Tamam Shud - Evolution & Goolutionites And The Real People (1968-1972) (2002)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Artist: Tamam Shud
Album: Evolution & Goolutionites And The Real People (1968-1972) 2 in 1
Released: 1968 to 1972 / 2002
Source: TSCD04 (2 in 1 CD)
Genre: Progressive Rock, Acid-Rock, Psychedelic, Heavy Guitar
Info: Click Here
Format: Eac-Flac-Log-Cue-Scans-Rar (504 MB)
Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares: Based in Sydney Tamam Shud emerged from the surf and hippie underground culture of the sixties via The Four Strangers and The Sunsets (of Hot Generation fame). Formed in late 1967 by singer and guitarist Lindsay Bjerre, they were clearly initially inspired by the U.S. and U.K. psychedelic and hard rock bands of the era. The original line-up comprised Bjerre, Dannie Davidson, Zac Zytnik and Peter Barron. Their first album Evolution is superb. The opener Music Train is an excellent guitar driven prog-psych assault, which is sustained by two further heavy guitar bomblasts, I'm No One and Mr. Strange, which is notable for a great introductory passage. By contrast Lady Sunshine, also excellent, is more melodic and very Beatleish. Falling Up has an off-key, unnerving quality and a bluesy guitar jam called Feel Free concludes side one. The material on side two isn't quite as good but overall this is one of Australia's finest progressive rock albums. It was partly financed by Paul Witzig, a surfing film-maker, who wanted to use the band's music as a soundtrack to his 'Evolution' film. Although it was released in 1969 it was actually recorded in late 1968 in just two and a half hours on primitive equipment. Four of the best tracks; Evolution, I'm No One, Mr. Strange and Lady Sunshine ended up on the Evolution soundtrack. Evolution was also culled as a 45 and backed by the Lady Sunshine.
They had established themselves with Evolution, but as Ian McFarlane in 'Freedom Train' pointed out, their masterpiece was the ambitious Goolutionites And The Real People album. Although Lindsay Bjerre remained as the creative pivot of the band, McFarlane observed that this stunning album was dominated by sixteen year old guitar prodigy Tim Gaze's incisive guitar work. This is at its most forceful on tracks like A Plague and Stand In The Sunlight, which was selected for 45 release. The lengthy Down On The Lot is in a jazz-rock vein, Heaven Is Closed is broody and heavy and the evolving Goolutionists Theme is awesome. The album is recognised as one of the very finest Australian progressive rock offerings. Not long after its release Tim Gaze and Dannie Davidson left to form Kahvas Jute with guitarist Dennis Wilson and bassist Bob Daisley. By the end of the year, though Gaze had rejoined Tamam Shud and remained in the band until it broke up in August 1972. Prior to their break-up they issued a picture sleeve EP Bali Waters (from the Morning Of The Earth soundtrack) which combined the title track with Got A Feeling and My Father Told Me, two tracks which were also issued on a 45 that year. The EP is now their rarest and most sought-after record. Got A Feeling was its best cut - a strong melody and progressive arrangement. Upon Tamam Shud's demise Lindsay Bjerre and Peter Barron formed acoustic country-rockers Albatross. Nigel Macara formed Miss Universe, but soon teamed up with Spectrum's Mike Rudd and Bill Putt in their new outfit Ariel.
There was a reformation in 1994, which resulted in a hit single Stay and an album, Permanent Culture. During their illustrious career Tamam Shud provided the music score for several surf film scores and contributed three tracks, Bali Waters, First Things First and Sea The Swell to the Morning Of The Earth 1972 soundtrack. Sea The Swell can also be found on Nat Young's History Of Australian Surfing. The Morning Of The Earth soundtrack was also issued on album in Australia by Warner Bros in 1973. - By Vernon Joynson.
Freak Emporium: Both of the superb late 60's albums by this Aussie legend. Evolution showcases the bands distinct style with ripping acid guitar and strong songs whilst the second is an acid prog masterpiece in the realms of T2 and the Masters Apprentices "Toast To Panama Red" that's probably the most sought after Australian album of its kind.
LPCD Reissues: Although the Sydney-based Tamam Shud (the unusual name is probably a corruption of Taman Shud, borrowed from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) was formed in 1967 by singer/guitarist Lindsay Bjerre, the band only sprang to prominence when their superb debut album, Evolution, was issued by CBS (SBP 233761) in 1969. Partly financed by the surfing film-maker Paul Witzig, who originally intended to use the band’s music as a soundtrack to his film of the same name, the album had a guitar-driven prog-psych sound clearly borrowed from British and American hard rock bands of the time.Having established themselves with Evolution, the band went on to record their opus major for Warner Bros in 1970 in the form of the ambitious Goolutionites And The Real People (WS 20001), a stunning and imaginative work dominated by the prodigious talents of 16-year old guitarist, Tim Gaze. Gaze’s precocious guitar work was conspicuously present throughout the album, although it was on A Plague and Stand In The Sunlight, both of which were to appear as 45s, that his playing really shone. Although Gaze left the band immediately after the album’s release to join Kahvas Jute, he returned later the same year, and remained in the group until it disbanded in 1972.Goolutionites is widely recognised as one of the finest Australian prog-psych offerings of all time, and as such is a welcome addition to Radioactive’s growing collection of rare but timeless reissues
Bmusic.com: Tamam Shud was one of the most original and innovative Australian groups of the late '60s / early '70s, and they played a very important part in Australia's musical development as pioneers of acid-rock and progressive music. Long after they split they remained a 'cult' item, and a definite mystique still surrounds them. Their original recordings were (and still are) highly prized by collectors and aficionados, but they are now very hard to obtain. Happily there was a brief but gratifying comeback and some commercial success with their superb 1994 album Permanent Culture and the hard-driving, bluesy single Stay, which delighted longtime fans of this outstanding group, and kindled interest with younger listeners as well.
To commemorate the their involvement in the recent 'Long Way To The Top' shows Tamam Shud have released '1968-1972' featuring two full albums, EVOLUTION and GOOLUTIONITES AND THE REAL PEOPLE, and the single GOT A FEELING. Nearly 80 minutes of Shud at their best!
Introduction of the Band in Official Wesbite: Tamam Shud was one of the most original and innovative Australian groups of the late '60s / early '70s, and they played a very important part in our musical development as pioneers of acid-rock and progressive music. Long after they split they remained a 'cult' item, and a definite mystique still surrounds them. Their original recordings were (and still are) highly prized by collectors and aficionados, but they are now very hard to obtain. Happily there was a brief but gratifying comeback and some commercial success with their superb 1994 album Permanent Culture and the hard-driving, bluesy single Stay, which delighted longtime fans of this outstanding group, and kindled interest with younger listeners as well.
For More Info and Biography Visit the Official website of Tamam Shud http://www.tamamshud.com/
|
