Kaleidoscope [UK] - Tangerine Dream (1967 British Psychedelia)

Kaleidoscope were an English psychedelic and progressive rock group that existed from 1967 to 1969. Having performed since 1964 under the name The Sidekicks, they became The Key in November 1965, before settling upon the name Kaleidoscope when they signed a deal with Fontana Records in January 1967. The group consisted of Peter Daltrey (vocals, keyboards), Eddy Pumer (guitars), Steve Clark (bass, flute), and Dan Bridgman (drums). While the group did not achieve commercial success in its time, it retains a loyal fanbase and its recordings are remembered in high regard.

The band released two albums, Tangerine Dream in 1967 and Faintly Blowing in 1969. As the group moved further into progressive rock, and to avoid confusion with the American group Kaleidoscope, they renamed themselves yet again to Fairfield Parlour in 1969 and switched to the Vertigo label. The transformation saw no lineup changes. Under this name, they recorded and released From Home to Home in 1970. The last LP by the group was White Faced Lady, a rock opera recorded in 1971. It was shelved until 1991, when it was released under the band's original name Kaleidoscope.

No relation to the far better known American Kaleidoscope, though this British group was also psychedelic, and was active at almost exactly the same time in the late '60s. Highly esteemed by some collectors, Kaleidoscope epitomized certain of the more precious traits of British psychedelia with their fairy-tale lyrics and gentle, swirling folky sound. At times they sound like a far more melodic and accessible Incredible String Band. Their folky ballads have aged best, and although there's some period charm to be found throughout their two albums, it's all a bit too cloying to rank among the finest unknown psychedelia. Although they had a solid underground reputation in Britain, they never found wide success, and evolved into a similar group, Fairfield Parlour, by the end of the '60s.

Probably has the edge as the best of their two albums, but not by much. Includes several of their best songs: "Flight From Ashiya," "Dive Into Yesterday," "The Murder Of Lewis Tollani," and especially the fragile ballad "Please Excuse My Face."

01. Kaleidoscope
02. Please Excuse My Face
03. Dive Into Yesterday
04. Mr.Small the Watch Repairer Man
05. Flight From Ashiya
06. The murder of Lewis Tollani
07. In the Room Of Percussion
08. Dear Nellie Goodrich
09. Holiday Maker
10. A Lesson Perhaps
11. The Sky Children
12. A Dream For Julie [Bonus]
13. Jenny Artichoke [Bonus]
14. Just How Much You Are [Bonus]

Post by ChrisGoesRock