As Your Mind Flies By

Rare Bird were part of Tony Stratton-Smith's Charisma Records stable of artists. Formed in 1969, the original lineup was built around two keyboardists, Graham Field (born Stansfield) and Dave Kaffinetti, who added Steve Gould on bass and vocals and Mark Ashton on drums. Their self-titled first album was released in late 1969 and featured classically-inspired organ rock, best demonstrated with the track "God of War." Yet it was the "Sympathy" b/w "Devils High Concern" that rose to No. 27 on the UK charts and sold a million copies worldwide. Rare Bird's next album, the wonderfully titled As Your Mind Flies By, is generally regarded as a prog rock classic. Continuing the direction of their previous album, "What You Want to Know" opens and one thing is instantly clear: Gould's soul-tinged voice is powerful and untamed; to wit, the short "Down on the Floor" aches with overwrought emotion. "Hammerhead" offers a model similar to labelmates Van der Graaf Generator or Genesis-the band performs perfunctory prog rock; driven by Field's organ and the excellent rhythm section of Gould and Ashton, Kaffinetti's piano adds a distinct color. "I'm Thinking" furthers it, offering an even more detailed arrangement. The second side is encompassed by the album's side-long track "Flight." It's quintessential music that stands up to the band's contemporaries: driving rhythm, plenty of organ, slightly chaotic digression and a gloriously ostentatious finale-though why the vocals on "Central Park" sound like a tortured Greg Lake is anyone's guess. Prior to their third (and largely underrated) 1972 album Epic Forest, Field and Ashton would depart, the former releasing one eponymous album of heavy organ rock-Fields-with ex-King Crimson Andrew McCulloch, and guitarist/bassist Alan Barry.