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Gryphon - Gryphon (1973)

Japan Mini LP

Gryphon were formed by the classically trained flutist Richard Harvey along with guitarist Graeme Taylor and Brian Gulland who played krumhorn and bassoon. Percussionist David Oberlй completed the line-up that would record the band's self-titled debut in 1973. The band were at this moment pretty much a pure medieval folk group, and their progressive elements hadn't yet been developed. However, good music is good music no matter what genre, and "Gryphon" is no less than the best medieval folk album ever made! It consisted of a mixture of traditional covers and originals, both instrumentals and with vocals. Harvey, Taylor and Gulland also shared some occasional keyboard duties, and this could be heard in the middle of the opener "Kemp's Jig" that also introduced Harvey's trademark recorder and Gulland's bassoon. The krumhorn made its first appearance on "Sir Gavin Grimbold" and would turn out to be yet another of the most important trademarks of Gryphon's unique sound. The song was also the first of five vocal numbers on the album. The first original comes with "Touch and Go", a short instrumental by Taylor and Harvey where the acoustic guitar and recorder play a nice little melody that creates a magic medieval atmosphere. But the band quickly returns to traditional ground again with "Three Jolly Butchers". The most surprising composer of one of the many covers on the record is none other than King Henry VIII as the band made a version of his "Pastime with Good Company"! "The Unquiet Grave" is easily the best vocal number on the record, a morbid and supernatural love story in best old folk tradition. Oberlй's various percussions comes to the fore on "Estampie" that is some kind of a folk-dance. "Crossing the Styles" is a couple of peaceful minutes by Taylor and his acoustic guitar, and "The Astrologer" could almost have been an early hit for the band as they had turned this traditional tune into a catchy folk-pop song. Still, "Juniper Suite" composed by the whole band is the track on the album that is closest to display the band's full potential. It has the same distinctive medieval arrangements as the rest of the record, but the complex structure reveals a band that had higher ambitions than just covering old folk tunes. "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" is just some old nonsense that has more charm than musical value, but still cute and fun. Progressive elements or not, "Gryphon" should still be counted among the band's classic releases.

/ vintageprog.com /

Tracklist:

01. Kemp's Jig

02. Sir Gavin Grimbold

03. Touch And Go

04. Three Jolly Butchers

05. Pastime With Good Company

06. The Unquiet Grave

07. Estampie

08. Crossing The Stiles

09. The Astrologer

10. Tea Wrecks

11. Juniper Suite

12. The Devil and the Farmer's Wife

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