Release date: May 2025
Label: PQR-Disques plusqueréel
Band name: Skywhale
Album title: The World At Mind’s End
Cat. no: PQR046
Specs: Vinyl 180 gr., strictly
limited pressing of 400 numbered copies + 2-page insert, 200 copies in black, 200 in splatter vinyl.
File nearby:
Caravan, Hatfield & The North, Camel, Weather Report, Ton Ton Macoute,
Titus Groan, Diabolus, Quiet Sun
Formed
in Bristol in 1974, Skywhale quickly became entrenched in their contemporary
progrock live circuit. Although they performed regularly in staple venues and
events such Ashton Court Festival (1978), the Rock Garden, the ICA in London,
Glastonbury and Stonehenge between 1974-1979, they only recorded a one-off gem
in 1977, The World At Mind’s End. A testament to its members’ musical
virtuosity, including Steve Robshaw’s outstanding guitar-playing skills,
flutework and violin, Paul Todd on soprano saxophone and Howard Scarr’s expertise
with the EMS VCS 3 and ARP Instruments synthesizers, this is an exploration of
sonic boundaries between prog-rock, with a marked Canterbury feel, and jazz
fusion, yielding a unique blend that is at the same time melodic and high
energy with constant rhythmic shifts that keep the listener alert in each of
its unexpected twists and turns. Just figure Caravan and Hatfield & The
North at their most melodic in dialogue with Weather Report at their most
energetic and you’ll get a glimpse of the 6 mostly over 7-minutes long
instrumental compositions that make up this album. The folkish and occasionally
classically inspired passages add substantially to the album’s rich tapestry.
Aiming to restore The World At Mind’s End to its proper place in the versatile
UK 70s prog scene, this edition features fully remastered versions of the
original tracks, includes a 2-page insert with everything you ever wanted to
know about Skywhale, and comes in a limited pressing of 400 copies, 200 in
black and 200 in splatter vinyl.
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