Andy Roberts - Home Grown (Great Folkrock UK 1970)
Andwellas Dream emerged in Belfast, Ireland in the mid 60's lead by the child prodigy Dave Lewis. Originally called The Method, the band was one of the founders of the Irish Rock scene. The Method performed on the same local circuit as Gary Moore (who once stood in for Dave at a gig) Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher indeed the press at the time regarded Dave Lewis with respect equal to those of his peers. In the late 60's the Method moved to London and changed their name to Andwella's Dream - a name that came to Dave Lewis in a dream - and over two days in a studio in Denmark Street they recorded what was to become their masterpiece Love and Poetry.
Accepted by many reviewers as one of the best British psychedelic albums of the 1960's Love and Poetry captures the cusp of the moment just before the abstract abandon of psychedelia mutated into the leaden predictability of progressive rock. Composed entirely of Dave Lewis songs, the album evokes the heady atmosphere of the late '60's with druggy utopian themes and innocent musical experimentation.
Hard psychedelic rock with blistering guitar work is mixed with contemporary pop themes given a liberal dose of backwards effects exotic percussion, flute and acoustic guitar. The blend works to perfection and with the addition of perhaps one of the best psychedelic sleeve designs of the era the whole package oozes class. The album is recognised as one of the best psychedelic rock albums of the original psychedelic era. It is featured in Record Collector's Top 100 British Psychedelic Records of the 1960's.
This band started life as a trio from Northern Ireland called Method, changing their name to Andwella's Dream after moving to London in 1968. After the first LP they were known simply as Andwella.
Love And Poetry is a highly-rated psychedelic album, which featured guest artist Bob Downes playing sax, flute etc. All the songs were written by Dave Lewis. The highlights are the opening track, The Days Grew Longer For Love, which like most tracks is slow and melodic but with killer guitar leads; the heavier psychedelic number Sunday and Cocaine and Shades Of Grey, two tracks which veer towards progressive rock with plenty of organ and jazzy guitar. CBS released three singles from the album including two non-album sides: Missus Man and Mister Sunshine. Of these, Sunday is a superb slice of psychedelic rock with some Hendrix-influenced guitar work.
A lost 60s psychedelic tome from the Irish, via London trio Andwella's Dream -- a melodic, fuzzy and hooky batch of tunes! Love And Poetry touches on the psych rock calling cards of soaring guitar work, stratospheric melodies and thundering drums at the core -- with a top layer of more eccentric sounds with atypical instrumentation. Plus, it's all done with a focus on lyricism that sometimes approaches a Kinks-ian storysong quality! 13 original LP tracks -- plus 5 bonus cuts! Titles include "The Days Grew Longer For Love", "Sunday", "Lost A Number, Found A King", "Man Without A Name", "Clockwork Man", "Cocaine", "Shades Of Grey", "High On A Mountain", "Midday Sun", "Take My Road", "Felix", "Goodbye", "Mister Sunshine (Junkie Woman Blues)" (non album single) and more!
01. The Days Grew Longer For Love 02. Sunday 03. Lost A Number Found A King 04. Man Without A Name 05. Clockwork Man 06. Cocaine 07. Shades Of Grey 08. High On A Mountain 09. Andwella 10. Midday Sun 11. Take My Road 12. Felix 13. Goodbye
