Introspection The End Artist

Although {|Introspection|} bombed due to a belated release, collectors have since heralded it as one of the finest albums from the brief British psychedelic wave. Produced by {|Rolling Stone|} {|Bill Wyman|} in early 1968, the spirit of the era (or m... Read more

Although {|Introspection|} bombed due to a belated release, collectors have since heralded it as one of the finest albums from the brief British psychedelic wave. Produced by {|Rolling Stone|} {|Bill Wyman|} in early 1968, the spirit of the era (or maybe that of the previous summer) is sonically created, with sumptuous results. {|Giffin|} and {|Graham|}'s gentle harmony vocals tread a similar path to {|Odessey and Oracle|}-era {|Zombies|}, while sessionman {|Nicky Hopkins|}' harpsichord, a pumping Hammond, {|Terry Taylor|}'s searing {|Cream|}-like fuzztone guitar leads, psychedelic duel-ragas, and floating Mellotron recreate the colors of a rainbow. The overall effect is psych-pop rather than acid-inspired mayhem, although the drifting ambience of the production, lyricism, and instrumentation could not be anything else than a product of psychedelia. A majority of the numbers were clearly influenced by the {|Satanic Majesties' Request|} sessions that {|Wyman|} had been undertaking -- and indeed {|Wyman|} co-wrote two songs -- although the {|the End|}'s more commercial pop edge forges a sound distant from {|the Rolling Stones|}. With an abundance of moods, tones, and a gloriously over the top production, {|Introspection|} is a superb period piece, and rightfully deserves it's near-classic status. ~ Jon Mojo Mills Less