LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

West Coast Consortium's late 1960s singles were sophisticated, lavishly-orchestrated close harmony pop affairs. Underneath the strings and things, though, they were at heart a garage psychedelic pop band - as can be heard on Mr. Umbrella Man, which assembles the pick of the four demo albums that they made between 1967 and 1969. Now gathered together for the first time, this astonishing cache of recordings reveals that, left to their own devices, West Coast Consortium experimented wth Mellotrons, fuzz guitars, Vox Continental organs, wah-wah pedals and myriad studio effects, while hitherto unreleased nuggets like 'Santa Monica Bay', 'Aimie (Sing Your Song For Me)' and 'Mr. Umbrella Man' show a parallel debt to the lo-fi, DIY approach of the Beach Boys circa Smiley Smile and Friends."

Track listing:"

1. Amanda Jane "
2. Willow Wood "
3. One Day The Train Never Came "
4. To Please Louise "
5. Elastic Band "
6. We All Love You Baby "
7. Oh! What A Feeling "
8. Ginny Stop (Don't Go 'Way) "
9. Rings And Things "
10. Mr. Umbrella Man "
11. House Upon A Hill "
12. Aimie (Sing Your Song For Me) "
13. Santa Monica Bay "
14. When The Day Breaks "
15. Cindy In Love "
16. Come On Into The Warm "
17. Rest Of Your Life (Down Lonely Street) "
18. Cynthia Serenity "
19. Take A Round Trip "
20. Fairground Playboy "
21. Money Matters "
22. Windmill Hill "
23. All The Love In The World "
24. What Are They All Singing About Today? "
25. Whatever Became Of Emily Jane? "
26. One Six Two "
27. Copper Coloured Years "