Bright Carvings has rediscovered and released in a strictly limited edition of 227 LPs, an album of British, Pastoral, Progressive, Chamber Rock. The band and the album were called Elandill, and there is no information about either the record or the band, except that the recordings are from 1970/1971 and the tracklist, which we offer below. The words of the record company director about both the accidental finding of the album and the band:
“The great mystery. The only known 12’ LP Acetate of this appeared Tin a Charity Shop in Chiswick last year. We have been unable to find any record anywhere of a band of this name (or even one spelled ‘Elendil’, the character in Tolkien).“
The album opens with “Optical Collision,” which offers a sound in line with 1970s releases, a melodic vocal that repeats a ‘Rainbow’ refrain that immediately catches on. We are in a musical style that shows the first Progressive evolutions, with elaborate structures and interesting textures in the instrumental sections, but with Beat references in the choral refrains. We can define it as proto-Prog, for lovers of genre definitions, a good track, dynamic and involving with some passages already showing that elaborate touch that will characterise Prog shortly afterwards. The following track “Storybook Friend” is characterised by refined guitar arpeggios and vocal weaves reminiscent of the style of Jon Anderson of Yes. The pastoral and British touch in the sound is pronounced, developing an interesting and elaborate piece of progressive music, which is certainly less radio-friendly than its predecessor, but in my opinion enhances the band’s style more. The band’s sonorities move around exploring the different trends of the time, sometimes with references to Genesis, sometimes to Yes, proposing them with their own personal touch. “St. Peter’s Bell” is the latest single that the label offered on its YouTube channel to present this work. Right from the first notes we can hear how the band shifts to a more classic Progressive Rock sound, always with its own more delicate touch. Fine guitar and organ work enrich the instrumental sections with forays into classical music and Folk. The band’s songwriting is enhanced here with refined vocal parts in the verses and very engaging in the choruses, which is definitely a characteristic of this band when listening to the album. Interweaving intense vocal and instrumental parts, the song takes us nicely to the finale. The B-side of the album opens with the dreamy atmospheres of “Morning,” with melodic vocals and fine guitar and keyboard arpeggios and interlacing. A more deliacated track, recalling those Psychedelic Folk sounds at times that characterised the late 60s, albeit set in a more Progressive context, with continuous tempo changes and highly refined instrumental textures. The album ends with “Baron Lands,” which features a prolonged Psychedelic intro that culminates in a Progressive piece with keyboards in evidence. Long instrumental textures with classical music contaminations and then in the finale termianre with another more Psychedelic section both in sound and vocal parts. Kudos must be given to this label for having unearthed an interesting work, certainly as it has never been published before and there is no information about it, curiosity increases. The five tracks spread over two sides, explore proto-Prog sounds, with melodic vocals and intertwining instrumental textures, contaminated by the previous scene. Overall the disc is enjoyable, having survived only one acetate it is a recommended purchase for collectors and lovers of hidden rarities of the past. Lovers of proto-Prog and more melodic Progressive Rock will also find a well-crafted record from start to finish, bringing the atmospheres of the past back to the present day thanks to this release.
Purchase the album HERE
Side 1:
Optical Collision
Storybook Friend
St. Peter’s Bell
Side 2:
Morning
Baron Lands
