When the Edgar Broughton band was in its heyday, it was impossible to
separate what they played from who they were.
The Broughton brothers and their band mates were the
anti-establishment / anti everything rebels in an era of rebellion, the
anarchists in an time of revolutionary activism. Their career suffered for it -
they stood on the brink of success around 1970, but when their music took on a
political slant and their activities gained them more notoriety than their
records, the buying public - to misquote Yogi Berra - stayed away in droves. If
the music they produced is any indicator the band seems to have matured somewhat
by 1975, but it was too late - the money train was long gone. Still, Bandages
was a good summary of the various musical styles the band had adopted through
its career, and it was the last real studio album they released.
The style on Bandages is a rough-around-the-edges Woodstock-era
hard-rock punctuated with flairs of genius - and above all, dripping with
emotion and attitude. That is what defines this record. There are no soppy love
songs, no flowery poetry, and no pretty ballads. This is ballsy in yer face
stuff. Every song carries a message that is expressed with imagination,
sincerity and sometimes a rather British vein of cynicism.
There are nice female vocals in some spots that help soften the piece, but
mostly, it's guitar-oriented rock, with Mike Oldfield putting in a guest
appearance on guitar, harmonica, and mandolin (on "Speak Down the Wires", "The
Whale", and "Fruhling Flowers"). Broughton's singing is a clear, strong lower
mid-range. His delivery is sometimes a tortured and desperate as in "The Whale"
and sometimes a soothing bluesy tone as in "Lady Life", but usually it has the
uncompromising cynical hard-edge that will recall so many of the '60s acts. The
instrumentals on many songs amount to a well controlled jam session, and while
no one will accuse the dual guitar performances of any level of virtuosity, the
southern blues rock influenced style is pleasing and melodic. A small annoyance
is that several songs end rather suddenly - with no fade-out or discernable
outro.
"The Whale" is a standout piece with an acoustic guitar reminiscent of a
Donovan ballad, soft keys, and singing that flip-flops from soft to a harsh, a
pained delivery.
An interesting side note - Broughton was probably more popular in some of the
smaller markets than at home or in the USA. Australia, New Zealand, and
particularly South Africa adopted the band's self-titled record - often called
'the Meat Album' - and "Evening Over Rooftops" was a hit
With the re-issue of their back catalog the band is back, playing live, and
Bandages has been wonderfully re-mastered from original master tapes by
Eclectic Discs. Broughton's music isn't brilliant, but it's representative of
the better acts of its time. And with its track-to-track variety and the strong
messages, this album is a must-have for anyone who has any respect for the
forefathers of today's progressive music.
Track Listing:
1. Get a Rise Broughton
2. Speak Down the Wires
3. John Wayne
4. The Whale
5. Germany
6. Love Gang
7. One to Seven
8. Lady Life
9. Signal Injector
10 Fruhling Flowers (For Claudia)
11. I Want to Lie
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