A Message To Mankind

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 1974

Label: Creative Sound

Two-lp private-press conceptual musical drama that provides a contemporary tour-in-song through the book of Revelation. Sort of a blend of modern-day classical and avant garde, with slight rock, pop and Superstar/Godspell influences – not unlike some of the early productions on the Avant Garde, Fortress and Concordia labels. This is apparently a studio recording, although it has more the feel of a live local performance. Lots of spoken portions with musical backing, especially deep booming proclamations overtop rumbling tympani. Vocals trade off between a male/female ensemble (somewhat squashed in the mix) and solo singers. No guitars for the most part, but lots of keyboards (organ, harpsichord, synthesizer) that sometimes provide a trippy or spacey edge (at one point I thought my pager was going off). Also percussion, woodwinds and brass (but no strings). There’s a slow raucous party-down piece of nightclub jazz with fuzz guitar over on side three, later followed by some intense screams from the lake of fire. Written and performed by a group of El Paso folks, recorded in quadraphonic sound. An interesting work that rests comfortably beside albums like Meet God, Man!, Crosscurrent Community, For Mature Adults Only, 20th Century’s A Folk Mass, etc.

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