For Lady Lake I wrote: "I had longed questioned the quality of Lady Lake, Gnidrolog's sophomore effort. It seemed to be highly-touted among collectors worldwide, many times at the expense of the debut In Spite of Harry's Toe-Nail - an album I enjoyed from the first time I heard it... And while I still prefer the herky-jerkiness of the debut, I've come to the realization that Lady Lake is indeed a fine work. It's not as immediately apparent for someone who is as meter focused as I tend to be."
And that's it in a nutshell. Gnidrolog sounds like a less refined Gentle Giant, seemingly on the edge of bursting into wild Krautrock territory but holding just enough back. There are many interludes that soften the edgy mood. My favorite track is 'Time and Space' but there's not a weak moment to be found throughout. One of the better known-but-still-obscure UK prog albums.
Ownership:1972 RCA (LP). Gatefold. About as textured a cover as you will ever find. Almost like a burlap sack or an etched tabletop. I received this copy in the mail from a gentleman I had met in Helsinki (1993). It was a gift and accompanied by a note that he was dying and he wanted me to have this. I had only spent a couple of hours with him (and others) listening to music one afternoon (not knowing his current fate), so it was incredibly touching. Perhaps the most emotional album I own from that perspective.
1993 (acquired); 1999; 11//05; 2009; 1/14/24 (review)
I had longed questioned the quality of Lady Lake, Gnidrolog's sophomore effort. It seemed to be highly-touted among collectors worldwide, many times at the expense of the debut In Spite of Harry's Toe-Nail - an album I enjoyed from the first time I heard it. I had always figured it was to increase the value of the album, rather than an honest assessment of the music itself. And while I still prefer the herky-jerkiness of the debut, I've come to the realization that Lady Lake is indeed a fine work. It's not as immediately apparent for someone who is as meter focused as I tend to be, but yet there's a maturity and depth that I missed in my overanxious youth. In fact, the album ties in well with other top level UK albums like Raw Material and Spring - other works that took awhile for me to appreciate. Now I can't get enough of this peculiar breed of UK rock from the early 1970s. The addition of a prevalent woodwinds player also helps considerably. The title track comes close to horn rock, which I find a welcome development, but likely to further irritate those who are not fond of the genre.
Ownership: 1972 RCA (LP)
1998 (first acquired); 10//04; 2009; 3/7/10 (review); 6/10/21 (update)
3/9/10 (new entry)
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