Mercator Projected

East of Eden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 25, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B0000088ZV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,495 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Northern Hemisphere

2. Isadora

3. Waterways

4. Centaur Woman

5. Bathers

6. Communion

7. Moth

8. In the Stable of the Sphinx

Editorial Reviews

1998 Repertoire reissue of the debut album by this progact featuring Geoff Britton, Andy Sneddon & Ron Gaines.First released on Deram in 1969, it contains all eightoriginal tracks, including 'Northern Hemisphere' and'Isadora'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent prog/psych, September 5, 2002

By 

BENJAMIN MILER (Veneta, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mercator Projected (Audio CD)

East of Eden released a several albums, 1969's Mercator Projected being their very first album, and it's also said to be their best. The album was originally released on Deram, the same label that gave us the Moody Blues. Mercator Projected is an excellent example of prog rock at its beginnings. You get psych, jazz rock, and Middle Eastern styles. A couple of rockers, some jams, some atmospheric numbers, phased vocals à la The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus", strange electronic effects. The band featured violinst Dave Arbus, who was also the same guy who played on The Who's classic "Baba O'Reily" (known as "Teenage Wasteland" for those who don't remember the actual title). The rest of East of Eden at that time also consisted of bassist Steve York (who jumped ship after this album for Manfred Mann Chapter III), saxist Ron Caines, guitarist and vocalist Geoff Nicholson, and drummer Dave Dufort (although the album misspelled his name as "Dufont"). Apparently the band wasn't exactly known for keeping steady lineup, and within a couple of years, they switched over to Harvest Records and went for a more country-influenced sound. Some of the best songs on Mercator Projected includes "Northern Hemisphere", "Isadora", "Bathers", "Moth", and the instrumental "In the Stable of the Sphinx". In regards to "In the Stable of the Sphinx", I just recently acquired an album released on Elektra Records called The Zodiac - Cosmic Sounds (The Zodiac were basically Paul Beaver, and various L.A. session musicians, and a narrator who sounded like Jim Morrison, doing psychedelic rock, with Moog synthesizer, ethnic instruments, and naturally rock instruments), released in 1967. One piece was called "Taurus" and it sounded awfully familiar to me. Well, it sounds like East of Eden borrowed the theme to "Taurus" during the slow part of "In the Stable of the Sphinx". British groups seemed very aware of The Zodiac - Cosmic Sounds at that time (Scottish band Writing on the Wall did a full-on cover of "Aries" off their 1969 album The Power of the Picts). The only weak spot on this album is part of "Centaur Woman" which shows that Steve York is going just a little too far on his bass guitar. But the vocal parts of the song is more bluesy than the rest of the album, and the vocals were provided by Ron Caines, who isn't normally the band's vocalist. And if the Middle Eastern influences of the album isn't enough, the back of the album shows the band members all dressed in Egyptian garb and makeup. So if the thought of early prog with jazz rock, psych, and Middle Eastern styles sounds interesting to you, you're bound to enjoy Mercator Projected.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great release only never to be heard of again. It, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mercator Projected (Audio CD)

Cannot remember how many times a day i used to play this record. It was in a class of its own and I cant forget the Northern hemispehre change of tempo. The groove was really deep just there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars East Of Eden - 'Mercator Projected' (Eclectic Discs), June 23, 2006

By 

Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mercator Projected (Audio CD)

Up until a few months ago,I had never even heard of East Of Eden.I just HAPPEN to get a CD-R copy marked simply as 'East Of Eden' from a friend.At first,I thought it possibly MIGHT'VE been a Gong spinoff project,you know...how they've had several short-lived ones?I was later informed the CD-R was,in fact a live bootleg CD.This had to have been my FIRST time I've ever gotten a bootleg of a band that I ACTUALLY liked BEFORE knowing anything about the band.So,I then knew I needed to find out more about this 'experimental progressive' UK ensemble.'Mercator Projected' was originally released in 1969 as this was the band's first record.After listening to this CD reissue for the first two times,I can NOW understand why East Of Eden never made it big.Their music is simply too way-ahead-of-it's-time for most listeners.Might say they're too inventive for their own good.Most inspiring tracks here are "Northern Hemisphere",the awesome "Waterways","Centaur Woman",the album's lengthiest cut "In The Stable Of The Sphinx" and one of the three bonus tunes,a decent cover of the Byrd's "Eight Miles High".If this doesn't prove these guys meant business,I have no idea what would.Players:Geoff Nicholson-guitar&vocals,Dave Arbus-violin&flute,Ron Caines-sax&vocals,Steve York-bass and Dave Dufort-drums.Might appeal to fans of Third Ear Band,Lard Free,Can,King Crimson or Soft Machine.