ARCADIUM - Breathe Awhile (1969)

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Formed in mid-1969,a very early prog group. They made an album and a single before splitting. Both became incredibly rare, but Repertoire has reissued Breathe Awhile with the single tracks as bonuses-effectively the group's collected works. Very heavy and atmospheric hard-rocking stuff, with lots of organ and 12-string acoustic guitar. Breathe Awhile is described as being "full of anguish and despair, even in the quieter moments" but the anguish and despair is almost never strong, and quiet moments are rare. The group is a lot like Led Zepplin, the album is a non-stop roller coaster of speed and agression with no relief, the few and fleeting slow parts are only build-ups to the fast parts, and utter lack of contrast causes what little emotion is sprinkled throughout to sound bland, worn out by never-ending attempts to thrill. Breathe Awhile is one over-sized finale with no beginning nor epilogue, and worthwhile only for those who like continuously agressive and climactic music. Either a great group that didn't fulfil their potential or a bad group that made a fair album. The latter seems most likely, as the playing (especially the vocals) is too pompous. In particular, the frightfully incessant and astoundingly arrogant "Woman of a Thousand Years" is one of the worst prog tunes ever: brainless organ beats behind Robert Plant-style vocals and preachy lyrics, broken by a choral singing of the title. How pretentious can you get? In contrast, the 10-minute "Birth, Life and Death" opens with 6 minutes of crafty and glorious instrumentation (Birth). The vocal period (Life) mourns human life as a simple game of limited choice, then climaxes with a choral chant (Death). If you have nothing better to buy, get this album and try listening to this song first; it's by far their best, but its impact is deflated by the fact that most of the album is climactic. The single A-side, "Sing My Song", is filled with lonely organ,gentle guitar, and some striking riffs. The B-side, "Riding Alone", is similar but better, though brief. -- Robert Orme