RARE 1977 = ISLANDS PICTURES = DARK SINISTER ATMOSPHERIC = TOAD PROG PSYCH LP

$

156

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         CLASSIC UNDERWORLD PROGRESSIVE GEM

            WITH DARK ATMOSPHERIC OVERTONES!

                                       TOP COPY!

                              ISLAND

                "PICTURES"

                        Swiss - ROUND RECORDS - No 1001

                        Machine Stamped Matrix A/1 & B1

RARE & MINT CLEAN  ...Original 1977 first pressing in eye-popping H.R.GEIGER artwork cover (see the Shiver "Walpurgis" album cover for similar H.R.Geiger stunning artwork) ... 

Dark, disturbing, percussive, and theatrical are words that come to mind when listening to this unique album from the mid 70's. No doubt that this album is a serious candidate to the "most complex prog-rock album ever" competition, and could successfully deal with any other complex album of the genre. It is almost impossible to describe how dark and sinister the atmosphere is for this album.

Island was loosely related to Brainticket, only because that band's vocalist Benjamin Jäger was a member of the legendary heavy psych group called Toad (which featured Cottonwoodhill-era members of Brainticket). Toad was a more of a blistering hard rock band and is nothing like what Island did. Island was an unsual atmospheric progressive band. Lots of wind instruments, keyboards (Hammond organ, Mini Moog, piano), drums/percussion, and Moog Taurus bass pedals, but absolutely no guitars or bass guitar! Aside from Jäger, this band consisted of Güge Jürg Meier on drums/percussion, Peter Scherer on keyboards, Moog Taurus bass pedals, and vocals, and René Fisch on reeds, flute, clarinet, triangle, and voice. This is truly some of the most complex, over-the-top-prog rock. This stuff make Gentle Giant seem like the Moody Blues, as far as complexity is concerned. In fact if you like Gentle Giant and Van der Graaf Generator, you're certain to dig Pictures. The first two cuts, "Introduction" and "Zero" are instrumental. The former features some really sinister sounding voices, and the latter is perhaps the "least sinister". Lots of great organ and winds combine for a terrific work here. Then the title track comes in, at over 16 minutes, in which vocals are used for the first time. This cut goes through so many changes, with a great passages by René Fisch. In "Herold and King/Dloreh", the band starts singing in reverse (not by playing the tape in reverse, but singing the words in reverse, such as "Dloreh" which is "Herold" in reverse). This dark, sinister atmosphere is continued with the last cut, "Here and Now". Given the dark tone of the whole album, it was only appropriate that none other than another Swiss native, who went by the name of H.R. Giger would do the cover to this album. Overall this is very dense music that is packed floor to rafters with intricate ensemble work; overwhelming virtuosity; atonal passages; and impossibly difficult time signatures. If you want a more challenging listen, you really can't go wrong here!

CONDITION: The cover: is a fragile gatefold, yet in great final collection M- with no problems ... the colors are strong, seams tight, no bends, no writing...worthy of framed wall art...  

The vinyl: both sides of the record are smooth and glossy clean, top rated M- and will play quite cleanly ... both green Round Records labels are clean... 

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