CAEDMON - s/t

"Guerssen Records present a reissue of Caedmon's legendary debut from 1978, originally released as a private pressing. One of the most sought-after progressive folk-rock albums from the UK. Caedmon -- a five-piece student band in the '70s -- recorded this album to mark their farewell concert in early 1978, before they went their separate ways after university. They had literally no idea of the myths, rumors, and tales that would embellish (and sometimes distort) the musical arc traced by this album in the decades to come. The album contains twelve songs. Ten were written by the band. One was based on an ancient text by seventh century poet Caedmon. And the final track was a traditional gospel song. Angela Naylor's lead vocals are supported by close harmony male vocals throughout. Acoustic guitars, mandolin, and cello jostle with electric guitar, keyboards, percussion, and bass. The resultant blend can only be described as eclectic, conjuring a slightly bizarre mix of folk ballad, bossa-nova, and psychedelic jazz and funk. Little did they know that this would be described as acid-folk in years to come. Unusual time signatures, tight arrangements, improbable instrumentation, oblique and poetic stories tackling spirituality, distorted fuzz guitar, and the odd recorder solo. 1978 was the era of punk. Caedmon adopted a self-produced approach and recorded their farewell to fans in Barclay Towers Studio in Edinburgh, an attic flat, patronized by the Rezillos, among others. Essentially each song was recorded "live" in two or three takes on a four-track tape machine, with occasional overdubs. During the pressing, a call from the pressing plant informed the band that they had too much music recorded to fit on a 33rpm 12" vinyl. A quick decision resulted in two tracks being moved across to a 45rpm 7" single. The band was unsigned, boasted a small fan-base (mostly in Scotland), only occasionally played south of the border (notably at a disastrous gig at the Greenbelt Festival in 1977), enjoyed some success at the Edinburgh Fringe. Their niche fame came twenty years later. Both a re-release of the original album on CD by Kissing Spell Records, and a burgeoning world-wide vinyl collectors market made possible by the internet led to feverish demand for copies of the original vinyl of 1978. First licensed reissue of the 1978 album since the Kissing Spell CD. 24-bit remastering from the original master tapes; Four-page color insert with lyrics, rare photos, and liner notes; Original artwork." - Guerssen Records .