From my own collection in Ex- condition throughout.  This is a rare UK Virgin label and very difficult to find in this Ex condition.  The - on Ex is for the cover that shows a very small amount of ring wear on the cover, mentioned for completeness.  A great album, played by me about 5 times.  A rare find, don't let this one slip away. 

Comus - To Keep From Crying
Label:Virgin
Catalog#:V 2018
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album

Country:UK
Released:1974
Genre:Folk, World, & Country, Rock
Style:Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Tracklist:
A1   Down (Like A Movie Star)   
A2   Touch Down   
A3   Waves And Caves   
A4   Figure In Your Dreams   
A5   Children Of The Universe   
B1   So Long Supernova   
B2   Perpetual Motion   
B3   Panophany   
B4   Get Yourself A Man   
B5   To Keep From Crying   

Credits
Artwork By [Cover Art] - Sheila MacLurkin
Bass, Autoharp, Effects, Tape [Tape Music] - Andy Hellaby
Bassoon - Lindsay Cooper
Bongos - Phil Barry (2)
Cello - Tim Kramer (3)
Drums, Percussion - Gordon Coxon
Engineer - Phil Becque , Tom Newman (2)
Photography - Trevor Key
Piano, Organ, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Marimba - Keith Hale
Tenor Saxophone - Didier Malherbe
Voice, Guitar - Roger Wootton
Voice, Recorder, Percussion - Bobbie Watson
Written-By - Hellaby* (tracks: A3, B3) , Hale* (tracks: B4) , Wootton* (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1, B2, B5)

5* review:

 I am *totally* shocked that I absolutely LOVE To Keep From Crying.

It's true it sounds absolutely *nothing* like First Utterance.

Gone are the ominous-sounding psychedelic folk rock tendencies that made First Utterance stand apart from everything else (and develop such a loyal fan following over the years as a result of its distinctive sound) but... there's DEFINITELY something strongly appealing about To Keep From Crying.

I almost feel ashamed for liking this album because, well for one thing, it's completely dominated with a female lead singer who sounds like a cross between that chick from the progressive metal act Nightwish and the woman who sings with Ray Davies on the Kinks Preservation Act II (you know, the album with a tornado on the front cover).

So what *is* it about To Keep From Crying that is so gosh darn fascinating to me? Well for one thing, I love the lead singers voice. I'd rather hear Roger Wootton's frantic and nervous vocal style of course, but the woman singing here is pretty awesome as well. I assume she's a professional opera singer, but I could be wrong. Yes, her voice reminds me of Pippi Longstocking. You got me! Move over Tami Erin!

I believe she's the same woman who's singing background vocals on Hatfield and the North's masterpiece "The Rotter's Club" but I could be wrong about that. Anyway, she's constantly singing really melodic and adventurous vocal melodies. The songwriting is better than you're probably thinking. Every single song is super melodic and the instrumental portions are simply delightful but... you know, will you *like* this change in style that Comus is going for? That's the million dollar question!

True, this sounds NOTHING compared to the first Comus album, but I honestly don't care because I enjoy the sound of her voice *that* much, haha. I can't help it!

Furthermore, I can honestly say I've never heard anything else from the 70's like this album.  It's like a gentle dream with unicorns and fluffy clouds that never ends.

I swear Comus was listening to the Italian progressive rock band Metamorfosi because some of these synths sound *exactly* like something that band was laying down on tape back in the day. Probably just a wild coincidence.

Another interesting thing about this album is the overall sloppiness in the songwriting. One moment you hear synths, the next you hear drums and piano and who knows what else. Just a bunch of things happening at once but done so in a tasteful manner.

And as far as atmosphere goes, it seems Comus ditched the "Spooky Blair Witch Project" backwoods theme and went with a more "Dude, I can see Venus and Sepia from here" outerspace gimmick. Hey, I don't mean that in any disrespectful way, but there IS a huge change in sound now.

I know I'm not supposed to like To Keep from Crying, but... I really do like it. It's different, and it definitely will NOT appeal to everyone who loves the first Comus album (and rightfully so) but darn it- it's surprisingly good!