Audience – AUDIENCE***

Banquet/Poet/Waverly Stage Coach/River Boat Queen/Harlequin/Heaven Was An Island/Too Late I’m Gone/ Maidens Cry/Pleasant Convalescence/Leave It Unsaid/Man On Box/House On The Hill

Self titled debut album from the British progressive group Audience. One of a number of similar groups that generated plenty of airplay but only very limited commercial success.

“1969 was really the year that the UK album market came of age. It was finally possible to get an album issued without having a hit single, although those albums without a hit usually undersold. This is Audience's first LP. The entire set is really terrific; Howard Werth's great vocals and acoustic guitar; Keith Gemmell's saxophone, Trevor Williams' great bass and Tony Connor's capable drumming.”

“About half of the album is a series of re-interpretations of an initially impressive jazz groove that never exactly tires itself out, but at some point begins to feel cheap. The other has a little more of that edge that I was hoping to find in this release. As a whole, it never drags on, and it is without a doubt more fun and approachable than the majority of classic jazz albums of the time. The jazz elements are relatively straightforward, but the zany freak folk elements hint at a greater potential.”

“An eclectic and eccentric debut from this British progressive outfit. There are still traces of Audience's R & B roots on both Harlequin and Too Late I'm Gone, while River Boat Queen reminds me of some odd theatrical Van Dyke Parks track. The rest are very pleasant, well played, but never pretentious tracks.”

“A great first album which gives you one pearl after another. Wonderful songs done in a unique manner, dynamic rock tunes without any heavy guitar, reminds me a little bit of minstrel-tunes mixed with a jazz-rock brass influence.”

“Audience were one of those almost forgotten band of the early 70s that will bring shivers down the spine of most progheads.”

“Audience were a British combo with a fantastic singer and prime-division musicians that made 1969 a truly classic year, now so underrated. It was a pity that these guys never had the success they deserved.”