REVIEW: Think Like A Key Records releases

Music unlocked from long discarded archives is what Think Like A Key Records do best. Delivering specialized impactful sights and sounds takes the consumer on a merry go round full of ups without a chance of hitting the ground, only a smooth blissed out journey will be experienced.

Some of the labels recent releases include a batch of releases by Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera and a sublime reissue by Ricotti & Albuquerque. The former are a late 60’s British quartet with the same flourishes The Small Faces experimented with on Ogdens, with a dollop of squealing Jimmy Page guitars matched with a magical mystery tour of splendid mad capped musicianship, the results on their self-titled debut originally released via CBS’ Direction Record imprint opens with Mother Writes, a straight up rock out centering round an infectious deep groove, Dream Starts has a sense of early Deep Purple mixed with Brain Auger, Air delves into the realms of peak Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows psych whilst Now She’s Gone features a similar nudge towards the Fabs, a delicious mix, with a informative 16-page booklet featuring Mike Stax’s deep dive into the band’s evolution.

Following on the back of their debut 1969’s follow up Ride A Hustler’s Dream, the title track being a top draw John Martyn folk excursion with similar folk tones on Black Jack Davy, Raga has a deft blend of Mighty Baby twiddling’s along with George Harrison Indian vibes, whilst She Keeps Giving Me These Feelings has some stunning vocals along with some subtle acoustic twiddling’s before the final bow of There’s A Hole In My Pocket reverts to their familiar electric rock out phasing’s, an 8-page booklet featuring Mike Stax’s deep dive into the band’s reinvention completes the set nicely.

The third release we’re reviewing is by Ricotti & Albuquerque entitled First Wind, the two musical mavericks decided to crash the British jazz-rock party. Michael de Albuquerque, a choirboy-turned-rockstar with blue-eyed soul vocals smoother than a velvet suit, joined forces with Frank Ricotti, a vibraphonist so skilled he could make xylophones weep with envy. Their mission? To create a sound that would make jazz cats purr and rock enthusiasts howl with delight.

First Wind is something special, the previously unreleased BBC live bonus tracks have to heard to be believed. Opening track Rasta is a sped-up jazz rock composition with similarities to Azymuth, Lo and Behold is a cover of a James Taylor tune featuring gospel blues tinges reflecting John Mayalls Bluebreakers Jazz Blues Fusion period, New York Windy Day could be direct from Selected Ambient Works, Old Man Houston could well be Steve Winwood on another excursion with his midlands troopers Traffic. The BBC live tracks are a joy, Give A Damn could well have been included on Caravan’s Verve debut and Go Out And Get It breathes the same air as Flight Of The Abis by McDonald & Giles. A little quirky in patches but over all a brilliant long lost album.

Think Like A Key Records can be found here