Lothar & The Hand People - Space Hymn/Presenting... (1967/69)
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Artist: Lothar & The Hand People
Album: Space Hymn/Presenting... - The Complete Capitol Recordings
Released: 2003 Double CD reissue
Acadia - ACAD 8058
Genre: Psych Rock/Electronic
Review:
As the subtitle suggests, Space Hymn: The Complete Capitol Recordings (2003) contains all the material that Lothar & the Hand People cut during their three-year association with the label. The long-players Presenting. . .Lothar and the Hand People (1969) as well as Space Hymn (1969) are featured on this two-disc compendium, as well as the singles issued prior to their debut LP. Although Paul Conley (synthesizer/keyboards/Moog synthesizer), John Emelin(vocals/voices), Tom Flye (drums/percussion), Rusty Ford (bass), and Kim King (guitar/Moog synthesizer/amplifiers) were products of the fertile New York City rock & roll scene of the mid-'60s, the combo made their way via Denver, Colorado circa 1965. They blend experimental psychedelia with a myriad of sounds from the burgeoning Moog synthesizer keyboard technology. The results were decidedly mixed, as selections such as "It Comes on Anyhow" -- which is less of a song than a musique concrete composition -- "Today Is Only Yesterday's Tomorrow," and the introduction to the superb baroque-flavored "That's Another Story." In the case of the latter, the seeming randomness of the bleats and electro-drones lessens the musicality, especially since the melody is actually one of their more engaging outings. By contrast, "Sister Lonely" stands out, thanks to the variation of Muddy Waters' "Rollin' & Tumblin'" along with some considerable contributions from Ford's undulating underpinning. "You Won't Be Lonely" may be the best example of Lothar & the Hand People as a straight-ahead and slightly garage-influenced aggregate, with some particularly worthwhile vocal harmonies that recall the Who's mid-'60s output. "Wedding Night for Those Who Love" is a remarkable instrumental with Conley providing an affective duet between the theremin and piano, producing arguably the best fusion of traditional and modern instrumentation. To lesser effect is the cover of Manfred Mann's second-tier hit "Machines" -- with some overbearing mechanical, yet rhythmic clunking -- and "Sex and Violence," with an otherwise consistent improvisational jam. As referred to above, Space Hymn: The Complete Capitol Recordings also includes "L-O-V-E (Ask for It by Name)," "Rose Coloured Glasses," "Comic Strip," "Every Single Word," "Have Mercy (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy)," and "Let the Boy Pretend," the respective A- and B-sides to a trio of 45s, none of which are otherwise available on CD. [Lindsay Planer - allmusic.com]
Track List:
CD1 Space Hymn (1969)
1 Yes, I Love You
2 Today Is Only Yesterday's Tomorrow
3 Midnight Ranger
4 Sister Lonely
5 Wedding Night for Those Who Love
6 Heat Wave
7 Say "I Do"
8 What Grows on Your Head?
9 Sdrawkcab
10 Space Hymn
CD2 Presenting (1968)
1 Machines
2 This Is It
3 This May Be Goodbye
4 That's Another Story
5 Kids Are Little People
6 Ha (Ho)
7 Sex and Violence
8 Bye Bye Love
9 Milkweed Love
10 You Won't Be Lonely
11 Woody Woodpecker
12 It Comes on Anyhow
13 Paul, in Love
14 L-O-V-E (Ask for It by Name)
15 Rose Coloured Glasses
16 Comic Strip
17 Every Single Word
18 Have Mercy (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy)
19 Let the Boy Pretend
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