Reality＜限定盤＞

Ken Elliott(organ/mellotoron/p/vo)とKieran O'Connor(dr/per/vibe/vo)を中心に結成された伝説のPsyche/Art Rockバンド、オリジナルは超劇レア盤として有名な英Polydorから発表された'68年デビュー作が欧Trading Placesから'22年復刻再発!
時代性を反映したBeat Rockをベースに多彩なギミック/Noise/Collageを多用したカラフルなPsycheサウンドを披露しつつ、既に次作に通じる狂気に満ちたArt/Progressive Rock志向も随所に発揮された、この時代を象徴する隠れた傑作です!

Second Hand's debut, Reality, released in 1968 before progressive music had developed, is one of those odd records that mix psychedelic and garage-style music with some progressive touches. This is most evident on "Mainliner" and the title track, which are segued together by some classical music instrumentation. "Reality" adds other symphonic elements as well, and there's even a minute where one hears just organ and cello, a relaxed, slightly haunting moment before the rest of the band kicks back in. "Mainliner" is a nightmarish track about heroin addiction with funeral-dirge organ riffing, and "The World Will End Yesterday" is another doom-laden piece. "Denis James the Clown" uses carnival music played at an amphetamine-hyperactive pace to create a strange little song. There are lots of long instrumental sections with guitar solos, which is fortunate because Ken Elliott's vocals are the weakest link, and a few of his song arrangements come off a little dated as well. Fortunately, those aspects are not enough to distract too much from this otherwise excellent record. ~ Rolf Semprebon