Ptarmigan's sole album starts with the impression that this will be a typical acoustic guitar / vocal fronted folk album. But all bets are off starting with 'The Island', an extraordinary composition with haunting recorders (alto, tenor, and bass), thrashing acoustic guitars, otherworldly percussion, scattered drums, spastic acoustic/electric bass, and some mystical dual harmonic male vocals. At once you hear the serenity of Popol Vuh, the weirdness of Might of Coincidence, combined with something perhaps completely unknown. As the album delves deeper into the recesses of its own world, it becomes clear we are hearing something of the brilliant. Each composition is distinct, but uniquely Ptarmigan. Perhaps it's because of the isolated locale of the band, as they resided on Vancouver Island (a remote wilderness area across the channel from the city proper).
I don't think Columbia wanted any part of this, but the influence of a one Paul Horn managed to get the recording released on the major imprint a full year after being mixed in 1973. It wasn't a best seller, hence its rarity today. Do not miss this gem if you get a chance. Truly one of a kind, though within the context of the familiar.
Ownership: LP: 1974 Columbia; CD: 2005 Lion Productions (USA). The LP is a recent online acquisition and comes in a single sleeve with a black border. My introduction to the album came in the early 1990s via a bootleg LP which doesn't have the border (sold long ago). The first CD on the scene was actually a cd-r release by the band under the name Nordstrom/Dias. It came with a very informative booklet on computer paper. Six years later, Lion reproduced this as a factory pressed CD with a more professional looking booklet, and added some more information to it. Both copies are worth keeping.
9/21/13
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