SWEET SLAG Tracking With Close-Ups Original UK LP - Rare Heavy Psych Prog Downer

	£		161
	$		213

** RECORD COLLECTOR **

SWEET SLAG

Tracking With Close-Ups

Original UK LP released on President Records in 1971. Textured sleeve.

PTLS+1042+A   /   PTLS+1042+B

 A very sombre band, Sweet Slag cook their brand of progressive hard-rock with more spices than many. Almost all tracks are depressed, bitter and subtly menacing. Although it's hard to point out any highlights, the overall atmosphere of despair and waste is so strong that it permeates all rock conventions, turning this album into a document of some of the darker conditions of the human soul. There are also quite a few excellent and very discordant guitar solos to be found here. It may take some time to explore all the hidden and suppressed fear in this music, but it is rewarding to do so.

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By 1971 the UK rock music scene was undergoing change. The psychedelic era was on the wane. Progressive rock was getting grander and more conceptual. David Bowie was about to christen himself Ziggy Stardust. Zeppelin and Sabbath were ushering in a new heavier sound with their own interpretation of the blues.

With this in mind it’s difficult to see where Tracking with Close Ups, the sole album by UK band Sweet Slag, fits into the music scene at the time. Practically nothing is known of the band, except that they were a four-piece outfit from London and cut their solitary album for the President Record label.

Tracking With Close Ups

Sweet Slag’s music is less concerned about creating anthemic popular rock like Zeppelin or Sabbath, and though their sound could be deemed psychedelic or progressive the overall feel of the album is darker with none of the pretence that would be normally found on albums in these genres. In truth Tracking with Close Ups owes much to the free experimentation of Zappa and Beefheart, with references to avant garde composers such as Stockhausen.

Each of the seven songs on the album are experimental with the entire band soloing freely and seemingly without direction. The tight drumming of Al Chambers and steady bass of Jack O’Neill just about manage to hold the threads of the ideas together.

This freedom of expression can be a bit off-putting for the casual listener, but as in the best avant garde work of Coltrane, there are moments when all the ideas and discordant improvisations come together and intricate melodies weave their way out from the maelstrom.

“Rain Again” repeatedly morphs through different styles and time signatures over it’s 10 plus minutes, beginning with hazy horns over Chambers’ lazy funk break-beat, before quickly disintegrating into cacophony. ‘Twisted Trip Woman’ with its incessant bass riff is also a highlight, with a middle section which sounds like it could’ve been lifted straight off of a Plastic People of the Universe LP.

Bleak Lyrics

Vocalist and lead guitarist Mick Kerensky takes writing credits for all seven songs, and his lyrics are full of bleak imagery concerning his complete hatred and mistrust of society. “World of Ice” is the most psychedelic track; a slow eerie 'stoner rock’ tune much akin to “The End” by the Doors.

An embodiment of Kerensky’s paranoia, its eerie bass riff and swathes of atmospheric percussion lead on to his tortured guitar solo, which moves by turns discordant and delicate to create something truly beautiful and melancholic. Suicidal fairly sums it up.

The final track ‘Babyi Ar’ is based on the poem by Yevgeny Yevtushenko about the Jewish massacres at Babi Yar in 1941 perpetrated by the Nazis. Kerensky screams the song title repeatedly over the horrific noises conjured up by the rest of the group. It stands as a poignant homage to the darker side of the human condition, and a fitting way to end an album so eager to explore this part of mans psyche.

Tracks Are :-

Side One

Specific
Milk Train
Rain Again
Patience

Side Two

Twisted Trip Woman
World Of Ice
Babyi Ar

Released on 'President Records' in 1971

Catalogue No. PTLS 1042

Disc is in EX+ condition (some light surface marks)

Sleeve is in VG+ condition (light wear / minor creasing)

Please contact me via Ebay Messages with any questions I will try my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.

PAYMENT BY PAYPAL ONLY FROM NON-UK BIDDERS

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CD's £3.00 FOR THE FIRST THEN 50p FOR EACH ADDITIONAL

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

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We offer combined shipping on all LPs / 12" Vinyls: our shipping rates are listed above. HOWEVER shipping packages that weigh more than 2kg is VERY expensive. Therefore we can only offer combined shipping up to a maximum of SEVEN (7) LPs / 12" vinyls. Any extra purchases will be invoiced, packaged and shipped separately.

***Due to the physical logistics of how I can package orders, I will not combine box sets with other items, I will only package them individually***

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