genre: prog
country: uk
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, cover)
time: 36'15" size: 282 mb
misc.: 2008 remaster
Tapestry Of Delights:
This outfit had earlier joined forces with black American singer John L. Watson to operate as a soul outfit John L. Watson and The Web after moving to London from the South Coast. In 1968 they changed name again to The Web and whilst their 45s were in the bubblegum mould their albums were very much of the progressive genre.
Their first album, essentially an uneasy amalgam of orchestrated pop, soul, lounge-room jazz, tribal chanting, music-hall and, yes indeed, psychedelic forays with odd time-changes, shows little coherence. The only thing to keep this building from immediate toppling is the sense of humour displayed on at least some of the tracks. There also is a stand-out track: East Meet West, with an an ominous melody and lovely sparse, but inventive instrumentation. The love for musical suites manifests itself already on War Or Peace, a quite listenable effort. The liner notes by some sixties luminaries are hilarious. With the same line-up and the same producer (Mike Vernon) Web gave it another try on Theraphosa Blondi, which continues very much in the same vein, but still shows slight improvement. The musical suite now starts off side one and incorporates some superb mood changes as well as a cover of Sunshine Of Your Love. Overall the mood is more serious, more jazzy through intensive use of wind instruments and more mature, although there still is room for tribal gatherings and throwaway pop songs. The departure of singer Watson and his replacement by Dave Lawson (who wrote all the material on their third album), as well as the label-change, make Web sound like a completely different band on I Spider. There's still the suite (Concerto For Bedsprings), but the atmosphere is heavy and menacing, rather than lightweight. Lawson's dramatic voice and especially his assorted keyboards, inventively played, unify the sound remarkably well, while the production by drummer Wright suits the music much better. Harsh harmonies and some fuzzy episodes make for uncomfortable but interesting listening. Although in places still lacking in coherence, this is an album not to be missed. Those who hate horns would do better to leave it alone, though. ~ (Marcel Koopman).
01. Like the man said-Sunshine of your life 13:53
02. Til I come home again once more 3:02
03. Bewala 2:31
04. 1000 Miles away 4:30
05. Blues for Two T's 2:50
06. Kilimajaro 3:49
07. Tobacco road-America 5:39
bonus:
09. Afrodisiac 3:20
10. Newspecs 3:48
- KENNY BEVERIDGE perc, drms
- JOHN EATON gtr
- TONY EDWARDS gtr
- TOM HARRIS sax, flute
- DICK LEE-SMITH bs
- JOHN L. WATSON vcls
- LENNIE WRIGHT drms, perc
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