We Are Everything You See - LOCOMOTIVE***

Overture/Mr Armageddon/Now Is The End The End Is When/Lay Me Down Gently/Nobody Asked You To Come/ You Must Be Joking/A Day In Shining Armour/The Loves Of August Abbey Part 1/Rain/The Loves Of August Abbey Part 2/Coming Down-Love Song For The Dead Che/The Loves Of August Abbey Part 3/Time Of Light & Darkness

The Birmingham band Locomotive originally focused mainly on ska music, but by the time of their only album release We Are Everything You See they had moved strongly in a progressive direction.

“We Are Everything You See was the only album by the jazz-rock/prog rock band Locomotive. It's definitely a good record and worth giving a try for those who consider themselves as jazz-rock or prog fans. The band mixes the elements from those genres pretty well and there are also mild psychedelic elements in some of the songs.”

“We Are Everything You See is obviously a conceptual album. It begins with an almost classical overture played by a string orchestra but the rest is richly arranged psychedelia performed with great panache and saturated with colourful jazzy passages.”

“Most songs still hold up well, and are very catchy especially Lay Me Down Gently and You Must Be Joking fuelled by Norman Haines unexpected falsettos. What I like best are the arrangements (both band and horn sections) which are simple and not overdone, a trademark of many prog LPs to show off musical prowess, instead of recording a good song.”

“Although sounding a little dated compared to some other bands that were able to incorporate the use of the mellotron and an ensemble of synthesizers some years later, Haines and Co still deliver some funky and chunky songs that hold up exceptionally well.”

“Great jazz-rock record, a little dated maybe, but if you love the period, have a listen. Solid rhythm, great saxophone, killer organ sound, and soul-flavoured vocals. The second side is much less interesting than the first half, though.”

“Locomotive throw all of their cards on the table by introducing the listener to a completely enjoyable smorgasbord of songs that cover many different styles and influences. The first thing I detected was the tight control they exhibited over their arrangements which add to the jazzy, psychedelic groove.”