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Extradition
15 tr cd:
Vicious Sloth
Collectables Previous
columns Chris Spencer is author of the "Who's Who of Australian Rock'. He can be contacted through Moonlight Publishing. |
Hush,
the original vinyl album recorded by Sydney group Extradition, remains
one of the most rarest albums released by an Australian artist.
Prices several years ago were above $100, but unlike many other
albums of the early seventies, this album is not rock nor blues
orientated. Instead it mixes folk, traditional folk with avant garde
ideas, yet remains very listenable, even to this day. Having been
to several folk festivals over the past few months, I can attest
that several of their songs reflect the influence of English folk,
particularly when vocalist Shayna Karlin takes on lead vocals: she
has a classic, clear vocal sound reminiscent of Sandy Denny of Fairport
Convention, although other scribes suggest Pentangle and Incredible
String Band might also be other comparison reference points. I also
hear nuances of Steeleye Span. However it is the creative input
from Colin Campbell and Colin Dryden that pushes the normal boundaries
of folk towards more less travelled paths. On tracks like Original
Whim, drummer Robert Lloyd, uses unusual percussive instruments
and rhythms, without losing the interest of the listener. Lloyd
later became more interested in World music, which he explored at
the time in 1971, before World music became a recognised genre.
The band also used unusual instruments such as a harmonium (on the
classical instrumental Minuet) or the sitar sounding vina on A Woman
Song. Other instruments include bamboo flute, glass chimes, harpsichord
and gongs. This re-issue of the original album includes 6 bonus
tracks, all from a live recording of the band in concert. For my
money two of these constitute the best tracks on the album. Honeychild
and In the Evening are a traditional folk song and the latter is
a cover, in the blues folk idiom. Ballad of Reading Gaol is a poem
of Oscar Wilde set to music, and they do a very creditable version
of Tom Paxton's Hold On to Me Babe. Dear One is a homage to the
band's spiritual leader, Meher Baba. The melody is very strong and
if you can ignore the lyrics - ie if you are not a convert, this
is a very pleasant outing. I liked the use of the male chorus underpinning
of A Moonsong. The 16 page booklet which accompanies the set, is
among the best liner notes of any re-issue album in the country,
putting all the major labels to shame yet again. Ian McFarlane has
done a great job researching the release by tracking down most of
the original members and including comments and excerpts from their
interviews. Despite the obscure nature of the original release,
this album deserves to be heard by a much larger audience. However
don't expect to hear a progressive rock band; this is slow paced,
gentle folk and washes of sound. Still this CD re-issue should be
of interest to any collector of seventies' music.
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