M- TOPS 1973 UK HOME ALCHEMIST Concept PROG PSYCH NEKTAR Meets WISHBONE ASH

$

49

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 IMPRESSIVE 1973 BRITISH ELECTRIFED PROGRESSIVE COLLECTIBLE!

                                 HOME

              The Alchemist              

                       UK - CBS CBS RECORDS - 65550

TOP COPY...

ORIGINAL 1973 SCARCE U.K. first pressing in gatefold sleeve...a strong progressive rock conceptual with moving keyboards and guitar work highlightomg and accenting perfectly throughout...

Includes the original printed UK CBS inner sleeve

'The Alchemist' is a well-defined concept album that tells the tale of a young lad who assumes the powers of a dying wizard and uses those powers to save his town from some sort of rather vague disaster, apparently suffering from the same fatal affliction as his mentor as a result. Because of his diminished powers he is reviled by those same citizens when he is unable to stave off the second wave of doom, and is murdered by an angry mob. The album closes with a kind of eulogy to the alchemist, although the lyrics don't quite match the album artwork so it's not completely clear which wizard is being eulogized. That's the concept part.

The album flows seamlessly from beginning to end as the story unfolds. Laurie Wisefield contributes some of his most striking guitar work ever, while Stubbs vocal performance is simply outstanding. It is all but impossible to find reference points for the music here. To call it a blending of NEKTAR and WISHBONE ASH might give a vague indication, but the truth is the album is unique.

The music builds from the early soft scene setting tracks to the first "Disaster", a powerful, menacing, keyboards/guitar driven crescendo. This segues into "The Sun's Revenge" where Wisefield offers some of his hardest guitar playing. "The Disaster Returns" presents an even greater cacophony of sound, leading to a striking unaccompanied electric guitar chord introducing "The Death of the Alchemist". The guitar work at this point is supremely atmospheric, not in terms of a solo, but as a dramatic interlude. The story concludes with a disintegration of the music and peeling bells before a final guitar chord lays the Alchemist to rest.

If that was it, we would be revering one of the finest progressive albums of its time. The masterstroke though is a separate coda simply titled "The Alchemist". This passionately atmospheric ballad acts as the most effective counterpoint to an album we have come across. The songs stand proud in its own right, but here it is quite majestic.

A truly awesome album which stands as a forgotten gem of progressive rock.

1. Schooldays (2:57)
2. The Old Man Dying (3:47)
3. Time Passes By (2:05)
4. The Old Man Calling (Save the people) (3:15)
5. The Disaster (2:36)
6. The Sun's Revenge (4:00)
7. A Secret To Keep (1:18)
8. The Brass Band Played (1:25)
9. Rejoicing (2:49)
10. The Disaster Returns (Devastation) (8:03)
11. The Death Of The Alchemist (4:35)
12. The Alchemist (3:48)

CONDITION: The cover: is a nice gatefold in TOP M- clean and sharp stiff condition...one which the lucky winner should greatly appreciate (so clean...) ...no bends, no wroting and no split seams ... TOP LEVEL

The vinyl: is all glossy clean and clear M- play graded smooth and clear ...the old orange UK CBS labels are both clean nice 38 years old collectible 

keeper!

A GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record