Tracks side 1:

1 Super Nova (25:00)

a) arrival of the traveller    
(b) blood red Sun    
(c) what's come to be    
(d) say goodbye to love    
(E) prepare to meet thy maker    

Tracks side 2:

1. C.B.S. (7:08)

2. Once on A windy day (4:04)

3. Blue skies and alibis (4:58)

4. hold me down (5:06)

Although only existing for a while during letter the progressive rock boom of the early 1970s, British outfit gracious managed to produce two lengthy album worth of complex symphonic art-rock, with 1971's ' this is... Gracious!' following on from the group's debut'!' of a year earlier. Whilst '!' what issued on the now legendary Vertigo imprint(them of the famous 'swirl' logo), the relative commercial failure of the album saw this sequel-of-sorts released by Phillips. Both labels, however, proved pretty indifferent to gracious' singular sound, figures with the varnishes of promotion and support echoed sales poor in both album. Thirty odd years down the line, however, and the group's reputation has been happily restored, this second, superior album now recognised for what it really is, namely to excellent slice of adventurous progressive rock from a group who really did deserve better. Whilst '!' featured some wonderful moments, as on album what it overlong and unfocused, the music too often interrupted by strange, anarchic, avant-garde interludes, spoken word sections and touches of weird humour. Thankfully, ' this is... Gracious!' is much more about the actual music. This is reflected in both the epic, twenty-four minute long opener 'Super Nova', which segues effortlessly from moments of serene instrumental calm to blistering segment of pacey, guitar-and-mellotron-drenched rock intricate, and the album's stand-out piece ' C. B. S'(Don't ask) ; I don't know what it stands for). 'C.B.S.' is a marvellous track, a piece on insanely catchy rhythm and imbued with charging underpinned by organ runs and blistering guitar work which make a mockery out of the seven minute running time; If only it were longer. The rest of the album unfortunately fails to scale the peaks reached on the first half, still plenty that should please fans of classic-era progressive rock yet there is, especially in the imaginative playing of guitarist Alan Cowderoy and the almost of soulful vocals of Paul Davis. Imagine King Crimson with a sense of humour, and you kind of get the sonic picture. Whilst both gracious album are highly recommended, this second - and final - release from this sadly-ignored five-piece is well worth investigating. (stefro/progarchives.com)


Paul Davis - vocals, percussion
Alan Cowderoy - guitar, vocals, percussion
Martin Kitcat - keyboards, vocals, Mellotron, percussion
Tim Wheatley - bass, vocals, percussion
Robert Lipson - drums, percussion

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