Jan Dukes de Grey - Sorcerers (1970) 24-bit/96kHz
Acid Folk | 1970 UK stereo LP | Decca Nova SDN 8
Sorcerors is one of the neglected, seldom mentioned crown jewels of the genre now known as "Acid Folk". A fairly sparse album (certainly compared to its follow up) it manages to convey a truly magical atmosphere - Sorcerers, indeed!
The tracks are composed on 12-string guitar and sung by Derek Noy and he is accompanied on a variety of wind instruments and percussion by Michael Bairstow. They are absolutely complementary and there is great deal of complicity.
The tracks are almost entirely acoustic (a little organ and bass here and there) and have a very pastoral feel, but the lyrics are anything but bland or conventional. 18 tracks with a total time of almost 49 minutes, is an incredibly long record for the time and, believe me, everyone of those minutes is loaded with the interesting accounts of Mr. Noy's experiences, in a very convincing Troubadour style. Not all that progressive per se, the album is very entertaining for all those who love 'hippy-folk' from this period and great but troubling tales of watching the sunrise and love encounters: High Priced Room may mean he will die a virgin, and two minutes later he praises the courage of a schoolgirl. The tracks are noticeably longer on the second side but remain under the four-minute mark except for the finale. The overall insane but tranquil feeling can also be likened to Tea And Symphony's debut album "Asylum For The Musically Insane". Progarchives.
Many thanks go to 'puzzleoyster' for providing the near mint vinyl.
Track listing:
01. Dragons
02. Rags, Old Iron
03. 28th June, Village Song
04. High Priced Room
05. Sorcerers
06. Ode to a Schoolgirl
07. The Cheering Crowd
08. Out of the Eastern Hills
09. M.S.S.
10. Texas
11. Yorkshire Indian Sitting in the Sun
12. Wonder Child
13. Dominique
14. Trust me Now
15. Forms
16. City After 3.00 a.m.
17. Butterfly
18. Turkish Time
Personnel:
Derek Noy : Organ, Percussion, Piano, Trumpet, Bongos, Celeste, Conga, Drums, Bass Guitar, Tabla, Vocals, 12 String Guitar.
Michael Bairstow: Clarinet, Flute, Percussion, Bongos, Cymbals, Tenor Saxophone, Tabla, Vocals, Bells.
David: Celeste, Vocals. Peter: Rain & Thunder. Pedro: Bass-drum.
Recorded on - 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of October 1969, at Decca Studios, London
Produced by David Hitchcock
Technicals:
Knosti RCM.
Michell GyroDec full version.
Funk Firm FXR II Tonearm.
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II MC Cartridge.
Harman Kardon HK990 Integrated Amplifier.
Gold Interconnects. E-MU 0204 Audio Interface.
Recording, split and manual de-click with Adobe Audition 3.0.1
Click Repair 3.9.1
Vinyl transfer by son-of-albion, April 2014.