Egg - EGG***

Bulb/While Growing My Hair/I Will Be Absorbed/Fugue In D Minor/They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano/The Song Of McGillicudie The Pusillanimous/Boilk/Symphony No 2 Suite

This eponymous album was the first released by the Canterbury scene progressive band under the moniker of Egg. They were previously known as Uriel but for contractual reasons their debut album was released in 1969 under the name of Arzachel.

“Egg marry abstract Canterbury Jazz, ELP style symphonic workouts and absurd avant-gardisms with results that are masterful.”

“This reminds me a lot of the psych-prog bombast of early Soft Machine and Caravan. A little experimental and funny, great playing, it's a Canterbury record alright.”

“After releasing a self titled album as Arzachel and shedding guitarist Steve Hillage, the three remaining musicians regrouped and released a self-titled album as Egg. It's slicker and more restrained than before but still bizarre, humorous and borderline disturbing, particularly on the second side instrumental suite.”

“These guys used to be known as Arzachel and their only album was a masterpiece. This is mostly a very keyboard driven instrumental prog album. There are shorter tracks on the A-side which are all quite mediocre material. The second side comprises just one very long track Symphony No. 2 which has four parts of which the last is the best.”

“This LP features some absolutely phenomenal playing, and hardcore prog fans should give it a try. Keyboards fanatics should absolutely pick it up. Vocals are sparse and the long, inventive instrumental sections really suck you in and get you caught up in the classic prog jamming. Egg manage to come up with tons of catchy riffs that are addictive.”

“At times this sounds reminiscent of ELP but not quite as keyboard dependent, and with a somewhat harder rock sound. A few too many piano solos make this inconsistent for my taste, but it is still quite good overall.”

“And the egg was hatched: avant-garde machines making noise, keyboards pulsating, psychedelic quasi-prog bliss and majestic prog symphonies, this is one of my favourite Canterbury albums.”