian Auger and then -after a brief return to the UK- went to Germany for a two-week live schedule.However inner tensions between the members started to occur, resulting to the departure of John Heyworth upon returning to England.Through auditions they found his replacement in John Culley.They revisited both France and Germany for a short set of gigs and then entered the studio in June to record a second album, as Vertigo was quite pleased with the sales of the debut.By the end of the sessions a new long schedule of lives started with visits in Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.However the band dissolved sometime in November 1970, unhappy with manager Ossie Byrne and the amount of his regular bookings.With Cressida being part of history, ''Asylum'' saw the light the following year on Vertigo.

On ''Asylum'' Cressida developed their early style a bit more, reducing the 60's-styled Psych Pop leanings and even introducing a light jazzy breeze in the instrumental sections with Culley having totally adjusted his moves to the needs of the group, as -reputedly- his style was more rhythmic and bluesy.Imagine a more psych-flavored and lighter version of the emreging E.L.P. with the organ being always in the forefront and the occasional orchestral sections ala THE MOODY BLUES.Some of the short tracks contain the aforementioned jazzy flashes, very close to the lines of CARAVAN, flavored by some Canterbury-styled Psych/Pop tunes, but the longer tracks were following a much more orchestral path, no wonder the band used a small orchestra to acquire this feeling in the arrangements of ''Munich'' and ''Lisa'', featuring string and flute parts, directed by Graeme Hall.Lots of piano fanfares and organ smashing with some very good guitar plays and Angus Cullen voice being a highlight moved the band to the right direction, the British flavor is present in every corner, passing from romantic tunes to complex themes with a storm of keyboards and guitars.The 12-min. ''Let them come when they will'' contains these elements in an extended composition, alternating between sweet melodies and more grandiose instrumental parts.

File along BEGGAR'S OPERA early albums.Classic early-70's British Prog with a Classical aura and psychedelic leftovers dominating the sound.Charming, although far from masterful music.Recommended.