Caravan is a band which, during my five decades or so of listening to “proper” music I’ve always intended to check out though had not until recently.
Same goes for the “Canterbury Scene” thing here in the England which spring up around 1970 which Caravan one of the bands at the forefront of that.
A friend who is more in to his progressive rock than I am recently suggested I dip my toe in with In the Land of the Grey and Pink. So I have, snapping the CD up for a reasonable £6.99 via Amazon.
Must say it is a jolly good listen. Typically traditional charmingly genteel English prog of its time being originally released in 1971. Yes – it is proggy – yet also incorporates jazzy, folky and trippy psychedelic elements all very well composed and performed.
Doesn’t take itself too seriously and never boring, too “twiddly” or up itself as some prog tended to be back then.
The star of the show here is David Sinclair and his sublimely remarkable use of organ, piano and mellotron etc. This is very much his album and, forgive slight cliché – and album of two sides….
Side one consists of four trippy, poppy, proggy songs with charm and humour and some jazzy stuff. Oh: and those excellent Sinclair keyboards.
Golf Girl a fun opener lyrically and musically. Apparently a ditty around Richard Sinclair meeting his future wife. Very catchy too. Winter Wine a compelling seven minute listen. Love to Love You rather trippy – made me think of Spinal Tap and Listen to the Flower People…..!
The title track is another poppy, proggy, fun number.
Then the big guns come out for side two. A twenty two minute magnum opus entitled Nine Feet Underground.
Mostly instrumental with David Sinclair letting lose in a controlled, compelling way showing his prowess on that mixture of keys. Its not about fast mazy runs however. More nuanced and varied and always interesting.
The rest of the band give him the platform to be creative around and it works to astounding levels. It draws in the listener more and more with each spin. Gloriously progressive. Have a listen:
Very pleased I took a bit of a punt on this album. My £6.99 is well spent.
From what I read about Caravan in the booklet notes, In the Land of the Grey and Pink wasn’t a massive seller though over the years has gathered cult status. After getting my ears around it now I think it’s well worthy and a fine example understated English prog of the early 1970s sounding fresh now over fifty years later.
May be I should check out more “Canterbury Scene” stuff now if it might be as good as this. The bonus tracks on the CD are no back numbers either.
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