3:47 E.S.T. [AKA: KLAATU]

One of the most succesful Canadian Pop/Rock bands, Toronto-based Klaatu started in 1973 as a studio duo of multi-instrumentalists John Woloschuck and Dee Long with a couple of singles released on GTR Records.The duo soon recruited drummer/vocalist Terry Draper and Klaatu signed a deal with Daffodil Records and its president Frank Davies.A couple of singles followed before they enter the studio to record their debut ''3:47 E.S.T.'' with the help of Rush'es producer Terry Brown.This was eventually released in August 1976.

The fact that no musicians were credited in the original vinyl release made people believe that Klaatu were The Beatles under a fake name, which time prooved to be totally untrue.Except for the opening and closing tracks the whole debut of Klaatu is filled with easy-listening Pop/Art Rock tunes with an intense Beatles-que vibe at moments, especially in the Psych/Pop approach of ''Sub-Rosa Subway'', which led to the aforementioned misunderstanding.From simple rockers to Orchestral Pop flavors and from Art Pop ballads to catchy tunes, most of the tracks are following the easy, commercial path of Rock music with an intense psychedelic nature of the 60's.Well-crafted but too simplistic musicianship with no particular surprises.The closing and opening cuts though are more demanding but not equally good.''Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft'' is a very nice piece of Orchestral Proto-Prog with obvious THE MOODY BLUES and PROCOL HARUM overtones, delivering a soft but lovely atmosphere and offering some good keyboard/Mellotron work by Woloschuck and Long.''Little Neutrino'' is decent but way too long for its own good.It reminds me of the early ANTHONY PHILLIPS albums.Distorted vocals supported by a dramatic keyboard tune and passionate acoustic guitars lead the track from its opening to its closing second with no particular changes, which unfortunately transforms it from nice to decent.

A good debut for anyone wanting to taste some easy-going Psych/Pop/Rock music with a late- 60's feeling, ranging from THE BEATLES' to PROCOL HARUM's works, but rather simplistic and flat for the average proghead...2.5 stars.