ABSTRACT TRUTH Totum LP/1970 South Africa/Prog/Psych Rock/Third Eye/SHADOKS

$

50

ABSTRACT TRUTH 'Totum' LP (Germany, Shadoks, Catalogue #112) Brand new/unplayed copy of limited year 2009 Shadoks label LP edition (edition of 500 numbered copies) of MEGA-RARE 1970 South African Progressive Psych Rock LP by Durban based band Abstract Truth. Totum was the first of their two original album releases.

(NOTE: ALL RECORDS ARE PACKED AND SHIPPED IN PROFESSIONAL, SUPERIOR QUALITY RECTANGULAR SHAPED, CORNER PROTECTING CORRUGATED CARDBOARD RECORD MAILERS WITH FILLER PADS. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!)

(NOTE: BRAND NEW/FACTORY SEALED ITEM!)

(NOTE: LIMITED VINYL EDITION OF 500 COPIES ONLY!)

This is the debut release by South African prog/jazz/folk/psych band, Abstract Truth. The band existed only for a very short time, but it was a time of super-creativity. They exploded onto the Durban music scene early in 1969, released two studio albums during 1970 on EMI, of which this is the first. Comprised mostly of reworkings of songs by Donovan, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, etc., plus one original song, this is excellent early '70s melodic, wistful freak-rock blended with African rhythms in an assorted panoply of instruments: keyboards, flutes, electric guitars, saxophone, percussion, etc. A refreshing approach with an eastern touch. If you like UK bands such as Quintessence, If and Bloodwyn Pig, this album goes in the same direction. It is more trippy/stoned and acoustic than their follow-up from the same year, Silver Trees. Ken E. Henson on guitar, vocals and sitar; Robbie Pavid on percussion; Brian Gibson on bass & vocals; Sean Bergin on sax & flute.

'The band Abstract Truth existed only for a very short time, but it was a time of super-creativity. They exploded on to the Durban music scene in early 1969, released 2 studio albums during 1970 on EMI, which we have here. The 3rd album, Cool Sounds For Heads is only a compilation of these 2 LPs. Ken E. Henson on guitar, vocals and sitar / Robbie Pavid on percussion / Brian Gibson on bass & vocals / Sean Bergin on sax & flute. Excellent early '70s melodic wistful freak-rock, blended with African sounds featuring assorted instruments: keyboards, flutes, electric guitars, saxophone, percussion, etc. A refreshing approach with an Eastern touch. If you like UK bands such as Quintessence, If and Bloodwin Pig, this album goes in the same direction. It is more trippy/stoned and acoustic than the Silver Trees album.'

'Abstract Truth was formed by the late Ken E. Henson. He had been guitarist in a band called Leeman Ltd that had formed in Durban in 1965. He also played a key role with Ramsey MacKay and former Navarones Colin Pratley and fellow Leeman Ltd member Jimmy Thompson in creating Freedoms Children, arguably South Africa's finest rock band of this era. Henson was involved in the early singles put out by Freedoms Children (credited to Fleadom's Children because the goverment considered the word freedom unacceptable). Henson then departed Freedoms Children and spent six weeks with The Bats.

In 1969, Henson and saxophonist Sean Bergin were in a jazz group called The Sounds. In February 1969 Henson was approached by the owner of the Palm Beach Hotel in Durban's Gillespie Street to put together an Eastern sounding outfit to back a belly dancer at the hotel's club called Totum. So Ken Henson rounded up Gibson (b. 17 March 1942, Newport, South Wales), (formerly of UK group The 004's) who had started in cabaret and Robbie Pavin (who'd previously played drums in The Mods and The Jon Sharpe Set and was playing for The Third Eye at the time) to play with himself and Sean Bergin. They played a fusion of blues, folk, jazz and Eastern music and soon replaced the belly dancer (who was duly dismissed) as the main attraction.

Clive Calder signed Abstract Truth to EMI in 1970. Totum was recorded in Johannesburg in early 1970 . It largely consisted of reworkings of jazz, folk and blues songs. There is also one band original, the sitar-drenched Total Totum (Acid Raga). The covers include Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair, Gershwin's Summertime and Donovan's Fat Angel. The album utilizes a range of instruments: keyboards, saz, percussion, flutes and electric guitars to blend rock with African sounds.

In late 1970, a new line-up featuring Henson and Bergin alongside Peter Measroch and George Wolfaardt, recorded Silver Trees. The long title track features some superb guitar work from Ken Henson as well as some nifty keyboard work from Peter Measroch. The opening cut Pollution has a sort of African jive sound whilst the harpsichord on Moving Away exudes a Medieval Europe feel. Overall the album blends rock, jazz, classical, blues, funk and jive. It features lots of swirling keyboards and flute. The songs are more structured on this album, which unlike Totum, contained no cover versions.

Abstract Truth was one of the most progressive groups to come out of South Africa. Unfortunately at the time not many people were on their wavelength which is why their career was relatively short-lived.' - Dreams, Fantasies And Nightmares

Tracks on this LP are as follows:

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