A RARE and beautiful album from the amazing Vertigo label !
09/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Formerly known as the Vertigo VEL-1005 (LP), this disc from Jade Warrior was their first recording, the most outstanding, and the best in my opinion. The tracks are positively strange, and their unusual sound ranges from tribal music to an indescribable sort of psychedelic rock ('Petunia', 'Psychiatric Sergeant'). Jade Warrior are well-known for their progressive / meditative rock albums ("Floating World", "Waves"...), and their first offering is no exception on that point.If you plan to buy this legendary album, be warned : the Line Records LICD 9.00548 CD transfer has not the sound quality one would expect from such a recording. Fortunately, the remaster(Background /Hi-Note) is said to have virtually eliminated the sonic problems found on the Line CD. Good work ! Thanks to record companies such as Hi-Note, some pop music archives of the past can be (ultimately) restored today. And the CD's, of course, does NOT suffer from surface noise that harmfully affected most of the original copies of the still treasured Long-Play. ...ø..."
Rare And Unusual
Jack Rusher | Toms River, NJ USA | 10/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have fond memories of spinning this LP (yes, I still have it and just listened to it today!) and having friends or acquaintances ask, "Who is this?? This is great music!" Yes indeed, it certainly is great music! I've had this album since the middle 70's and I just can't say enough about it. The unusual arrangements coupled with tribal-like instumentation (including drums) is just wonderful! And the flute work is like none other that I'm aware of. The overwhelming image of birds in flight is just inescapable and tremendous! Unlike later LP's by this unusual band, JW allows us inside their verbal minds with lyrics on this effort. "Petunia" and "Telephone Girl," while not popular with women's LIB types, are gritty and well done combination rock/jazz pieces as is "Psychiatric Sergeant." File this LP and this band under "U" for unusual as well as "W" for well done."
Fabulous surprise
D. Mason | Chicago, USA | 03/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I came across this band by surfing Amazon's links and lists, and finally was persuaded to have a listen. I'm so glad I did. My tastes are rooted in British progressive rock, and although I branch out now (which is why I started surfing here) I usually come back. If it helps to know a bit of my pedigree, Yes, early Genesis, Floyd, Crimson, Tull, some Man; that ought to help. Jade Warrior? It felt like getting a bit of my youth back; music that excited me like the days when I'd bring home the new releases of the bands above. It felt like that to me. Of course I know this doesn't help you much, so ding me if you will, but isn't it the case that the music is how it makes you feel? Jade Warrior woke a part of me that I'd forgotten had died."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1