(Rock) The Shape Of The Rain - The Shape Of The Rain (1966-73) - 2001, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is quite a nice collection of tunes (rehearsals and demos, mainly) from '60s British psyche group Shape of the Rain, though the term "psychedelic" should be considered in a more generic '60s context that mirrors the bluesy, folk/country tack of the American West Coast groups from the same period as opposed to anything overtly acid-oriented. Having never heard their original-album counterparts, I can't give any comparisons, but this should be very useful for completists as well as an introduction to the group, though the recording quality of the tunes are adequate, so I don't feel that compelled to seek out all the alternate takes.

"Broken Man" kicks off the disc from a '67 session, a great blues-rock stomp perhaps comparable to something early from Welsh group Man; less quirky, but catchy and with an interesting change-up at the chorus. Jumping right ahead to '73, "I Don't Need Nobody" is solid white-boy blues, but no one could have ever convinced me that this was recorded in the '70s. Strangely, the group must have never changed their gear or recording equipment, because all the '70s material on this disc could easily fool the listener as being '60s recordings, and certainly their style never deviated from the original course.

"We're Not Their Boys" is again from a '73 session, but retains a freewheeling folksy '60s naivete that is whistful and endearing. "Hello 503" freaks out a bit more toward the end with appropriately fx'd vocals complimenting the theme of the roboticisation of human beings in the technological age. The next bunch of tunes are from the earliest sessions ('66), reflected in the hissy tape quality - something I've actually grown to enjoy, as the tunes are still perfectly coherent, while giving their sound a more obscure dimension. This session is definitely a high point, at times reminiscent of the Stalk-Forrest Group recordings (precursor to the brilliant '70s phenomenon Blue Oyster Cult), though the latter came later. Especially cool is "Whillowing Trees", dreamy '60s "garden-psyche" at its best. From the same session, "Spring" has classic wah-guitar, a lovely folky vocal melody and that wonderful '60s bulbous bass sound. From here, the quality of tunes seems to drop off a bit, though "Big Black Bird" and "Everyone the Fool" are stand-out tunes.
From the opening bars of 'Broken Man' you know you're in for a treat on this collection of recordings from 1966-73. As we move from 1967 to 1973's 'I Don't Need Nobody' mono changes to stereo and already classic 1960s influences are in evidence. The next two tracks are very melodic bringing to mind The Moody Blues and The Hollies respectively, a bit heavier perhaps in the driving rhythm section of Pete Dolan and Nip Healey and the incisive guitar lines of Keith and Len Riley and Brian Wood (12-string, slide and pedal steel guitar are all used). The American West Coast and British psychedelic influences cited in Keith Riley's sleeve notes become evident on 'Hallelujah' from 1971. The psychedelic feel continues on 'Hello 503' with its sci-fi theme of depersonalisation and Dalek voice warning us that in the year 2053 "People will become numbers, numbers will become people". This was recorded at Abbey Road in 1969 and was engineered by Geoff Emerick famous for his work with The Beatles.
The sound quality is fine so far. Understandably it takes a slight dip on the 1966 track 'I Doubt If I Ever Will' but this does not mar the enjoyment of a great 'boogie rock' track with a psychedelic interlude (and equal as with most of this material to anything produced at that time.)
There are many psychedelic gems here as well as a 'tip of the hat' to The Kinks on 'Advertising Man' from 1966 and The Average White Band in 1972's 'It's So Good Here'.
The Shape of the Rain wears its influences very much on its collective sleeves but there is no hint of plagiarism here just 19 solidly constructed, well played and hugely infectious and enjoyable songs. (Even the rehearsal tracks are well worth including.)
Congratulations to HiNote for uncovering these forgotten gems and packaging them so well.
The Shape of the Rain were 'always the bridesmaids' supporting the likes of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Free, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Cocker and Love (a big influence on them as you can hear)
It's a pity they didn't get a 'break' at the time and stick at it because within these tracks there is a classic '60's' album lurking.
Highly recommended.