Arcadium - Breathe Awhile 1969 ORIGINAL Middle Earth/ Astor Oz. SUPERIOR PRESS
£
122
$
162
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Description
Arcadium - Breathe Awhile
(Astor/ Middle Earth 1969 SPLP1313) Original Australian Pressing.
If you thought the UK original on Middle Earth was rare, meet it's even rarer Antipodean twin. Over my 30 odd years of record collecting and selling I have seen only 2 Australian copies, while I have seen maybe 20-30 UK copies over the same period. There are also very good reasons for buying this one above the UK original. I have had the priviledge of playing this back to back with a UK original and the difference is very evident. Not only is this a superior pressing on better quality vinyl, it also sounds like a better mastering job. The sensation of listening to this after playing the UK original is like lifting a veil or clearing a fog. The sound is very noticeably clearer, louder and with less surface noise.
Anyway, musically this is of course just fantastic: Doom-laden post-psychedelic proto-progressive rock charting the decline and fall of the aquarian dream. Anyone who was in any doubt that the flower power peace and love revolution was over, only had to listen to this dark and defeated masterpiece. Drug use had turned from exploring utopia and expanding the mind, to escape from reality and decadent hedonism. Straining for emotion and meaning, the agonised vocals complement the heavy yet brittle and fragile music perfectly.
Easily the best on this independent label run by the psychedelic club of the same name, this LP transcends genre and is simply a dark underground rock masterpiece. Arcadium remain obscure, mysterious and illusive, with a only few live dates in the music press and a place on an advert for all Middle Earth artists confirming their existence. I have not been able to find any contemporary reviews, photos or promo material about them. A 5 song 10 inch demo acetate of post LP tracks has surfaced recently and has been very kindly shared on a blog that should be easy to find. These suggest the band were going in a folkier direction, not dissimilar to Comus. You are also strongly advised to seek out the non-LP 45 the band released on Middle Earth UK.
Condition
Sleeve: The sleeve is glossy with flip backs but not laminated like the UK original. The sleeve shows general light age wear and the top left hand corner is a bit dog-eared with a couple of what look like tiny pin holes and a couple of dark spots on the front. There is also '71' written in black felt tip on the reverse top left hand corner. I have tried to highlight these in the photos. Overall the sleeve is VG.
Record: Not many spindle marks around the centre hole indicating few plays. The surface looks very clean with only whispy surface marks for the most part and plays with only light occasional static. There is however one 1/2 a centimetre scratch on the last song side 2 as can been seen on photo #7 which produces audible clicks. Due to this I can only grade the record as VG, although without the scratch it would be closer to EX.
So overall a nice but not mint copy of a very rare and brilliant record that should be in every psych and prog connoisseur's collection, no excuses.
Gradings
M- As new, no spindle marks on the label, or marks of any kind on the vinyl and no wear of any kind to the sleeve. Not a grade we use often or lightly for a 60s/70s record.
EX Maybe a few featherlight whispy marks, but no scratches or deterioration in sound. Very slight signs of aging to sleeve, but still looks fantastic.
VG+ Some light marks on the vinyl, but nothing that should cause pop or clicks. Some light occasional surface noise. Sleeve will show some general age wear, but nothing major.
VG Some heavier marks and maybe a few scratches that will cause some noise. Will still be a very enjoyable listen with no constant noise and defnitiely no skips, sticks or jumps. Sleeve will have more significant age wear but no major damage.
WE DO NOT SELL RECORDS GRADED BELOW VG.
Postage
Postage within UK is £3.50 which includes 'signed for' post. If you require insured postage this will be extra and this option will be available on the invoice. We will post worldwide at cost, but records must be sent fully insured and to be 'signed for' at buyers cost.
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happening45.co.uk for more psych, freakbeat, glam, funky rock, prog, beat and mod 45s and LPs from the late 60s/ early 70s
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