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FAR CANAL
JODY GRIND
1971, UK- Out of print/Fuori stampa
Label: AKARMA
ALBUM REVIEW
180 gram vinyl pressing of this album originally released on Transatlantic in 1970 (and withdrawn because of the title). The second and last album by Jody Grind is really close to the masterpiece. As reported on the credits of the album Tim Hinkley states: ‘…In November 1969 Ivan and Barry, getting deeper into a very personal musical form, left the group. I asked Pete Gavin (drums) and Bernie Holland (guitars) to join the band, which they did, and together we spent six hard, enjoyable, sad, heavy musical months…’. The result is the release in July 1970 of Far Canal, with no means, one of the best obscure and underrated albums of the early 70’s. Perfectly introduced by a classical influenced twin acoustic guitar theme, We’ve Had It is the best start for the follower of Jody Grind debut. A baroque tune with an intense emotion and dramatic feel which develops in a crescendo repeating the original theme step by step enriched by the Hammond organ, the electric guitar textures and Hinkley’s original vocals…a truly gem. The short Bath Sister is a catchy and typical 70’s tune with nice guitar riffs and organ waterfalls waving from blues to the hard rock style. No chance to distress your ears as now it’s time for another breathtaking composition, the 7 minutes long Jump Bed Jed showing a high level guitar soloing as well as the perfect layered organ switching from Hendrix style to Atomic Rooster atmospheres. More than in One Step On a large presence of instrumental tracks is featured, too. One of these is O Paradiso, a long improvisational piece with strong Santana influences, or the shorter Vegetable Oblivion with dual guitars and piano showing both a psychedelic and progressive approach, or again with the rock tune, similar to the remarkable Caravan vein, titled Red Worms & Ice featuring a catchy guitar riff and solos and layered Hammond organ as usual and, at last, with Ballad for Bridget, a quiet and jazzy song based on piano improvisation and warm guitar chords as album closing. Even though Far Canal is mainly a studio effort, and no concerts album have posthumously released, the live experience of the group has been captured in Plastic Shit, a strong piece in the typical Hendrix rock vein recorded at the Roundhouse. (Eventyr)
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