There's two ways to look at Web's I Spider. One is that it's the third album by a band called Web. Or - it's the debut by another band called Samurai. I choose the latter, as that's exactly what the music sounds like. Web, at this stage, had moved on from their bluesy slightly jazzy psych period, onto the more trendy progressive rock that was infiltrating many UK bands at the time. Despite being on Polydor, it sounds like an album that would've been more at home on a label like Dawn or Neon. Highly melodic, perhaps melancholic (similar to Samurai in that way), with guitar, organ, and sax in the lead. And maybe best of all are the mournful vocals of Dave Lawson. A superb album that still remains somewhat underappreciated it would seem.
Ownership: CD: 2008 Esoteric. Jewel case with full liner notes, lyrics, memorabilia, and two live renditions from a 1971 Swedish concert. This was the first domestic reissue of the album. Purchased not long after release. And, in turn, replaced the Japan Edison CD (1990).
3/10/10
