Loading cart
Distance Between Us (2LP Vinyl)
This really is a totally undescribable album but I'll give it a shot. It doesn't fit neatly into any one category but its pigeonholed into progressive rock. Frankly it may owe more to avant garde classical but progressive rock is as good as any way to categorize it. You like Mellotron? This album has got tons and tons of it. Four loooong tracks filled with tribal drumming, Mellotron, organ and other odd sounds. Over the years the album has taken on mythic proportions - mainly because it was featured on the famous Nurse With Wounds list. One thing is for sure - you haven't heard anything like it before.
The label hype pretty much tells the tale:
"Reissue of this cult 1972 album which featured on the infamous Nurse With Wound List.
During the long, dark hangover of the Summer of Love, the classically-trained Essex prodigy approached CBS Records with demo recordings. A forward-thinking A&R executive must have seen a potential revenue stream in Don Bradshaw-Leather's avant-classical noise. The artist was given an advance to record an album. He used the funds to create a large studio in Sussex with many instruments including an actual church organ. Here, on his own, without the use of any electronic sequencing, he recorded "Distance Between Us" using simply multitrack tape, layering each part of the composition. Upon hearing the product of their financial investment - four side-long tracks of blurry organ drones, frantic piano tinkling, and ritualistic percussion - CBS got cold feet.
The album was self-released on Bradshaw-Leather's own Distance imprint; a vanity label established for the sole purpose of releasing the album. The sleeve art is full of mysteries, from the misspelling of "Bradshaw" ("Bradsham"), to the coal-blackened visage of the bohemian madman on the cover (DBL himself?), to the rear photo collage depicting the same madman accosting a nude woman. The music isn't any less mysterious; shapeless symphonies of smeared-out Mellotron, tribal drums, and wordless vocals. Don Bradshaw-Leather passed away in the 90's."
"Man this is one insane recording. A double album released in 1972 filled with piano, organ and percussion which is all soaked in mellotron. This is not for the faint of heart as it's quite experimental and repetitive. This music is way out there people. From what i've read Don approached CBS Records with some demo tapes and i'm not sure what was on those tapes but keep in mind that Bradshaw was a classically trained pianist that many called a prodigy. Anyway an executive at CBS Records had enough faith in him that they gave him some money upfront which was used to create a studio with the equipment and instruments he needed to record his music. It wasn't an easy recording session as Don had to layer the sounds himself. When he finished he took the recording to CBS Records who actually refused to release such an experimental work which led him to release it himself. Notice the spelling mistake in his last name "Bradshaw" on the album cover. We get four side long suites so fasten your seatbelts unless you want to be able to escape 'cause there's a mellotron storm on the horizon.
Up first is "Distance Between Us-Part 1" and at first we have some incredible piano work before the mellotron arrives after a minute. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes as it changes with tribal-like drumming being the focus as the mellotron flows freely. Check out the organ 9 minutes in as it goes on for some time. Some vocal expressions and percussion before 16 minutes as the piano returns. This continues to the end of the song. "Distance Between Us-Part 2" opens with lots of piano but it's not long before the mellotron blows in. A calm before 5 minutes then the mellotron stops as it calms right down. The piano comes in and it's so beautifully played. This continues for some time then we get mellotron before 12 minutes to the end.
I must admit the second album is a difficult listen for me, especially the first track called "Dance Of The Goblins". It's laid back percussion to start as the mellotron rolls in. It gets pretty chaotic 6 1/2 minutes in as the percussion and mellotron continue. Man this is a difficult listen. The chaotic sections come and go. With about 10 minutes left the percussion stops and it sounds more like an electronic beat with mellotron which is better in my opinion. "Autumn Mist" is piano and mellotron led and it's not nearly as abrasive as the previous track. It becomes quite powerful before 9 minutes. The mellotron seems to go from soft to loud constantly. Piano 15 minutes in as the mellotron stops but not for long as it's back in spades before 19 minutes. Some drama late sound-wise.
Barely 4 stars for me but the first album is so good with the two part title track being the highlight of this recording. I'm not even sure if i'll play the second album again but this is such a unique recording and the first album is so good that I feel 4 stars is warranted. Music for the adventerous and somewhat deranged. - ProgArchives