Rare (?) Psych/Prog Acetate ID Needed. ..

**Viva Chiba** · 21-04-2005, 11:09 PM

Righty, I scored an interesting acetate today. Looks fuckt but plays nice. . in a crackly kind of way.

Sounds early 70's/late 60's, kind of interesting rock stuff with a few instrumentals, one of which is really trippy - Fantasy 2: The Beast". A little bit psychey, with at least a couple of references to everything being in the vocalist's bloody mind. As usual.

None of the track titles match any artists (repeatedly) in allmusic.com, indicating whose album it is. . . no info in popsike or Gemm. Col Wolfe, got any ideas ??

Yellow label Acetate from IBC Recording Studios, 35 Portland Place, London

Both sides say "Monk" - unsure if this is the artist / LP title. Doubt it's the recent US outfit "Monk" as the Acetate is olde. .. and it's definitely NOT the kick-ass Germany based US rock outfit's "Black Monk Time".

The tracks have no spacing grooves and play pretty much seamlessly. . .though it doesn't seem like a live album to me.

Side 1:
Fantasy 1 - The Journey (instrumental)
Sit Back, Relax
House in the Country
Lazy Day
A Light in The Window
Fantasy 2: The Beast (good trippy instrumental soundscape type thing)

Side 2:
Jesu
Lover
And So To Bed
Intermezzo
Don't Talk About Me
Through An Electric Glass Darkly (another instro)

Ironically I was contemplating buying some shit looking "Pop Hits Vol 4" LP and was just trying to check the vinyl to see who had composed some of the cuts when this odd beast emerged from the sleeve. Quite nice that. . .

Anyway, Vultures, you are my only hope.. . in a Princess Leia kind of way.

**Col Wolfe** · 22-04-2005, 08:22 AM

That sounds really interesting

Nothing springs to mind ecxept Woody Kern's 'Awful Disclosures Of Maria Monk' but that has 'Biography' on it, which isn't in your tracklisting.

I'll ask around for you

(would like to hear it btw!)

**SARGE** · 22-04-2005, 09:45 AM

Peter Howell and the Radiophonic Workshop ????

**Col Wolfe** · 22-04-2005, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by SARGE

Peter Howell and the Radiophonic Workshop ????

hmmmm good call, they did 'Through A Glass Darkly' but that omits 'electric'. Makes you wonder - could have been an earlier demo or somesuch...

**john stapleton** · 22-04-2005, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Col Wolfe

hmmmm good call, they did 'Through A Glass Darkly' but that omits 'electric'. Makes you wonder - could have been an earlier demo or somesuch...

doesn't sound like it if this is 'interesting rock stuff with a few instrumentals' though...

**Lord Thames** · 22-04-2005, 10:04 AM

I've got the Peter Howell LP - don't think it's the same thing.

**Ziggy_Stardust_72** · 22-04-2005, 01:47 PM

History OF IBC Studios, plus loads of artists who have recorded there:-

IBC Studios

I know its not much help, but its better than nothing !

**Viva Chiba** · 22-04-2005, 04:41 PM

Thanks for the assists guys.

It's not very electronic sounding - very definitely rock - although the freaky instrumental tracks (particularly "The Beast") do seem to have electronic elements.

Curious and curiouser. Unfortunately I don't have a PC at home, so there's no way for me to sample or MP3 this curious artifact. It has a great sound. .. but looks pretty wrecked and is rather crackly. . .so it would be great to try and clean it up digitally.

I guess the logical thing for me to do would be to bring it to a Brillo. . .listened to some of it again today and it's not bad. . . hmmmm. On Monday I might take it to Phil in the rairities dept at Reckless in Berwick St. . .apparently (well so he told me!) he assisted in compiling the psyche listings for the latest Record Collector Price Guide. . .I suppose the next step if all else fails would be to contact record collector. Hmmmm.

Hopefully it's a "lost" psychedelic masterpiece, the master tapes have been lost, I can sell it for half a mil and retire. . . .

**taiconderoga** · 22-04-2005, 06:18 PM

you should get in touch with the guys from Sweet Floral Albion e-zine, they know everything about UK psych private pressings & acetates.

**Viva Chiba** · 22-04-2005, 08:58 PM

Thanks again for the advice chaps.

I've emailed both Sweet Floral Albion and the guy who created that IBC Studios website (who, helpfully, is an ex employee!).

Hopefully it's a lost Beatles album. . .

Will keep you posted if I do manage to unearth more info on this curious disc.