Time Is... [CD]

This rare treat from 1971 is essential stuff for serious prog fans. This is the five-piece London-based band's superb second and final offering (their first album from 1970 is widely available - but it's honestly more of a curio than anything else and sounds quite dated in places, even for the time when it came out).

Although Raw Material definitely have their own sound, their main influence is fairly obvious: generous helpings of early Van Der Graaf Generator, employing quite similar chord changes, lots of twin sax, and a similarly weighty audio presentation. Another less noticeable influence is of the more up-tempo elements of early King Crimson. However, Raw Material are probably more accessible than either of these bands, so if you're already into either of these bands, you can purchase with total confidence, as the album contains no "difficult" tracks. It's all totally listenable from start to finish, without delivering any urge to hit the "skip" button.

The album's six tracks are very varied, particularly on the longest selections, such as the nine-minute Insolent Lady and the eleven-minute Sun God, both of which are broken up into three sections, and feature very pleasant melodic passages within genuine and full-on prog settings. Nothing outstays its welcome, in my opinion, and the music ticks every box necessary for great prog rock. And the raw excitement they create whenever they get going is great. Also, the impressive cover is by Keef, who did all the classic "swirl" Vertigo covers (the ones with the weird concepts and strange colours!)

The sound quality, as has come to be expected from Repertoire these days, is powerful - and LOUD!! Compression or not, this company always like to go for meaty and powerful presentation, similar to live performances, with all their titles, and the results are always impressive. I have lots of early 1970s titles from Repertoire's now extensive and impressive back catalogue, and the sound quality never disappoints (there are similarly impressive titles by the likes of Cressida, Curved Air, Beggars Opera, Renaissance, Gravy Train, If, and Gracious!, to name just a few). As well as presenting most of their albums in attractive and faithful mini-LP sleeves, Repertoire always know how to give forty-year-old recordings such as this one an impressive fresh lease of life!

As was often the case with "obscure" bands from around this time, perhaps because of a very limited budget allocated to the original recording sessions, there are some minor rough edges - with regards to expressive but non-distinctive lead vocals, some unrefined drum patterns, one or two jarring edits on the more complicated sections, and some strange instrumentation balance. These may have originally contributed to the album's poor sales but, nowadays, need not spoil your enjoyment in any way!

As Chris Welsh mentions in the sleevenotes, it's a real misfortune that Tony Stratton Smith of Charisma Records (Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, Rare Bird), was not asked to manage this band, otherwise who knows what even greater things Raw Material might have gone on to achieve, with his expert assistance in managing bands like them. As it was, Raw Material split up in 1972..

..but at least they left behind this very enjoyable album of which they can always be proud!

Wonderful prog rock 70s style of the best order. I dont know how I missed this first time round, but for anyone who likes good 70s Prog, this is a must