(Info from sleeve)

In many ways, Albert One has a familiar story: Label sign experimental band, band makes album, label doesn’t promote band, band make no money, band split.

The moniker turned out to be apt — for this is musically an intelligent, experimental expose of progressive influences and excesses, played by a bunch of talented, passionate guys who knew (more or less) what they were doing.

The band members had eclectic tastes and strong personalities. Schelhaas was a soul fan, whereas Ford’s background had largely been blues and Paull was ostensibly a folkie. Only Kerslake had had a crack at the post-Beatles rock that was now spreading like wildfire on the underground. Progressive rock heavyweight Eddie Offord, fresh from success with Yes’ The Yes Album became the album’s producer.

The resulting album is a piquant mix of blues, folk and progressive interlaced with a harder, rockier sensibility.

“Got No Time” begins the record, starting out as a rock standard, the track gave way at the bridge to an extended percussion solo from Kerslake. Picking up on the riff from the opener, “You” is more pastoral and showcases the band’s talent for harmonising. “Too Much Country Water” — often misleading attributed to Uriah Heep due to the Kerslake connection, is, by that virtue the band’s best known track. Heavy and rockin’, it has the band at their colourful best; ending with a great riff. “Lead Me Back” is perhaps the most Beatles-que number on the album, with a clear cue coming from Abbey Road. It features Paull’s best bass-playing and some magic moog work from Schelhaas.

The highlight of the whole record, “Listen to the Music” is another Beatles inspired ballad, mixing four-part hormonies, blended effortlessly with an intricate rock template that remains all their own.

With the Harmonium driving “For Islington Farm”; it becomes a lush, poetic number full of soaring harmonies and melancholy. A rhythmic, folk ballad follows in the shape of “Try to Reach You” which again features some blistering bass from Paull. “Brand New World” contains insightful lyrics and is another intelligent mix of styles, a big stab at rock.

A two-parter ends the album and brings together all the aforementioned skills with delicious aplomb. Beginning as an intense rock-out, with all and sundry playing hard, it gives way halfway to their most pastoral and wistful side.

Experimental, but tied both to an array of influences and the mood of the time, it stands as a snapshot of a music scene undergoing a huge shift and a talented band who deserved more recognition.

Jan Schelhaas would later join Caravan and Camel, Lee Kerslake would go on to Uriah Heep.

Line-up:
- Neil Ford / guitar, moog, vocals
- Lee Kerslake / drums, moog, vocals
- Dave Paull / bass, mood, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Jan Schelhaas / piano, organ, harmonium, moog

Track List:
01. Got No Time – 5:00
02. You – 3:59
03. Too Much Country Water – 4:12
04. Lead Me Back – 4:01
05. Listen To The Music – 6:30
06. Islington Farm – 3:12
07. Try To Reach You – 4:20
08. Brand New World – 6:24
09. Mister Jesus – 8:10

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