JAM BAND 1970 CATFISH LBL Krautrock SWEET SMOKE 1st LP HIPPIE HARD PROG PSYCH

$

32

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                RARE CATFISH LABEL FIRST PRINTING

                       .... 1970 ....                                          

    GERMAN UNDERGROUND HIPPIE PSYCH-ROCK JAMS

TOP COPY

RARE ORIGINAL 1970 first pressing on the old silver & black CATFISH RECORDS label...with laminated cover ==>

Sweet Smoke were a fairly short lived band from the USA who moved to Germany and easily got swept up in the KRAUTROCK scene, where they found a more receptive audience in Germany and Holland. In Holland they were released on the underground label CATFISH who also released the immensely great AHORA MAZGA album. Sweet Smoke released three albums, "Just a poke" (no explanation is offered for the rather strange title) was their first album, released in 1970.

The album consists of just two long tracks, each occupying a side of the LP. The first piece, "Baby Night" is the most underground rock orientated number of their entire output, and undoubtedly their best. It is reminiscent at various times of IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY's "White bird", with a relaxed West Coast feel, getting into a cool stoned groove. The track features pleasant stereo flute that pans nicely from speaker to speaker and various guitar runs. As the pace develops the track becomes more improvised, and the sound gets rockier, until it is pulled back to the soft West Coast feel. After apparently ending, the main vocal theme returns for a final refrain.

The other track, "Silly sally", leans much more towards complex and jammy. The track starts off almost medieval sounding, with recorder and webs of guitar. Once the vocals kick in, you can tell they sound quite American. Eventually the song turns to electric guitar (without fuzz) and the get to some extended jams. As the jam ends, they go in to an uncredited version of the DOORS' "Soft Parade"...There are echoes of jazz prog- rock while the music is improvised, combining bursts of scat, and dominant winds and heady guitar flashes. Some fine stereo wah wah guitar leads wind into a percussion section. The phasing effects during the drumming enhance the listening pleasure. The track reverts to a more orthodox prog fusion, along the lines of Colosseum or King Crimson.

SIDE ONE:

1. Baby Night

SIDE TWO:

2. Silly Sally