FRUUPP - MODERN MASQUERADES 1st UK PRESS DAWN GENESIS YES PROG EX+/NM + INSERT

	£		116
	$		154

FRUUPP -

MODERN MASQUERADES

DNLS 3070

 DAWN LABEL

  1st UK PRESS 1975

Barcode and Other Identifiers

•                                                      Matrix / Runout: (Scratched) DNLS-3070-A1 (Stamped) STERLING
•                                                 Matrix / Runout: (Scratched) DNLS 3070-B2 (Stamped) STERLING

So, so hard to find, one of Fruupp's all time classic albums and here it is where it all came together from start to finish!! Splendid  prog album in great EX++ condition and now 44 years old!! This will be a great first acquisition as well as a terrific upgrade!!! This has the original  Dawn label. A stunning copy of this album, rarely ever seen in this condition and with the all important insert, most often gone missing..

I have played this in FULL> The replay is ASTOUNDING!!! There are not any jumps, pops or skips. There is NO background noise at all!! Very remarkable for this 1975 vinyl!!! The heavy vinyl with high groovewalls provides a fantastic audio experience with channelling not equalled by the later CD version. I played this on my Technics turntable with a Linn cartridge and through my very revealing Rotel amp and B&W three way speakers!!! A beautiful CLASSIC with supreme songcraft, a joy to listen to!!!!

 This is a thoroughly winning candidate for "unknown prog jewel from the Golden Era (the very early 70's)" category and it should take its rightful place among the glitterati seated at the fabled Pantheon of Prog fame. There are some amazing "second tier" bands that were not that famous yet left behind some shinny moments (Solution, Trace, Ange, Atoll, PFM, Nova, Eloy, Triumvirat, Greenslade, Druid, Gryphon etc...). Fruupp from bleak, civil war-torn Northern Ireland were a fine set of musicians that had a quaint positive elegance that contrasts strongly with the doom-laden social atmosphere at the time. Proof again that prog does have honorable and curative powers and is not shy to display them in a perhaps misunderstood cocky way. Pretentiousness is valid only if there is no talent! Here, the sheer quality of the breezy musicianship is intoxicatingly attractive, from the solid foundation of drummer Martin Foye and his hyper-active bassist partner Peter Farrelly , whose voice is crushingly poignant as well , while keyboardist John Mason decorates with shining precision, never too flashy but clearly always elegant (especially his electric piano work that is really stunning). Guitarist Vince McCusker provides a raw, bluesier axe ride, closer perhaps to Martin Barre that fails not to please. The first 2 tracks are a concise indication that this will be a most astonishing event! Both "Misty Morning Way" and "Masquerading with Dawn" are jaw droppers while enticing the listener with unexpected reflections of passionate prog.

 The highlight composition is certainly the 10 minute "Gormenghast", a wholly appetizing slice of progressive rock with some Focus-like tempos, delicately weaving within the soundscapes provided by some stellar piano and sax, McCusker's fretboard glowing brightly, with incredible restraint. "Mystery Night" is creepily strange, hence sounding a tad outdated with all that muffled sound so prevalent at the time, dense cottony organ runs, until an angelic voice of irrepressible beauty enters the fray, the piano dancing in apparent glee , all waltzing to a melody that shapes the soul. It gets heavier midway through, massive waves of drum-propelled mellotron blasts, while the equestrian bass gallops off into the sunset, laying down some bopping furrows that are shockingly good! The raspy organ solo then shines some bluesy boogie into the picture; the guitar chugging along "funky" style; I mean this is 'fabulastic stuff'! "Why" is a short interlude, a simply unselfish ballad, undyingly fragile with its sorrowful attestation of honest love (oh! the naïveté!) with a heavenly voice from Farrelly, piano again providing the musical backbone. A lovely piece of music! This is a severe omission if it's not in any serious collection, this being an altogether valiant and pleasant journey back into a time when things were not like they are today (don't get me going!!!). These Irish lads made vibrant music when apathy and hate ruled this part of the globe, they are to be lauded and applauded, especially if its sounds dated. 4.5 Eyes Wide Shut! (Taken from : progarchives.com/review)

SO HARD TO FIND THIS FRUUPP ALBUM IN THIS FANTASTIC CONDITION THIS WILL BE AN UPGRADE FOR MOST SERIOUS COLLECTORS FOR ITS VINYL. IT IS VERY HARD THESE DAYS TO STILL FIND THIS GEM IN THIS SMASHING CONDITION. IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE THIS TURNS UP AGAIN IN THIS SPLENDID CONDITION WITH AGAIN MORE TAKERS THAN EVER BEFORE. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT PIECE. 

Vinyl: EX to EX+.  I'm very happy to be able to present this Irish gem in this wonderful condition. Only lightly played. The audio is simply sublime played on my Technics deck with Linn Sondek cartridge and through my Rotel amp and B&W speakers.  This really heavy vinyl sounds out of this world, a majestic album that went largely unnoticed at the time. Unbelievably it has NO hairlines or marks at all!! The audio has beautiful separation and there is no background noise. Just very wispy paper retraction traces under a strong light, these are not visible in normal daylight. I played this through in full and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was even tempted to keep this as it will be very hard to find this again, it is indeed mega rare now in this kind of condition. The labels have no spindle traces at all. Needless to say NO jumps, clicks or ticks. The best you will find by miles. This will be a fantastic upgrade for most long time collectors!!

 Sleeve: EX.  Fantastic looked after matt sleeve . Lovely colours and not any major creases or stickers. Barely any storage wear at all wear and a spine which is 100% legible.  The edges still have their full colour and the opening is crisp. I have only ever come across this album once before, it is very scarce. It has barely been handled at all. It must be one of the very best in existence for this ultra rarity.

Lyric/Photo insert: EX+/NM, basically untouched and has just been sat in the sleeve for all its long life.

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!