Arcadium
Breathe Awhile

London, 1969.

Alongside rock bands of absolute fame (to name a few, the Stones, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Cream, and many more), numerous groups stood out in the underground scene of the English capital, in search of international success that, unfortunately, never came in almost all cases. A record label of the time, Middle Earth Records, decided to sign a small group called Arcadium: in the same year, they managed to complete a work, their first and last album, called "Breathe Awhile". It is an extremely rare album (even if poorly recorded), with emotional moments and almost desperate atmospheres: there are 7 tracks on the original LP, characterized by sinister and engaging sounds, and especially by the melancholic and sad lyrics written by that genius named Miguel Sergides, voice and 12-string guitar of Arcadium.

Starting from the first track, Arcadium immediately enter the world of the era's prog-psychedelic music: "I'm On My Way", with its 11.52 minutes, is considered by many one of the most important compositions of dark progressive. A guitar with a slightly "dirty" sound opens the piece, followed by a Hammond riff that gives the track a noteworthy psychedelic touch: the rhythm slowly builds up, with a brief guitar solo, only to plunge dramatically in the vocal part, about halfway through the song: the arrangement is enhanced by the backing vocals from other band members; but just under 3 minutes from the end, the rhythms pick up, and thus we witness a Hammond solo, followed by another guitar solo, and Sergides' voice, which repeatedly intones the words I'm On My Way, to the end of the piece.

The second track, "Poor Lady", much shorter than the first ("only" 4 minutes): starts immediately strong, with organ chords, keeping the listener on rhythms similar to those at the end of the previous track... Only 1.20 minutes from the end, we witness a drop in tension, thanks to the choirs and the voice of the "poet" Sergides.

"Walk On The Bad Side", track number 3: the beginning is similar to "I'm On My Way", but the real masterpiece comes after 30 seconds. The melancholy imprinted by the lyrics' words is inimitable: only a Hammond and a voice, which are accompanied by other instruments after just 4 bars. The chorus sings the title's words, then we find a long ride, between short guitar solos and organ phrases (in pure Arcadium style), leading us to the end.

We are at the fourth track: "Woman Of A Thousand Years", similar to the second in terms of choir and overall rhythm... Probably the least successful track in my opinion.

Here we are at the fifth piece, "Change Me": 3 initial notes on the Hammond, then a very melancholy and catchy guitar phrasing, but it is certainly Miguel Sergides imposing his voice over everything once again. As I said, a very sad and suggestive song.

Penultimate track, "It Takes A Woman": some similarities to the Byrds, especially in the composition of the guitar chords. It is a piece almost entirely instrumental: the best part remains the one 50 seconds from the end, where Alan Ellwood's Hammond makes itself heard.

Album started well, but ends even better: "Birth, Life And Death", the last track of the original LP: as the title suggests, we can divide the track into 3 well-defined parts. The first, "Birth", the birth indeed, is characterized by a long guitar solo, well set and completely adherent to the surrounding musical atmosphere. After 5.15 minutes, there is a building of chords, introducing us to the second part, "Life". A solo organ, absolutely unique in its almost religious sounds, and the penetrating voice of Sergides, introduce the piece into a more cautious and calm, perhaps almost hypnotic world. After 8.35 minutes, the track (and consequently also the album) moves towards the end, indeed death, "Death". Sergides, intoning "Goodbye, Goodbye, My world", loads the entire song with sad, melancholic tones, almost as if unconsciously indicating the end of his band's short adventure. Considering that "Breathe Awhile" was their only work, that phrase was perhaps a sign of destiny that definitively put an end to Arcadium's musical journey.

In 2000, the reissue by Repertoire Records, with 2 unreleased singles recorded still at the end of the magnificent '60s: "Sing My Song" and "Riding Alone".

"Sing My Song" opens with a piece of Hammond, then a guitar, some drum beats, and the voice of the "poet genius" turns the song on somber and spiritual boundaries. Instead, a guitar is the instrument that opens "Riding Alone", immediately followed by the indispensable organ and the rest of the band: a piece I would call psychedelic, especially due to a very old sound...

Arcadium, with Breathe Awhile, last just over 53 minutes, then sink into a world on the edges of the London music scene, despite their skill and their magical touch in composing their pieces... Where did Arcadium go? What pushed them not to continue writing new pieces? These are questions that perhaps only the 5 members of the band could have answered. All that remains is to listen and re-listen to their little masterpiece: a unique and unparalleled album. 

"The inheritance of future sinners and the writings of future revelations will be our final downfall. We can all worship the devil if we please but there is still time just let us breathe awhile..."