LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Formed in Bristol in 1974, Skywhale quickly became entrenched in their contemporary progrock live circuit. Although they performed regularly in staple venues and events such Ashton Court Festival (1978), the Rock Garden, the ICA in London, Glastonbury and Stonehenge between 1974-1979, they only recorded a one-off gem in 1977, The World At Mind’s End. A testament to its members’ musical virtuosity, including Steve Robshaw’s outstanding guitar-playing skills, flutework and violin, Paul Todd on soprano saxophone and Howard Scarr’s expertise with the EMS VCS 3 and ARP Instruments synthesizers, this is an exploration of sonic boundaries between prog-rock, with a marked Canterbury feel, and jazz fusion, yielding a unique blend that is at the same time melodic and high energy with constant rhythmic shifts that keep the listener alert in each of its unexpected twists and turns. Just figure Caravan and Hatfield & The North at their most melodic in dialogue with Weather Report at their most energetic and you’ll get a glimpse of the 6 mostly over 7-minutes long instrumental compositions that make up this album. The folkish and occasionally classically inspired passages add substantially to the album’s rich tapestry.

Aiming to restore The World At Mind’s End to its proper place in the versatile UK 70s prog scene, this edition features fully remastered versions of the original tracks, includes a 2-page insert with everything you ever wanted to know about Skywhale, and comes in a limited pressing of 400 copies, 200 in black and 200 in splatter vinyl.

Track listing:

• A1 Epicure
• A2 Hydralic Fever
• A3 Two Budda Garage
• B1 The World At Minds End
• B2 Eternal Optimist (Therat)
• B3 Boggies