Hokus Poke (Earth Harmony 1972) Progressive Blues Rock, UK (full album)
Hokus Poke, originally from East London, were formed by Clive Blenkhorn (lead vocals, guitar), Johnnie Miles (drums), Roger Clarke (guitar, vocals), and Smith Campbell (bass, vocals). Blenkhorn had previously played in a band called Mystic Sid (originally named Black Sabbath, unaware of the existence of the already active Birmingham group...), while Clarke had played with Justus 5 and the soul bands Grenade's and Freddy Mac Extravaganza.
When Hokus Poke landed a residency at the Thomas A-Becket pub on Old Kent Road, they caught the attention of singer-songwriter and producer Kenny Lynch, who became their manager and secured them a contract with Philips in '71.
While it remains firmly rooted in the progressive genre, the album evokes a period of apprenticeship in the late psychedelic phase, combining the progressive ambitions of bands like Genesis and Wishbone Ash with the uncompromising energy of Budgie and Atomic Rooster, as well as an approach similar to equally ill-fated groups like Northwind and Parlour Band. Notably, the pairing of Clarke’s steel guitar and Blenkhorn’s masterful riffs with a solid rhythm section distinguished tracks such as the powerful "Sunrise Sunset" (The Sunset) and the incendiary "Hag Rag."
A fun fact: in '72, the Vertigo label refused to approve the band's preferred title, "First Poke," which was retitled "Earth Harmony" and gnente...
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