'Olias for me was like going to music school for three months solid without breathing.' Of the solo debuts released in fairly quick succession by Yes members following their Relayer era, it's long been Jon Anderson's otherworldly concept album Olias Of Sunhillow that gets mentioned at the top of the heap more often than not...
Rhinoceros – The Elektra Albums 1968-1970 (Esoteric)
This release is a great insight into one of those bands in the late 60s that genuinely underachieved despite producing music that was as good as most of the bigger bands around them at the time. Let’s start with a quick question: how many bands can you list with an animal as part of their..
CULPEPER’S ORCHARD – Mountain Music: The Polydor Years 1971-73 (Esoteric)
Looking back through the annals of recorded rock music, there are quite a number of things which, when put together, manage to complete the phrase 'an unlikely union of...' with some accuracy. Some with more successful results than others. Bing Crosby and David Bowie springs to mind as an example. Aerosmith and Run DMC as..
PROCOL HARUM – Something Magic (Esoteric)
Ah, here we get onto one of those albums which has accrued a reputation as one of those 'unloved stepchild' albums, through a mixture of material, circumstances and timing. And sometimes, as in the case of ELP's Love Beach, the cover art! In that regard this, the final Procol album before their initial split in..
Anthony Phillips – Missing Links I – IV (Esoteric)
There's been something of a renaissance these last several years with regard to the music of Anthony Phillips, and fans have been suitably spoiled as a result - especially those with an affinity for boxed sets. Esoteric Recordings have seen to that with their extensive reissue campaign, resurrecting titles from across Ant's vast catalogue, giving..
SAMURAI – Samurai (Esoteric)
In which the diligent miners at Esoteric Records unearth yet another nugget from the rich 1970s seam which only the more dedicated of '70s prog devotees are likely to be familiar with. In this case, it was blink-and-you'd-miss-them, as Samurai released this sole album in 1971 before folding almost immediately. There was more to them,..
Be Bop Deluxe – Axe Victim 2CD Edition (Esoteric)
If there ever was an album on which Bill Nelson allowed himself the luxury of being an ‘axe hero’, this would be the one. The latest installment of Esoteric Records' reissuing of the Be Bop Deluxe catalogue in deluxe editions (or should that be 'deluxe Deluxe editions) backtracks a little and alights upon the band's..
BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST – Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories Deluxe Edition (Esoteric)
When Barclay James Harvest came to record this, their third album, in 1971, they were under some significant pressure, it must be said. Their previous album, the breakthrough Once Again, had featured two lengthy tracks among its number, including their evergreen and immediately popular Mockingbird. As always when following up a significant success, there was..
FRUUPP – Maid In Ireland: The Best Of Fruupp (Esoteric)
This is music to give your attention to, but it will repay you. Many people at this point may be asking, who the hell are Fruupp, and what on earth is that name all about? Well, I can't answer the second question, but I can help out with the first. Basically, Fruupp were an Irish..
STRAWBS – Burning For You / Heartbreak Hill (Esoteric)
Burning For You is a much better album than its reception at the time indicated ... while Heartbreak Hill is simply essential Strawbs. The very end of the original Strawbs career is covered here with these two Esoteric reissues, covering what was intended to be the last album they recorded in the 1970s, and the..