Oldish Psych and Prog

 

This band reflects a tiny but fascinating and oft-forgotten scene of South African progressive rock, regularly omitted from prog annals and denied their part in music history. But in their time, FREEDOM'S CHILDREN were no less innovative than ATOMIC ROOSTER, EGG or COLOSSEUM and their 1970 release "Astra" was an extremely important if completely missed record. Luckily it was re-issued in 1990 and again several times. The original band included Julian Laxton's lead guitar (and inventor of his 'black box', a much mythologized sound-producing device), Nic Martens on organ, bassist/lyricist Ramsay MacKay, Brian Davidson's voice, drummer Colin Pratley, Harry Poulos on organ and vocals and Gerard Nel's piano. Many well-known musicians have played in the band over the years including Trevor Rabin, Mick Jade and Ken E. Henson. 
Unable to legally work in certain places due to issues surrounding Apartheid, the band found it difficult to break through, especially outside their country but continued making strides in the 1970s. Undoubtedly their most important work and finest effort is "Astra", a spicy and exciting blend of heavy prog with plenty of psych and blues. The disc has been re-released as many as six times in varying degrees of quality, the last in 2004.
FREEDOM"S CHILDREN is one of the best of the hard-edged prog bands and a jewel in the South African prog crown, and is highly recommended to fans of the earlier, more intense heavy art bands. ~ Atavachron (David)
 

 

Fuzz Acid & Flowers:
The album is virtually a second Deep LP and almost identical in style. A Million Grains Of Sand and My Rainbow Life are two of its better tracks. Some of the other material can arguably described as rubbish, or brilliant. It's now a minor collectors' item and was repressed in 1989. My Rainbow Life was also done by Third Bardo and it has therefore been surmised that they were yet another of Rusty Evans' 'projects'. This was not the case as you'll read later in the Third Bardo entry. Filling The Gap includes a different version ofA Million Grains of Sand that Rusty recorded at a later date as Marcus.

 

 

 

 

The Quiet Zone

Lizard Play 4:11
The Habit of the Broken Heart 4:19
The Siren Song 5:43
Last Frame 5:52

The Pleasure Dom

The Wave 3:01
Cat`s Eye / Yellow Fever (Running) (G.Smith/P.Hamill) 5:04
The Sphinx in the Face 5:40
Chemical World 5:52
The Sphinx Returns 1:10

(Hammill, except title 2.2)

bonuses on 2005 Remaster :
08 Chemical World 6:11
09 The Sphinx Returns 1:17
10 Door 3:37
11 Ship Of Fools (single B - side) 3:03
12 The Wave (demo version) 3:50

Graham Smith (violin) Guy Evans (drums) Nick Potter (bass) Peter Hammill (vocals, guitar)

Produced by Peter Hammill, Engineered by Ian Gowan, Dave Anderson,Pat Moran Recorded at Foel (Llanfair Caerinion), Morgan(London) and Rockfield (Moumouth),between 13th May - 12th June 1977,Painting by Jess Artem,Photography Robin