Strange Days — 9 Parts To The Wind 1975 (UK, Symphonic Progressive Rock)
The only album by this talented but underrated British progressive rock band was released in 1975 on the small label "Retreat Records," owned by renowned producer Derek Lawrence and guitarist Big Jim Sullivan. The author, guitarist/vocalist Graham Ward, and bassist/vocalist Phil Walman were former members of the prog band Travis. The album's compositions reflect a wide range of ideas and styles, with a penchant for complex arrangements and improvisation...One of the better British progressive one-offs has finally gotten the CD treatment it has long deserved. Led by guitarist, singer and songwriter Graham Ward, the four-piece was the standard g/k/b/d configuration, with a fairly high profile for keyboardist Eddie Spence. The six songs from the album proper reflect a fairly wide range of ideas and styles, with a penchant for elaborate arrangements and suite-length multi-part compositions. Each of the pieces focuses on a story, lyrically not unlike Genesis in their Selling England period, although the music and arrangements might better recall the Strawbs in their post-folk mid-70s period, or even the best of Crime-era Supertramp.
The opening cuts from each side of the original LP tend to be more catchy, hook-filled pieces with strong melodies and standard song structures, yet bearing all the aforementioned qualities. The remaining songs are the more lengthy (as in seven-to-ten minute) multi-part song suites, often laced with a slight sense of humor that make this album essential for any serious fan of mid-70s style progressive rock. It's good to finally have this on CD, this one is essential.
by Peter Thelen, 01/01/2008
Tracks:
01. 9 Parts To The Wind — 0:00
02. Be Nice To Joe Soap — 4:41
03. The Journey — 11:45
04. Monday Morning — 22:15
05. A Unanimous Decision — 26:34
06. 18 Tons — 35:30
Personnel:
Graham Ward — lead guitar, vocals
Eddie Spence — keyboards
Phil Walman — bass, vocals
Eddie McNeil — drums, percussion
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Derek Lawrence, Big Jim Sullivan — producers
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