Label: Akarma Records (Italy), AK 257
Style: Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: Bournemouth, Dorset, England
Time: 37:53
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 242 Mb
The
latest chapter in a musical journey that includes some of the biggest
names in British rock has proved to be a fittingly creative epitaph for
the now sadly late, great Pete Ballam of prog pioneers Bram Stoker.
With
a resume reading like a madcap caper through one of rock’s richest
eras, the guitarist’s colourful career included pulling a band together
with former Shadows bassist Jet Harris; playing bass for Tony
Blackburn’s group, performing with bandmate and folk-rock star Al
Stewart, jamming with future Police guitarist Andy Summers and sharing
the stage with the likes of Marc Bolan, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer
and Queen.
His latest release, Manic Machine, traced its lineage
directly back to a heady era when Pete was creating music for Bram
Stoker’s 1972 debut and was a sequel of sorts to Heavy Rock Spectacular,
now a cult classic for rock fans delving into prog beyond its biggest
names.
Pete and Bram Stoker might so easily have been one of them –
with support from The Who’s Roger Daltrey and backing from Rolling
Stones manager Tony Calder, the group looked perfectly placed to hit the
big time with their mix of psychedelic, gothic-tinged rock – but it was
not fated to be. Yet anecdotes from that short but intense era come
thick and fast from Pete – from his coat being bitten by a horse ridden
by Jet during rehearsals, after which he was also electrocuted, to his
invention of the ‘Doppler’, a spinning box containing speakers, which
gave his guitar a 3D sound – or at least did until it took off one day,
earning its new name, The Flying Machine.
Pete recalled of that
chaotic time: “None of us knew we were laying down the foundations of
such a huge industry. As young men we were not taken seriously but after
playing eight hours a night in Germany we were sick to death of the
moronic stars pumping crap – we wanted bad, black rock ‘n’ roll.”
Spontaneous
and unpredictable on stage with Bram Stoker, Peter remained reliably
and remarkably creative after leaving the group. Despite failing health
in his final decade, he created a steampunk stage persona called Doctor
Mock, where the costume and character became ever more elaborate; he
designed and made the fabulous steampunk blunderbuss, an effects-pedal
stomp-box and the weird and wonderful steam-bench – and he continued to
play his vintage Steinberger bass guitar, which was mounted on a pole so
that he could play it like a double bass.
And, of course, he finally
released Manic Machine – an extraordinary collection of compositions,
inspired by flights of fancy, strange tales and real-life antics.
Combining Peter’s imaginative lyrics and driving riffs and drenched in
Hammond sounds, it channelled his 1970s prog mojo. Having kept fans
waiting 45 years for a worthy sequel for fans of Heavy Rock Spectacular,
he had no intention of this being the closing chapter from the Bram
Stoker Archives – alas, the vault has closed.
After many years
battling heart failure, Peter died peacefully in hospital at 3pm on June
14th 2019 aged 76yrs, with his partner, Joy Brittain, at his side. She
said: “With his love of all things goth and steampunk, a couple of
people have asked me, ‘Has he haunted you yet?’ I maintain that Peter is
most welcome to ‘visit’ me anytime. I’m sure we’d have a good chat,
with affection and humour. Alas, no such hauntings have materialised,
since he passed away a year ago, so, it seems, thankfully, that my
dearest Darkling is resting peacefully.”
(bramstokerarchives.com/rip-peter-ballam/)
01. Born To Be Free (03:43)
02. Ants (03:48)
03. Fast Decay (03:47)
04. Blitz (05:33)
05. Idiot (04:28)
06. Fingals Cave (07:42)
07. Extensive Corrosion (04:19)
08. Poltergeist (04:31)
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