The Misunderstood
Before The Dream Faded

Winter continues its uncertain journey, offering fleeting pseudo-spring moments. The mind prepares for evocative sensations of renewed sun warmth, perhaps fantasizing about a joyful outdoor gathering with loved ones, where one can enjoy the natural wonders accompanied by the enchanting musical notes of an excellent rock album. A dream that is still premature, at least as far as the beautiful season is concerned, but at least a good reason to introduce one of the greatest lost masterpieces of the 60s.

Of Californian origin, these Misunderstood were soon adopted by the first British psychedelic scene, thanks to the usual talent scout, the disc jockey John Peel who brought them to London, adding to the lineup a certain Tony Hill, a musician who would later become better known with that legendary dark progressive monster called High Tide. Before The Dream Faded serves as a means to document the different evolutionary phases of this incredible band, which unfortunately managed to publish only a few singles and a handful of other tracks still in their embryonic stage.

This little jewel of sound assembly is divided into two parts, the first subtitled Colour Of Their Sound includes songs recorded in England in 1966, an excellent example of devastating guitar-driven acid rock that does not shy away from engagements with dreamy psycho-folk that would become an essential feature for the acoustic ballads of the future Pink Floyd. Children Of The Sun opens the show, immediately unleashing a stunning demonstration of wild and furious garage rock, emphasized by a warm, delirious voice that decisively swings between the pyrotechnic guitar distortions. My Mind follows the path of raw and no-frills rock that alternates pale moonlit watercolors painted by the long-haired Glenn Campbell's slide guitar with truly amazing southern garage outbursts. The balance between folk, psychedelia, and abrasive rock is perfected in the harmonious progression of these fabulous songs, which reach their absolute peak with I Can Take You To The Sun, a delicate, harsh, and lysergic dream that leads the mind to distant places and dimensions. The second part, on the other hand, presents demos recorded the previous year in the United States with a classic, impactful garage blues that earned the group the fame of "American Yardbirds," reputation made even more credible by the explosive performances the group managed to unleash on stage.

Innovative, seminal, transgressive, imaginative, these unfortunate Misunderstood were destroyed by organizational problems, poor promotion, and the usual troubles with the authorities, obstacles that already in the early months of 1967 ended this promising adventure.