Label: Seelie Court (UK), SCD 061
Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: UK
Time: 55:07
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 368 Mb
Among
the bands that have created a sort of cult around them are Marvelous
Kid, a UK band with a Progressive Rock sound with references to the
Canterbury Scene. Although they never released a proper album at the
time, they made a name for themselves in their live appearances, playing
at the Glastonbury Festival and as support to bands such as East Of
Eden, The Groundhogs, Fusion Orchestra and Capability Brown, among
others. Fortunately, Archival Records Seelie Court bought the masters of
the 1973 recordings directly from the band members, turning them into
the album that should have been released at the time. Titled “After The
Race,” it was released in 2024 in a super limited edition, available
exclusively from the label via mail order. The tracklist consists of 5
tracks, 4 of which are epic suites of over 9, 12, 13 and 15 minutes,
perhaps this might have been the problem that prevented the band from
getting a record deal at the time. The first thing that strikes us, as
in the label’s previous releases, is the very high quality of the master
and the sonic cleanliness of these usually not-so-perfect sounding
exhibits. After this dutiful introduction, necessary in discographic
releases such as this, we go into the listening, which proposes a long
suite of over 12 minutes entitled “The John And Valerie Music.” The
elaborate textures are steeped in that Progressive Rock sound with Jazzy
traits that reminds us of the Canterbury Scene, even more evident in
the development of the vocal parts and the wind-keyboard-guitar solo
inserts. What is certain is that this piece is an engaging and refined
Prog song with Jazzy facets, which enhances the band’s compositional and
performing technique. In the second part, the band develops an extended
instrumental section of pure Progressive Rock. As mentioned earlier,
there is a ‘shorter’ track entitled “One For Sebastian,” which is still
over four minutes long. Winds are prominent in the melodies, giving a
jazzy touch in the vocal parts as well, with a warm and expressive
vocal. In the middle part, the band develops a refined instrumental
section with intertwining guitar and sax that accompany us to the
finale. “After The Race” is the title track of this work, an epic suite
of over 13 minutes, exploring the different facets of the band’s sound.
The mixture of very British sounds of Symphonic Progressive Rock
characterise the first part, with warm and expressive vocals. Pastoral
flute inserts enrich the sound, with continuous tempo changes and
phrasing between guitar and woodwinds through extended instrumental
sections. The long duration enhances the band’s compositional and
performing technique, keeping the intensity very high and interweaving
energetic and engaging vocals and instrumentals. The longest track on
the album, “Instructions For Travellers,” is an epic of over 15 minutes,
is more delicate and with sounds that are nonetheless engaging. The
sound deviates somewhat from true Progressive Rock, but it offers a
sound that brings us all the lightheartedness of a trip taken at the
time perhaps by a young listener of this music. Valuable guitar solo
inserts in the second half and intense vocal parts accompany us for this
pleasant musical journey through space and time. In the second part,
with the entry of the woodwinds, the band e4volves the piece with very
delicate and refined Prog sounds. The album ends with “Katherine,” a
piece over 9 minutes in length, is a complex piece that incorporates
Jazz elements to an energetic and engaging Prog sound. With continuous
tempo changes and wide instrumental parts, which enhance the textures of
woodwinds and keyboards, with Symphonic openings and melodic and
refined solo inserts. After concluding the listening, the piece leaves
us wanting to listen to this work again in the near future. A band that
has remained hidden and unknown for too long, finally Seelie Court has
brought out a true hidden masterpiece. The band at the time mysteriously
did not find a contract to see their music released, which instead is
qualitatively very interesting and technically well composed and
performed. An album that consists of long tracks exploring Progressive
Rock sounds with forays into jazz traceable to the Canterbury Scene,
with extensive use of horns. A recommended listen for lovers of the
hidden treasures of the 70s, a true absolute masterpiece of Progressive
Rock with featured horns, bringing the atmosphere of that magical period
back to the present day, an absolute masterpiece. I want to thank
Seelie Court for the research and enhancement work it has done with this
and other bands of the era.
(progrockjournal.com/review-marvelous-kid-after-the-race/)
01. The John & Valerie Music (12:12)
02. One For Sebastian (04:26)
03. After The Race (13:13)
04. Instructions For Travellers (15:20)
05. Katherine (09:55)
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