In the 1980s when I first started collecting rare progressive rock albums, Elias Hulk were one of the big names fetching enormous sums. Catalog dealers would froth endlessly about how heavy it was. Eventually I secured the See For Miles LP reissue in the early 90s and... no surprise... was completely underwhelmed. It's definitely not that heavy, it's foundation is in the blues, and there's a mellow psych element that is pervasive. All of which I didn't care for then... and all of which I think is great now! Haha. Whatever the case, I didn't sell the LP right away, figuring there must be more than what my expectation had it be. And my instincts were correct. I personally find the album to be typical of the time and place - but since that would be 1970 England - then that portrays a different standard. 'Delphi Blues' is my favorite tune on the platter, and really the only true psychedelic song found here. It's essentially an Eastern jam cycle, predating the Krautrock scene by a few months. But all the tracks are very good to excellent, and pertain a certain grimy atmosphere. An edge of madness, yet reigned in just enough to show up to work every day. Too bad they stopped here, as they had the potential to be one of the more wiggy outfits of the early 70s.
Ownership: LP: 2011 Sommer (Spain). Recent online acquisition (2021). Excellent reissue with full liner notes, and a poster. As noted above, my first copy was the See For Miles reissue LP (from a record store in Atlanta), which eventually was replaced by the label's CD version. In recent years, I picked up the Japanese mini-LP as well. I decided to sell both CDs.
There are at least 3 covers for the original. The "copyright infringement" Incredible Hulk original; The Australian original on Interfusion (also ridiculously rare), which features two photos; And finally the See For Miles cover which has a live band shot and 5 individual photos of the group.
10/1/92; 2014; 2015; 9/3/17 (RYM); 5/23/21 (new entry)
No comments:
Post a Comment