•
Rating:
The Raw Material is a band of absolute value and among the cult groups of the early seventies Anglo-Saxon progressive scene. Gifted with excellent compositional ideas, they perhaps owe clear references to the genre's masters Van der Graaf Generator. However, it is balanced music, balanced between the raids of the two guitarists Dave Greene and Cliff Harewood and the interventions of singer and keyboardist Colin Catt. The latter, in particular, has a timbre and, above all, a theatrical style that strongly recalls Peter Hammill. But the album in question highlights especially the wind instruments of Michael Fletcher, who alternates masterfully between saxophone and flute. The result is thus a dark prog, with refined and atmospheric sounds and a few jazz temptations.
"Time Is..." released in 1971 on the specialized label Neon, is the group's second album and follows the eponymous debut, an enjoyable but stylistically more uncertain and less cohesive record. The roar of a cold wind introduces the excellent opener of the album, "Ice Queen", which immediately gives way to the majestic advance of the saxophone. The track is divided between instrumental explosions and interesting jazzy hints and prepares us for a finale in which an inspired flute takes center stage. Following is "Empty Houses", a rougher piece, supported by heavy guitar riffs, softened only by the apparent calm of the acoustic and dreamy central part.
The next one, "Insolent Lady", is the first of the two suites on the album. Splendid acoustic beginning with folk elements, enriched by the refined melodies of a melancholy piano. The track subsequently gains energy, alternating more restless instrumental passages with acoustic moments, leading us to a very engaging final crescendo. The album continues with the lively "Miracle Worker", a jazz rock in Colosseum style, and the harsher "Religion", dominated by a relentless bass. Concluding the work is the suite "Sun God", probably the most beautiful and inspired piece, bringing us into psychedelic territories. Delicate melodies of distant times and lysergic visions, refer to early Pink Floyd.
The Raw Material disband in the wake of the release of this excellent work, amidst financial difficulties and lukewarm attention from the public and critics. They leave us with this little progressive gem. The missing mark is only because I consider their proposal a bit derivative. But I am sure it will be appreciated by all lovers of the genre.
Loading comments slowly
