ARZACHEL - Self-Titled LP from 1969

	£		417
	$		553

fabulous condition copy of one of the all time rarest Progressive Rock LP's from 1969 on the Evolution Label (Z1003) featuring Hugo Montgomery-Campbell (Mont Campbell) Dave Stewart, Clive Brooks and Steve Hillage.  After this one album the band split and Steve Hillage went on to play with Khan and Gong before his solo career.  The other three became Egg.

The album features fantastic sleeve notes with (fictionalized) mini biographies of the band member under "hilarious (?)" false names :- 

Simeon Sasperella (lead guitar and vocals) - Sim was born in Seatoller, Cumberland, in 1948 and has been playing guitar for 11 years.  His dark, Northern ruggedness is offset by the coolness of his manner.  These two qualities are reflected in his playing - heavy, emotional work and soft, subtle sounds.  he believes that music is the only really physical art form and is in  a lifelong search for the ultimate musical power, on the same scale as the rocky Lake District crags from whence he came.

Njerogi Gategaka (bass guitar and vocals) - Njerogi was born in Mzumi Springs, a small border town in the North of the Kenyan Rift Valley.  He trained to be a Manjanga drummer for the local Kyuma dances, but came to England with family in 1962.  He lived in Brighton for five years, then moved to London, where he formed Arzachel with Sim, Basil and Sam.  He believes that music stems largely from the sexual urge, both of which have an integral part in rhythm, having been taught this as part of his drum training.

Basil Dowling (drums) - Basil was born in Tottenham in 1947; as one would expect he was an ardent Tottenham Hotspur FC supporter in his younger days, but decided that it would no longer be wise to go to football matches when his wiry, bushy hair reached shoulder length.  He has bee in seven groups, playing every conceivable style of music from dance band to skiffle.  Basil is a heavy, violent drummer; he has been known to break fourteen sticks in as many bars.  He believes that if it were not for Arzachel's music, his violence would still be expressed in seat-slashing and toilet-roll throwing.

Sam Lee-Uff (organ) - Sam was born in Lewisham in 1949 - he could play the piano when only two years old, and began to take organ lessons at the age of seven.  He was expelled from public school, and spent eight months living on crusts, playing a battered accordian on street corners.  This he refers to as his "hang-up" period.  When the Psychedelic scene began to blossom, Sam joined various unsuccessful groups.  Arzachel was a result of him meeting up with Sim and Njerogi.  Sam's favourite artistes include Heinz; Mike Ratledge, Holst; P J Proby; Vincent Crane.  He believes music to be an expression of one's inner being - this expression, he says, will lead to the ultimate spiritual liberation of one's personality.

The music, for those who don't know, has similarities with early Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, Egg, Caravan etc. and is (in my view) absolutely wonderful.

Track Listing : Side 1 - a. Garden of Earthly Delights.  b. Azathoth.  c. Queen Street gang.  d. Leg.  Side 2 - a. Clean Innocent Fun.  b. Metempsychosis

Condition (sleeve first) is : Mint/Ex+.  As a collector I am very wary of the term "Mint" and I very rarely use it.  In this case the sleeve really is absolutely flawless.  There are no tears, seam splits or creases.  The laminate is perfectly intact, the spine is uncreased and there is no writing or scuffing of any sort on the sleeve.  It really can only be described as Mint.

The vinyl is also visually in exceptionally good condition except for one nasty scuff mark on side 2 which crosses the end of track one and the start of track two.  THIS DOES NOT SOUND AT ALL and playback on both sides is absolutely superb.

I have put a high starting price on this item as I anticipate quite a lot of interest.  This is a very rare record in any condition - I have only seen it twice in more than 25 years of trawling UK second hand dealers - and you will have to wait a very long time to find a better copy so please do not hesitate to bid.