The Unspoken Word "Tuesday April 19th" 1968****

This is one of many reissues of rare psychedelic LP's I have in my collection. Quasi-legal reissue labels (e.g. Fallout, Radioactive, Phoenix, Sunbeam) have recently unearthed and reissued all these albums that collectors had been advertising as "lost masterpieces", which can't possibly be true for all of them. Easier access has had a demystifying effect on most, but as I love music from that era I often take a chance with one of these reissues.  

This is one of the cases that the risk paid off. Some reviewers on blogs etc. have dismissed this album as a bit lightweight or poppy. I get it, on face value it's quite soft and melodic, with elements we've all heard before, but never quite the same way. Dede Puma's enchanted vocals reminds of Vashti Bunyan or Linda Perhacs while the boy/girl harmonies reminiscent of folk pop groups like The Mamas and Papas. The string and horn arrangements are close to orchestral pop (Left Banke, Orpheus) but I find them to be more jazzy and adventurous, as if the arrangers have been listening to Sgt. Peppers and Robert Kirby's arrangements for Nick Drake. And if you doubt their psychedelic credentials, listen to "Moving Day" and, especially, "For The World" and tell me if you don't discern echoes of Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The album opens with "Anniversary Of The Mind" which features lead vocals by guitarist and main lyricist Gene Stashuk and a charming oriental melody, while "Waking Up" is a mid-tempo rocker, and "After The Before" a ballad with gentle harmonies. Among the more psychedelic and beautiful songs here, "Flock Of Birds" and "Distant, Oh So Far" remind me of Jefferson Airplane in the boy/girl vocals and of Love's Forever Changes in the orchestral arrangements. Too bad the original LP ended with the rather silly "We're Growing", a tune only suitable for a kindergarten with a very hippy-dippy teacher. The reissue, though, continues with 4 more songs from pre-album singles. "Boy" is a folk psych ballad with gorgeous singing by Dede, and "Beautiful Day" a pleasant sunshine pop tune a la Mamas and Papas. Nevertheless, there's one thing about this album that still nags me: whatever did happen on Tuesday April 19th, and which year are we talking about, exactly? Not 1968 when this album was released, that's for sure. April 19th fell on a Friday that year - I know such things. I couldn't find any clue to it on the net, so I guess the truth will remain unspoken. 

***** for Flock Of Birds

**** for Anniversary Of The Mind, For The World, Waking Up, After The Before, Distant, Oh So Far, Boy, 

*** for Moving Day, Rossby, Sunday Suit Of Clothes, Nobody's Nothing, On A Beautiful Day, And It's Gone

** for We're Growing