Generally when a band releases a title called Second Album, one presumes a first one exists. As I write this entry, that elusive first album remains undiscovered. That can mean any number of things from a lost-in-translation scenario (i.e. first album is all in Kanji with a different meaning) to some sort of silliness conducted by the group - as evidenced by the cover perhaps. Speaking of which, doesn't the album cover look like something a modern craft brewery would release on a can?
Just as wacky as the group's own provenance is that of the music itself. That which is as eclectic as one will ever hear in the mid 1970s. Opener 'Marmalade Sky' is a cool little funky horn rock number sounding like it's 1972 all over again. And the vocals are in that mumbled unintelligible English style (or perhaps Japanese, who can really tell?) similar to maybe The Far East Family Band. 'Samui Kisetsu' follows and is also seemingly from an earlier era, but more towards the hard rocking / early progressive genre. 'The Ballad of Billy' goes for the blues, but still contains some fine soloing. 'Tabi No Fukidamari' is similar but considerably more dull, and represents the sole skip over track here. 'Time Out' is the square-on prog track here, and sounds every bit like a German symphonic band circa 1976. I'm thinking SFF here and the highlight of the album for me. The lengthy closer also has some great progressions, though it's longer than it needs to be truth be told.
In the end, Early Times is an album without obvious comparison, though it by no means goes out of bounds anywhere either. A truly intriguing piece of art. One that requires repeated listens. Worthy of reissue status for certain. And what about that first album, fellas?
Not reissued in any form as I update this (3/8/25).
11/8/15 (review); 2/28/19 (update / new entry)
Just as wacky as the group's own provenance is that of the music itself. That which is as eclectic as one will ever hear in the mid 1970s. Opener 'Marmalade Sky' is a cool little funky horn rock number sounding like it's 1972 all over again. And the vocals are in that mumbled unintelligible English style (or perhaps Japanese, who can really tell?) similar to maybe The Far East Family Band. 'Samui Kisetsu' follows and is also seemingly from an earlier era, but more towards the hard rocking / early progressive genre. 'The Ballad of Billy' goes for the blues, but still contains some fine soloing. 'Tabi No Fukidamari' is similar but considerably more dull, and represents the sole skip over track here. 'Time Out' is the square-on prog track here, and sounds every bit like a German symphonic band circa 1976. I'm thinking SFF here and the highlight of the album for me. The lengthy closer also has some great progressions, though it's longer than it needs to be truth be told.
In the end, Early Times is an album without obvious comparison, though it by no means goes out of bounds anywhere either. A truly intriguing piece of art. One that requires repeated listens. Worthy of reissue status for certain. And what about that first album, fellas?
Not reissued in any form as I update this (3/8/25).
11/8/15 (review); 2/28/19 (update / new entry)
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