DARKNESS TO LIGHT

4,5 stars really !

Judging by the average PA rating, this forgotten gem deserves a proper review.

Sweet smoke first LP 'Just a poke' - a big classic, famous even beyond prog circles- was in the psychedelic jazzrock vein, 'Darkness to light' is its logical following: instead of two long pieces in a jam style, we have here shorter and well structured pieces, a more progressive approach in style with a mystical indo-prog influence, similar to QUINTESSENCE.

The instrumentation is rich (piano, sax, flute, cello, sitar, to name a few) and the lyrics are inspired and spiritual. Vocals are mellow and you can expect as well some wonderful psychedelic guitar parts, of course. There's no weak piece but two highlights stand out from the rest: 'Kundalini' and the eponym title track 'Darkness to light'. Two impressive pieces, with many changes and progressions, excellent sax parts reminding of GONG and giving a slight canteburyan edge to the album.

Talking about the sound quality, I think that this album been originally well recorded and produced but there's unfortunately no successful good-sounding CD transfer available yet, to my knowledge.

I currently own the Eastworld EW0095 CD release which is not too bad but suffer from muddy lows , a lack of air in the mid-highs (depending on the system playback quality) and some harshness. Nothing to do with a first-pressing vinyl, as usual.

It's strange that this excellent album receives such a tiedous welcome on PA'is it due to the CD release's poor quality? Or PA audience is turned off by the hippy/mystical side of the record? Anyway, lovers of QUINTESSENCE and GONG (trilogy era) should be captivated by this underrated gem.

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