In Blissful Company [Import]

In Blissful Company [Import]

Track Listings

1. Giants

2. Manco Capac

3. Body

4. Gange Mai

5. Chant

6. Pearl and Bird

7. Notting Hill Gate

8. Midnight Mode

9. Notting Hill Gate [Single Version][*]

10. Move into the Light [*]

Tracks:

Giants
Manco Capac
Body
Gange Mai
Chant
Pearl and Bird
Notting Hill Gate
Midnight Mode
Notting Hill Gate [Single Version][*]
Move into the Light [*]

Customer Reviews:

Quintessence - 'The Blissful Company' (Repertoire).......2007-02-09

Originally released in 1969, this was the band's first record. I've seen this title in those privately-owned ma and pa independent music stores before. Wow! Such beautifully penned out progressive folk raga-rock. Almost heavenly. Couldn't help but to notice that Quintessence's music is heavily influenced by the sounds and style of Middle Eastern culture. Tracks that nearly had me gasping for air (guess I didn't know what hit me,at first) were "Gange Mai", "Pearl And Bird", the Raga-rocking "Notting Hill Gate" and the droning "Midnight Mode". Line-up: Sambhu Babaji-bass,acoustic guitar and harp, Mike '?'- sitar , Shiva Jones-lead vocals,keyboards&hand drum, Alan Mostert-guitar&bass, Dave Codling-rhythm guitar, Raja Ram-flute,bells&chimes and Jake Milton-drums. Should most appeal to fans of Bobby Callender,Sativa,Third Ear and Band Don Robertson.A must-have.

Till you came along my life was nothing but an empty shell.......2006-01-11

I have had this album for quite some time but never really got round to reviewing it, along with all of the other albums I have been buying but I am sure many readers will understand where I am coming from there. I have been prompted to revisit the album as it is almost a year since the third Quintessence album was reissued in England, 'Dive Deep' and there is some expectation that the remaining albums will appear shortly.

In the ferment of social change and exploration which went on in the Western industrialised countries during the 1961 to say 1977, period - an arbitrary date which includes the revival of so called punk rock, the bands reflected the changes which were taking place rather than drove those changes. While many conservative people were concerned and opposed those changes, young people in particular embraced them wholeheartedly and while many did not fully particpate in the music or drugs arena they fled with sometimes wild abandon into the more hedonistic aspects of change particularly sexuality and lifestyle choices.

Much of the music of the period was fundamentally blues based and at it's heart was concerns with feelings and relationships in a basic sortof way but in any event it encouraged people to dance and interact often in a merely phyical way. Crucially the booming music scene brought many bands into being playing this music, often denigrated by social conservatives and providing fuel for the counter-social revolution which is continuing to gather pace today.

Quintessence in a way epitomises the conflict which many people felt through experiencing these changes. While established churches had no answers to many questions, the consumption of drugs and alcohol generally in the young population wereb major causes of alienation and anomie acting as an impetus to seek something more from life. Quintessence aimed to bring about a natural high through their combination of eastern and western influences in their music which could on occasion produce feelings similar to ecstatic achievement largely without drugs and a religious aspect, through Hinduism, to bring peace to inner turmoil.

The tracks here are a snapshot of the early years and although the playing and singing are of reasonable quality they do not reflect the energy and emotion of the live performances. Much like the Grateful Dead the on-stage performances were a vtal and energising experience and much cherished by a large following in Britain. The additional track is not the best recording but for the fans it is a little something given the dearth of additional material on bootlegs and tapes.

The success of this album allowed the band to invest in live recordings which formed the core of the second, and in my view best album, Quintessence, allowing a better picture of this band.

OF ITS TIME..DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD THING OR NOT?.......2005-12-19

Quintessance as a live force were i'm told interminably boring. Like the German band Sweet Smoke they were deeply into religous chants, mantra's and spacy improvisations. Whereas Sweet Smoke made a half decent live album( now issued with extra tracks) and the excellant 'just a poke' Quintessance just couldn't get it right in the studio. There is always something worthwhile on the three albums but God, you have to plunder through some drivel. This is probably the best album, but it's faults far out weigh the plus's. On the good side there is some nice spacy early Hawkwind like excursions and the flute gives it an edge, on the minus side there is a lengthy sitar excursion that goes on forever and the singer is a bit overbearing and lyrically well..cringe worthy os maybe a bit to polite. Now i'm not against praising your God in music and i'm not an athiest but sometimes its just a bit to over the top and preachy. The cover though is excellant and the extra's show that when they could three minutes can do more than eleven. I believe after they split the flautist Raja Ram (bet that's not his real moniker) got heavily into dance music. Monotony in the 200's same as monotony in 69!

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