The Neutrons-Black Hole Star

Original

Another great Progressive album and an early favorite. This was released in 1974. I have a 1977 re-issue I bought then. A side project of Phil Ryan and Will Youatt of Man, the band also included Taff Williams and John Weathers,of Gentle Giant. Both Weathers and Williams had been in Eyes Of Blue with Ryan, an early Welsh band with ties to Man. Stuart Gordon of The Incredible String Band plays violin on three of the tracks. Some great music here with the dominating instrument being Ryan’s keyboards although Taff Williams guitar is very evident. Every song is good from the synth dominated “Living In The World Today” to the piano and organ on the odd “Mermaid And Chips”. “Dangerous Decisions” is an instrumental,the most progressive track on the record. “Feel”,”Dance Of The Psychedelic Lounge Lizards”,and “Going To India” are more acoustic with Stuart Gordon on violin and backing vocals by Caromay Dixon who is also associated with Man. My favorites are on side two the Bluesy “Doom City” and the Rocking “Snow Covered Eyes” both with great guitar and keyboards. The cover is in very bad shape but the record sounds good. They put out another record in ’76 that I had on CD but it didn’t compare to this one.

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