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Rating:
Progressive, this unknown... Yes, the Audience, who in 1971 released an enigmatic album from the cover onward, signed by the famous Hypgnosis studio: the interior of a 1940s house with a detective questioning the femme fatale of the moment and, on the back, the butler dragging away a corpse.
They were a group that almost always played unplugged, with the acoustic guitar of singer Howard Werth and the winds of Keith Gemmell supported by bass and drum rhythms. After two honest albums, they hit the jackpot with this "House on the Hill" just while progressive was booming, and thus they are still forcibly classified in this field today.
But something doesn't add up: the compositions are "short" compared to the endless suites of other champions of the genre, Howard Werth's voice is powerful, they open for Led Zeppelin concerts.
More than my nonsense, listen to the album: "I Had a Dream" sounds like a knocking on heaven's door played by Creedence... "Eye to Eye" is pure Jethro Tull in both the use of the voice and flute... "House on the Hill" with its prog jazz opening and Van der Graaf-like sax... "Jackdaw" with Werth's vocal openings as if he were Chris Cornell... "Raviolè" a refined instrumental based on classical guitar accompanied by the strings of the London Symphony Orchestra... the strange cover of "I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
Progressive?.... mmmm... just like the cover: this is art rock!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
03 I Had a Dream (04:05)
Bright the light through my window pane
Shield my eyes from the beam
Keep the day from my aching brain
I had a Dream
Walked me down to the town last night
Sat me down by the stream
As I dozed in the fading light
I had a Dream
Saw a man and I saw you there
Swear you looked like a Queen
In your eyes as he touched your hair
You had a Dream
I had a Dream
I had a Dream
Who could care, who would sympathise
Should someone come in between
It could be that I'll realise
I had a Dream
Would I dare ask the truth of you
If t'were real what I've seen
Were you there? If I only knew
That I had a Dream
I had a Dream
I had a Dream
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