Quad  (UK)

Quad II  (1997,  39.57)  *** Inner Groove Outer Groove

Current availability:

• Out of print (never on CD?)

Information about British psych outfit Quad is amazingly difficult to find, not helped by their name, clearly an homage to the great UK valve amp manufacturer, whose most famous product is called the Quad II, title of... Quad II is a strange, drifting album, sounding like more drugs than you can possibly imagine were consumed during its creation, which probably means everyone involved was straight as a die. Its two, side-long tracks (it only appears to've been available on vinyl, even as late as 1997) meander through pastures of acoustic guitar, ambient percussion (yes, really), sitar and Mellotronalike flutes, with the occasional flurry of screaming lead guitar to haul you out of your torpor.

Both tracks feature 'Tron flute lines running throughout their length, though played rather too fast in places to be authentic, which will, of course, lead to an angry e-mail from the unknown musician concerned, assuring me it was real. I mean, it could be, not least those key-clicks, but... This is staying here until/if I should find out otherwise. Quad II isn't at all bad at what it does, but its determined lack of focus becomes slightly draining after the first side, unless, of course, you've medicated yourself appropriately before listening.