From djacques@csulb.edu Tue Feb 04 07:33:38 2003
Subject:Re: Quatermass --> Quatermass on allmusic.com

Below is the Allmusic Bio....

Quatermass' only album is a must-have for prog rock enthusiasts,
especially lovers of the keyboard-dominated style which flourished in
the early '70s. Although there are only three members of the band, their
histories are just as colorful as the music they produced. Keyboard
player Pete Robinson and bass man Johnny Gustafson
met drummer Mick Underwood and founded
Episode Six , a band which included Ian Gillan
who later fronted Deep Purple .
Underwood was also involved with the Outlaws
as well as the Herd , only a few years
before Peter Frampton arrived. When the band finally
formed Quatermass in 1970, they had set their sights on a power rock
format which would use Robinson 's keyboards to shape
their sound. Both "Black Sheep" and "One Blind Mice" were released as
singles which fell mostly on deaf ears, but the band's sound was equally
as moving as the Nice 's repertoire, for example, at
around the same time. Quatermass' sound is far from sounding hollow,
isolated, or directionless, but all of the cuts are rather rock-sturdy
and instrumentally voluptuous from all points. The string work that
swoops in is encompassing, Underwood 's drumming
exhibits personality, and the keyboard portions are remarkably striking
and distinct. Even Gustafson 's robust vocals work well
within the music's structure, subsiding and ascending when called for,
and all of the cuts result in worthy examples of well-built progressive
rock, in both ballad and power rock form. Following this album, the band
broke up, with Gustafson later doing session work for
Kevin Ayers , Steve Hackett , and Ian
Hunter , among others, while Robinson
found new life within the jazz-prog band Brand X .
Beautifully packaged with informative liner notes, Quatermass sounds as
resounding today as it did in 1970, and upon hearing it, one can only
wonder why it was so overlooked during its release.

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