UNDERGROUND COSMIC TRIPS

Estimating... though stamped on label noting 1971 pressing, may very well be an early '70s second press (?) nothing later than early '70s ... the gatefold cover is in every way identical to the original UK '71 issue, so a bit unsure, could go either way...

VERY =mint= CLEAN U.K. gatefold cover and pressed on the British Atlantic label...this is the superior (by far) first cover design, later in the 70's it was re-designed into a boring creation of sorts...

A pretty impressive display of trippy electronic melodies and even a few ambient dirges, on the vein of the Silver Apples. Most of the tunes remain in the realm of late 60s/early 70s electronic music, but there are definitely with some ahead-of-its-time moments. Gets the 'heads up' for not only being good from beginning to end, but for being so much cooler than many other efforts of its kind.

Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil were studio technicians in charge of a synthesizer the size of a telephone exchange (that's enormous). When given the chance to make an album they produced this diverse set of mood pieces and it's a testament to good taste how listenable they still are after all these years.

Cybernaut; a lively opener based on a 12 bar riff using sounds that had only recently become familiar in rock music. Various lines weave their way in and out sounding not unlike some cosmic string quartet.
Jetsex; sets up a rhythm of sorts with low frequency heart-beats before star wars breaks out, like those old arcade machines where you shoot down the aliens, nothing willy-nilly though, every effect is judiciously applied.
Timewhys; similar to the opener with an easily identifiable chord sequence. Its main instrument sounds like arpeggios on a standard dialling tone from the 80's, so it must be ahead of its time! Some of its interlocking lines create nice dissonances.
Aurora; a weird trip, after a rising note breaks the surface some wonderfully expressive lines roam free in a landscape of wind effects, in the string quartet this is the adagio.
Riversong; full of eastern promise, its sounds imitate tablas and droning sitars. There's a vocal, heavily processed, possibly in a way similar to modern vocoders, it's like a call to prayer from a minaret, the intricacies of the melody, as it climbs those Oriental scales, are mesmerizing.
Tama; beautifully sad, it has the simplest of melodies that will stay in your mind forever, as will its soaring counter-melody. The slow melancholy plays out against a back-drop of gently crashing surf, its ebb and flow is as profound as a final goodbye to a young lover on the sunset beach of some paradise island.
None of these pieces out-stay their welcome, each one brings to a head what it wishes to express then duly shuffles off again, even at its most abstract, it remains interesting. If you're into electronic music of an experimental nature you ought to like this.

A:  

Cybernaut

4:30

Jetsex

4:14

Timewhys

4:57

B:   

Aurora

6:48

Riversong

8:00

Tama

5:23

CONDITION: The cover: the fragile BRITISH gatefold cover is fragile but beautifully cared for over the 45+ years,  M- with no bends, no writing and no split seams ...vivid colors inside and out are spellbinding visuals suitable for the cosmic music... 

The vinyl: all clean and smooth M- over both sides - looks and plays terrific ...clean Atlantic labels makes this one to grab for the rarities collection