(Psychedelic / Garage 60's) VA - Psychedalia: Rare Blooms From The English Summer Of Love - 1996, MP3 (tracks), CBR 256 kbps

"The English Summer of Love," huh? Judging from the track selection on this collection of goodies from the Decca/Deram vaults, that summer must have lasted well into the early `70s. Of course, as we all know by now, many English groups continued to churn out brilliant psychedelic music long after the "hip" bands had all decided to "get it together in the country." So while Psychedalia does feature some bona-fide classics from circa `67 (Kaleidoscope's "Flight From Ashiya," Jason Crest's "Turquoise Tandem Cycle," Felius Andromeda's "Meditations") and `68 (Denny Laine's "Catherine's Wheel," Timebox's "Gone is the Sad Man") there's also some choice latecomers like the Open Mind, whose 1969 single "Magic Potion" sounds like Tomorrow if they'd ditched Steve Howe for Ron Asheton. Also from 1969 are both sides of Bulldog Breed's excellent single, "Portcullis Gate" b/w "Halo In My Air," both of which flirt with prog without ever actually succumbing to it. On the other hand, Principal Edwards' "Weekdaze" is totally ruined by a Yes-meets-Allman Brothers harmony lead guitar break - which, considering that the song dates from 1973, makes perfect sense.
Although they may be too "hard-rock" for some, I quite like "Out of Your Own Little World" and "Niagara," the two sides of Megaton's 1971 Deram single, which feature lots of heavy riffing and a vocalist who sounds a little like Humble Pie-era Steve Marriott. After some interesting obscurities from the Dylan-esque Bill Fay ("Scream in the Ears," "Some Good Advice"), and pop- soulers the Quik ("I Can't Sleep," "Soul Full of Sorrow") and Double Feature ("Baby Get Your Head Screwed On"), the collection ends with the great "Nite-Is-A-Comin'/Smeta Murgaty" from Warm Sounds, who sound like a hipper Mamas & Papas with a really acid-fried guitarist. While hardly essential, Psychedalia is an interesting diversion for anyone receptive to post-`67 grooviness.
- Dan Epstein (Originally published in Ugly Things #17, 1999)