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One of the most ambitious psychedelic albums to emerge from continental Europe in the late 60s, w/9 BONUS tracks !
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Why has The Netherlands never produced a band successful outside its own country? There have been a few one-hit wonders and of those Shocking Blue and Golden Earring made some other good records, but nothing long-lasting. It isn't as if none of them are much good, as Group 1850 proved here, although they were obviously too 'out there' to make it big. This CD features a very trippy, experimental album plus nine bonus tracks which are, on the whole, more conventional. All of it was recorded during 1967/8.
The album has an intimidating atmosphere, due to a cavernous echo, shimmering lead guitar, vocals in a deep register and a liberal sprinkling of sound effects. The centrepiece is the thirteen-minute 'I Put My Hand On Your Shoulder' which is not so much a coherent composition as a patchwork collage held together by some ad lib drumming from the school of early Nick Mason (hit 'em hard). They could make beautiful music when they wanted to , however, as on the tracks 'Refound' and 'Reborn'.
As for the bonus tracks, they are a mix of rhythm and blues in the style of American garage bands such as Shadows of Knight, straight pop in the mould of The Fortunes, and more spaced-out freakiness. Their most feted track seems to be 'Mother No Head', three versions of which are presented here, and which was their sole track to be selected for the superb 'Rubble' compilations. It starts and ends with a Bo Diddley rhythm, but morphs into a doomy Druidic-style chant in between. Group 1850 were nothing if not original
The album has an intimidating atmosphere, due to a cavernous echo, shimmering lead guitar, vocals in a deep register and a liberal sprinkling of sound effects. The centrepiece is the thirteen-minute 'I Put My Hand On Your Shoulder' which is not so much a coherent composition as a patchwork collage held together by some ad lib drumming from the school of early Nick Mason (hit 'em hard). They could make beautiful music when they wanted to , however, as on the tracks 'Refound' and 'Reborn'.
As for the bonus tracks, they are a mix of rhythm and blues in the style of American garage bands such as Shadows of Knight, straight pop in the mould of The Fortunes, and more spaced-out freakiness. Their most feted track seems to be 'Mother No Head', three versions of which are presented here, and which was their sole track to be selected for the superb 'Rubble' compilations. It starts and ends with a Bo Diddley rhythm, but morphs into a doomy Druidic-style chant in between. Group 1850 were nothing if not original
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mushroom
Format:Audio CD
Give it a few listens is correct, probably best on Headphones. There are parts that would suggest a Dutch 'Pink Floyd', Early Floyd. Some of the Harmonies remind me of HP Lovecraft, some of the humour in 'Did it too Hard' reminds me of Gong. It is certainly counterculture, there is a very long experimental track that does take a while as it is certainly not play at a party material. One version of this CD contains almost all their Freakbeat 45s which are great Psychedelic monsters. This is really druggy and weird, it will appeal to people who like Psychedelia and Spacerock. It is closer to Krautrock but certainly on it's own. Anything by Group 1850 is recommended. I have not to this day been able to work out the concept behind this record, but it does not really matter, the lyrical message seems to be able finding the divinity within, which sounds like good advice to me. Certainly up there with other weird records of the Psychedelic era. It has quite a mystical feel about it. Everything is processed and full of sound effects and phasing unlike their second album 'Paradise Now' which is much more a Psychedelic Rock record with Hendrix leanings. It is very sad that very little else survived of Group 1850 but Peter Sjardin was planning to put the Group 1850 back catalogue out but that was 2004. I love this album and have listened a reasonable amount of Dutch Psychedelia and found nothing much like it. A very trippy album.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
It takes a while to appreciate the superb nature of this album but is now one of my favourite psyche albums. Give it a go but don't expect to be dazzled fiorst time.
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