Leaf Hound
Growers Of Mushroom

"Growers Of Mushroom" is the only album produced by Leaf Hound, a rock-blues band from the densely populated English underground scene of the early '70s.

The band, whose name is inspired by a horror story anthology by Herbert Van Thal, as well as the album title, was composed of cousins Peter French (singer) and Mick Halls (guitarist), Keith Young (drummer), and brothers Derek Brooks (guitar) and Stuart Brooks (bass). Despite the family ties that could even make Casadei envious, the five managed to express excellent hard rock with clear blues roots and a strength not many bands had, comparable to the more renowned names circulating at that time.

The album was recorded at the Mayfair Spot Studios in London in just 12 hours, and perhaps because of this, it is loaded with genuineness and immediacy. An initial version was released in Germany in 1971, but it was missing the title track and "Freelance Fiend". Simultaneously, and still in Germany, the single "Drowned My Life In Fear / It's Gonna Get Better" was also released, with the A-side containing a song from the album, while the B-side features a lovely piano ballad, not too original but a song that, as the title says, makes you feel good.

That same year, after the group had already disbanded, Decca released the complete version of the album with 9 tracks, which we will now analyze. Starting with "Freelance Fiend", a visceral rock piece with a great distorted riff that couldn't be more so, repeated throughout the track, interrupted only by a solo. As a friend of mine says, it seems that the voice comes from the deepest part of Peter French's guts. A great opening for the album and an excellent angry example of the band's freshness.

"Sad Road To The Sea" is also interesting, with the usual powerful voice of French rising over the acoustic base, accompanied by bass and drums, with a final guitar solo. A piece that vaguely reminds one of Black Sabbath due to the electric interlude. "Drowned My Life In Fear" is a mix of blues and metal, definitely well executed and very powerful, encapsulating the essence of the band. We switch gears with "Work My Body". 8 minutes of blues, gentle at first but becoming brazen in the solo with rapid surges before the organ arrives, marked by heavy bass and guitar riffs. An ideal ground for the singer's booming voice, which in the finale pulls out all it has inside. A great piece.

We continue discussing hard rock with "Stray", a song constantly paced by the guitar line over which the singer yells and rants. Another demonstration of the musical strength of the band, which knew how to navigate these territories very well. The beginning of "With A Minute To Go" deceives us before transforming into a crescendo of guitar, drums, bass, and voice. Several similarities can be noticed with Led Zeppelin, particularly with Robert Plant's vocalizations, not in substance (inimitable) but in style.

Next is the title track, which stands out for the clear psychedelic influences running through it. A brief moment of pleasant musical distraction before returning to frenetic rhythms with "Stagnant Pool", another no-holds-barred song, intense at first and then thoughtful and serene. Extraordinary is the reprise of the initial riff in the final part. The album closes with the Cream-like rhythm and wah-wah of the guitar in "Sawdust Caesar", an original piece, less intense than the previous ones, but no less interesting.

So ends the album, a clear example of hard rock, genuine, mature, and unadorned, definitely a must-have for any music lover of those times, despite the band being practically unknown. Listen to believe it.