Arkham - Arkham (1972)

Arkham - Arkham (1972)

Early 70's Recordings

The few 1970-1973 live tapes represented here are all that remains of one of the most interesting trios in rock. Their instrumentation (organ, bass & drums) makes inevitable comparisons to similar contemporaneous ensembles as Egg, Soft Machine, The Nice, Hansson/Karlsson and Glass, especially on the tracks featuring fuzzbox on the organ (maybe even Caravan!) Yet this band also contains the roots of what would become, in the '80s and '90s, a thriving "dark progressive" scene in Belgium with such bands as Univers Zero, Present, X-Legged Sally, Cro Magnon, Fukkeduk and others.

There are equal measures of fast unison playing in odd time signatures, and moodier group improvisations often in minor keys. Arkham was a unique ensemble at a unique time, and points the way to much that would transpire in the next couple decades.

So why only four stars instead of five? Well, these 30-year old live recordings are a bit dodgy by today's standards, and detract somewhat from an unencumbered enjoyment. Still, to have this group preserved at all is little short of miraculous. (Amazon)

Tracklist:

1. Upstairs In The Granary 5:13
2. Eve's Eventful Day (Part 5 & 6 3:25
3. Monolithic Progression With An 8:03
4. Brussels Shortly After 8:33
5. Visibility Poor 8:21
6. With Assays Of Bias 10:24
7. Eve's Eventful Day (Part 3) 4:47
8. Riff 8:51
9. Tight Trousers 4:40