Polyandri

Formed in The Hague, Netherlands in the early 60s, Groep 1850—or rather, Group 1850—was one of the Netherlands' early rock groups. Early singles earned the band the attention of Philips Records; and in late 1968, that gave way to a full-blown acid classic, Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth. Written by keyboardist Peter Sjardin and guitarist Daniel van Bergen, the album is very much of the era, and one that embraces both the good and bad of psychedelia; the sound lies somewhere between the West Coast acid rock and London's psychedelia. A second album followed in 1969, with drummer Martin van Duynhoven, guitarist Dave Duba and bassist Dave Geldof in the fold. However, this would be the band's last recording for some time. By the early 70s, the group (minus van Bergen) had an altogether different vibe, and live recordings reveal long-form jamming based around Sjardin's keyboards. Seemingly out of nowhere, a new album appeared on the small Rubber Records in 1975. Titled Polyandri, it's a very different animal than its 60s brethren. Closer in vibe to Gong, the album embraces psychedelia's natural progression towards space rock. Written and produced (or as the liner notes put it, "organised") by Sjardin, there's still plenty of acid fun here, but the groove of "Thousand Years Before" is positively electric, fueled by Duba's guitar. "Silver Earring" adds a flute from Golden Earring's Barry Hay, but it's Geldof's bass line that steals the show. "Patience" has a near-krautrock vibe that flows through to "Cages." "Avant Le Pericles" even ventures toward the ambient, with a pulsing organ floating throughout the soundscape, accented by Hans Dulfer's sax. All in all, the band offers an excellent album of space rock; but unfortunately, also one that got lost in the annals of time. Aside from a couple of live albums in the mid-70s, little else was heard again from Group 1850 or its members.