Thursday 15 March 2018

The Fantastic Expedition – DILLARD & CLARK****

The Fantastic Expedition was the debut album from the country rock duo Dillard and Clark. All but one of the songs were written by ex-Byrds member Gene Clark.

“An all time classic, The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark is the first progressive bluegrass album. Doug Dillard's banjo blends beautifully with the songs Gene Clark wrote for this album.”

“This album is one of the great underappreciated masterpieces of American music. Gene Clark and Doug Dillard combined bluegrass, folk and rock sensibilities into an eloquent, emotional, and elevating testimony to life, lost love, and lingering sentiment. This is perhaps the best singing ever done on LP by Clark, who in his official releases was always a fine singer. Dillard's banjo has never sounded so full, yet restrained. The musicians and music on this are truly outstanding.”

“In addition to being one of the seminal recordings of the country rock era, this record is a masterpiece in every regard: great songwriting, great singing (particularly harmonies) and great musicianship.”

“While a lot of country rock aficionados like to place this album as one of the first country rock collections, I prefer to think of it in the context of Gene Clark's discography as both his first masterpiece as a performer and songwriter, as well as the only full album where he's complemented by an instrumentalist with an equally impressive and distinctive personality.”

“Dillard and Clark do certainly take us on a fantastic expedition every time we listen to this disc. Not sure whether it's the transcendent vocals serving the impeccable tunes here or vice-versa.”

“A seminal recording in the genre of country-rock and anyone with even remote interest in this type of music needs to get this, along with anything that Gene Clark did during this time period. The arrangements show a Byrds-like penchant for thick harmony vocal arrangements, but to my ears Dillard and company provide considerably stronger accompaniment.”

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