Description

JOHN STRANG The Masterpeace (2020 UK 18-track vinyl LP on Seelie Court, a new archival label home to ultra rare British titles dating between 1965-78, all sourced from a private collection, expertly remastered with audio restoration courtesyofReynolds Mastering. 25 copies were privately made in 1968 by the 17 year old Strang, who carried them home from the studio in a rucksack! Very few originals survive today. The songs are apocalyptic poetry that confront the Cold War, Hiroshimaa Tracklisting & Info:25 copies were privately made in 1968 by the 17 year old strang, who carried them home from the studio several miles in a rucksack on foot. Very few survive today, and it is a little understood LP. The title refers to nuclear armageddon and the total death of all life, not a hippie idyll, and the songs are apocalyptic poetry that confront the cold war, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, platonic forms and the nature of reality, there are also a few explicit drug references to LSD and amphetamines.This darkness of intent makes the LP exceptional for the time, and seminal. Musically it draws from Donovan and the Incredible String Band , at times becoming experimental, and yet with an air of fragility that predicts Vashti Bunyan's LP made two years later. John Strang continues to compose privately to this day, but walked away from a Transatlantic Records deal in the early 70sto pursue a career in Psychiatry, for which he was knighted. A concept LP about mental illness was due for release on Transatlantic, which we are currently restoring from surviving tapes and cassettes, entitled “Shame and Stigma” – it is forthcoming. Full lyrics included which demand careful reading, plus an insert explaining the LP, written by the artist himself. Tracks:A1 Village SchoolA2 Seagull No.3 A3 Late In The Day A4 Dreams A5 Madame Bartholemew A6 Acid AlbatrossA7 Little Fat ManA8 Butterfly A9 Ge-Bomb B1 Masterpeace 1 B2 Twisted Tree B3 Swallow No.7 B4 He Was Only A Child B5 Blistered Blades Of Grass B6 No Money To Pay B7 Love Grew In The Night B8 Little Anna B9 Masterpeace 2 Year of Release – 2020Format – vinyl LP album (LP record)Record Label – Seelie CourtCatalogue No – SCLP008Country of Origin – United KingdomBarcode – 5033281011255Availability – In Stock