Arzachel [Import]

Arzachel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Akarma
• ASIN: B00005YVY5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,587 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "There were four of us then, the group was Uriel...", October 16, 2004

By 

Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arzachel (Audio CD)

Before Egg, Dave Stewart, Mont Campbell and Clive Brooks played a half a zillion low-paid gigs as a 4-piece with guitarist Steve Hillage. When Steve, seeking a brighter future, quit to go to university, the trio changed their name from Uriel to Egg and soldiered on against their all of their accountant's advice.

Several months later, after Egg had already landed a contract with fledgling Decca Records, they unexpectedly got an opportunity to record the original quartet. In one long afternoon in the studio, with no prepared material and under assumed names for legal reasons, Arzachel was born... and died the same night, like a mayfly. Nevertheless, with musicians of this calibre and familiarity with each other, they managed to pull off a minor classic in the late '60s/early psychedelia genre.

Unfortunately the record stiffed. It wasn't until decades later that anybody deciphered the true personnel (and the guilty confessed to their youthful indiscretions). So this pre-Khan lost Canterbury classic, which had been trading hands among cognoscenti for absurd prices, finally saw re-release with all of the confessions and recriminations printed inside a tiny CD booklet in a text size which guaranteed the musicians couldn't read it without their glasses.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And I Was Lying In The Grass...By A River, December 11, 2004

By 

Jack B. Nimble (East Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arzachel (Audio CD)

I'm still waiting to get an original 1970 US pressing on Roulette Records. I believe the original UK version was released by Decca Records in 69' and goes for thousands of $$$ (if you can find a copy)! I purchased the import CD reissue on the UK Drop Out label in the mid 90's and the sound quality was excellent (considering the source tapes). Everything is drenched in reverb! I love Mont's distinct British vocals, kinda Arthur Brown-ish. I get the chills when I hear the first few notes of "Clean Innocent Fun" and then the organ begins, even though it was played through a guitar amp and not a leslie, but the album contains some inventive Hammond organ work from Dave Stewart (not The Eurythmics). "Garden Of Earthly Delights" is a great tune that could fit right in with the psychedelic sounds of 67' & Steve Hillage's guitar solo at the end alone is worth the price of admission. "Metempsychosis" is a long spacey jam that reminds me of The Pink Floyd just a year earlier. I wish the drums were recorded in one channel on this album giving it that wonderful stereo separation we all know and love. Five stars for Uriel's project here! The EGG LP which was released in 1970 (post-Arzachel) is also highly recommended! Excellent raw British prog/psych.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great psychedelia, July 8, 2005

By 

Joseph L. Kolb (harris, mn USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Arzachel (Audio CD)

Pre-gong, pre-egg and pre-khan members team up to do this 1969 release cd. The sound & style is basically Egg with Steve Hillage on guitar. It does sound a little dated and unrehearsed, but not bad at all. I love Stewart & Hillages playing on this cd. It's very stretched out and spacey for it's time. Something like Floyd's Sauceful of Secrets. I think they should reform this group and start releasing new material. Highly recommend this cd if you are into psychedelia, or the Canterbury scene. Issued by Akarma in heavy cardboard sleeve and high quality artwork.