Lifeblud (2) – Esse Quam Videri

lifeblud was conceived as a 'poetry rock' band and recorded this fab acetate lp in 1970, the vocal is serene and melancholic, and the music folky prog, the lyrics are about the majesty of nature and often speak of environmental issues, one line describing mankind as a fungus spreading across the planet. what sounds like a sitar is a guitar with a damaged bridge that created an accidental drone which they use to great effect. 3 copies of the acetate were made at trusound studios, ( which later became sky and then srt) 2 survive, one with hans pokora in trashed condition, the other is in australia. its thus phenomenally rare.

highlights here are oakenshade, ravens wing and the astonishingly beautiful "waxing of the moon" , one of the deepest, moodiest and most evocative tracks of the era.

lifeblud recorded a 2nd acetate lp in 1970 also at trusound, but its been lost. luckily studio tapes of 1971 sessions survive and will be released in 2021, capturing some of their finest songs, and the one survivng track from their heaviest phase, an extended folk rock song awash with high tide like fuzz and distortion.

a live tape recorded on a hand held tape recorder from the back of a hall in 1971 also exists and is being painstakingly restored for possible release.

an exceptionally beautiful band who have remained unreleased for half a century. but hard to define, coming from an isb, donovan, dando shaft direction but with a prog rock feel.