Cold Sun - Dark Shadows [1970][2008]

It's almost impossible to categorise this amazing album. The nearest fit is probably "Psychedelic Rock" but that doesn't really do it justice.

Cold Sun was born out of a band called Amethyst, in Austin, Texas, around 1969,and was fronted by Bill Miller, whose instrument was an electric autoharp. This alone guarantees something rather unusual! Incidentally, I was amazed at how many well known musicians have played the autoharp at one time or another, as a quick Google revealed.

This gem almost never got released, it certainly wasn't at the time. In the late '80s an LP was cut from a collection of old long stored master tapes. This was limited to a numbered run of 300, which ensured its rarity.

Then, in 2008, it was finally cleaned up (it needed to be) and re-released on CD by World in Sound (wis1038) with a revised track order and two bonus tracks.

This is the most endearing album I've heard for a long time. It is simultaneously gentle, charming, but very heavy and edgy in places. Bill's vocals are superb (from a man who claims he can't sing) and very varied, sounding plaintive, angry, and at times even like Dylan, sometimes all in the same track. The lyrics are, er, quite trippy, as you might expect!

One or two of the tracks even bring to mind modern "indie rock", sounding years ahead of their time. Must have been something in the water (or the cigarette paper)...

The mellow but sometimes forceful sound of the autoharp, the searing psychedelic guitar, the urgent accurate drumming and the tuneful bass all come together to produce an absolute stonker of an album, essential to any lover of late 60's / early 70's psych rock. It's a one-of, trust me.

Tracks:

1. South Texas ( 5:19)
2. Twisted Flower ( 3:02)
3. Here in the Year ( 8:53)
4. For Ever ( 4:26)
5. See What You Cause ( 3:41)
6. Fall ( 7:12)
7. Ra-Ma (11:19)
8. Live Again [Live] (10:18)
9. Mind Aura [Live] ( 7:27)

Band:

Bill Miller (autoharp, vocals)
Tom McGarrigle (guitar)
Mike Waugh (bass)
Hugh Patton (drums)