Affinity - 1970 - Affinity

. Team AFFINITY, with its stunning vocalist Linda Hoyle, which now can safely call the one of the best singers on this side of the Atlantic "- these words are the UK press the emergence of a new group. But as you know, the words are often worth more than that.
AFFINITY origins stem from a little-known team from Sussex University THE ICE, which played in 1966. Quartet composed Glyn James (vocal), Steve Turner (guitar), Lynton Naiff (organ), John Carter (bass), Grant Serpell (drums) made moderate success his imitation PROCOL HARUM. Two singles groups, Anniversary / So many times and Iceman / Whisper her name, published respectively in the 1967m and 1968m, respectively, to the public pop psychedelia, which have focused on the party "Hammond" Naiffa. But the lack of success on the part of large companies and internal divisions led to the disintegration THE ICE.
In 1969 Naiff Serpell and added into the player and drummer and start rehearsals. But only with the advent of the group vocalist Linda Hoyle things went uphill. "Listening to the voice of Linda Hoyle, one can not catch myself thinking that this is how would have sounded Besi Smith, she having been born in our time. The game and improvisation organist and guitarist are full of originality and live fire" - wrote about AFFINITY in Daily Mail.
Such a violent reaction to a young band (they even called the British answer JEFFERSON AIRPLANE) enabled quick sign with a major label at the time - Vertigo. Yes, and a demo recording including three things - a killer cover of I am the walrus, the author's song You met your match and an early version of All along the watchtower - just as impressed. Debut CD was produced in a matter of time and went on sale in 1970.
Talking about it can only tones - a masterpiece, a brilliant work, an album of all time. Musicians presented a mild, but at the same time a dynamic jazz-rock with a little touch of blues and psychedelia. I am and so you are with all its fury, and great pressure plate opens. The following hymn Hammond - within seven minutes of "Night Flight" gives the most sparkling solo on the organ for the entire 701 years. Languid voice of Linda on the grim ballad Mr.Joy coloring gives the composition of some dark and mysterious forces. A 12-minute jam on All along the watchtower finally brings the listener to ecstasy. Brilliant work!
Team took great press. "Organist Naiff already a virtuoso in its genre, while the group is perhaps the best that we got this year (1970 !!!)" - wrote in the Sunday Times. But among listeners album went unnoticed. All this has led to tensions within the group - sometimes musicians gave instrumental concerts, without their singer, sometimes betrayed almost folk or soul concerts, staying in the shade "ftrontmenshi." But in 1971, after less bright than the single plate Eli's coming / United states of mind, the group disbanded.
Linda Hoyle in 1971 for Vertigo recorded his solo album "Pieces of me", which turned out pretty eclectic, as along with the folk-room included and hard rock stuff. After that, she disappeared out of sight of the music press. Drummer Serpell joined SAILOR, organist Naiff toured with TOE FAT (group Cliff Bennett), and bassist Mo Foster became famous session performer. He played in bands of Ray Fenwick (Ray Fenwick) FANCY team and the legendary Jeff Beck (Jeff Beck).
In 1973, the instrumentalists AFFINITY, without her character group gathered again to accompany the singer Mike d'Abo (Mike D'Abo) on his album "Down at Rachel's place". The story of one of the best teams in England ends.
Affinity, Filareth 13.11.2006, 17:08
In rock music, when some new trend is issued in samosoyatelno genre appear and then burst like soap bubbles, group-by-night. And after a powerful but short-wave enthusiastic interest in the genre gradually dries out, there are all sorts of "post" and "neo" and remain in the genre will not say - the most talented, but rather, the most persistent, lucky and crafty. They are something we call the "pillars" and "Titans".
Those who are less fortunate - are content compared to the "titans". Most same "unlucky", who was sunk abyss surging competition, are in almost complete oblivion, living small fame in very narrow circles, threatening to turn eventually into book dust encyclopedias.
At the turn of the 60s / 70s during the rapid development of new genres of music to rock, we obtain a generalization called "progressive rock", in a large number of fruit groups acting under the flag of newfangled trends: someone took on the creative freedom by going to prog -rok of psychedelia, someone came from the jazz medium, were natives and from academia. Anyway, but the transition to the prog-rockers wore a massive, almost epidemic. The reaction of the record labels, very sensitive to changes in the creative climate, followed immediately. Began to appear special compartments intended to release the album "progressive" artists. Decca opened all known Deram, EMI - division Harvest, well, megagigant Phonogram founded Vertigo.
In 70-71-ies on such labels have been recorded countless albums, which sold nearly thousandth or even smaller quantities. In particular, the debut (and edinctvenny) Fuzzy Duck album has sold nearly a hundred pieces, and the only drive Dr.Z - even less. And this is all the more sad that groups in the mass consisted of very talented musicians and composers who have outstanding abilities and good taste.
However, of all the host of one-day groups, which issued his entire, usually two to three-year history no more than two drives, I sincerely regret only two teams: Cressida and Affinity. Certainly, and other groups of the time, whether or Blossom Toes Catapilla, had deserved the right to a long career. However, it is Cressida and Affinity for me personally are a clear example and unrealized (or rather, nedorealizovannogo) enormous creative potential.
About "Cressida" I'll explain later, but now wanted to stay on another very svoebrazny British band - Affinity.
The group has existed since the psychedelic era, was bred blues boom in England, the brightest representatives of which were among other Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After, Cream, and, incidentally, Jethro Tull. Nevertheless, a new team, whose members are extraordinary abilities of each of the performers, characterized by the presence bassist, quickly caught the progressive trends in rock music of the time and began to actively mix of jazz, folk and hard rock, and blues-based. The resulting mixture - a cross between American heroes psihodelistami Jefferson Airplane and early kenterberiytsami navrode Caravan and Egg, however, looked almost attractive listed "primary sources" that brilliantly confirmed released in early 1970 on the Vertigo single "Eli's Coming "/" United States Of Mind ", and a little later and the eponymous debut album with the group.
Group had something to boast. The standard for those times fatal pentanomial layout drums guitar-bass-keys-vocals stand out above all, outstanding, charismatic vocals of Linda Hoyle. Distinctive voice of Linda and critics compared with Julie Driscoll (Julia Driscoll of Oblivion Express), and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. However, in its artistry and a manifold voices Linda concede nothing, and may even outperform their more famous colleagues. Her diverse vocal absorbed and expressiveness Sonia Kristina of Curved Air, and refinement Sandy Danny, extravagance and Cher.
Affinity of the musicians stood out above all, keyboardist Lynton Neyff which its diverse and very skillful game, reminiscent of the famous Canterbury scene keyboardists David Stuart, Steve Miller or Mike Ratledge, the hard rock organists in the manner of John Lord, actually define the unique sound of the band . On the album, the group's organ subtle atmospheric textures Neyffa interspersed with violent and extended solos and harpsichord strumming - with mellotron passages.
Bassist Mo Foster and drummer Grant Serpell made very competent and inventive rhythm section. Syncopation and relevant sbivki accompanied by a pulsating bass line, creating a counterpoint to the main melody - all over the album looks very impressive and confirms the undeniable talent of musicians.
Jazz-rock guitarist Mike Joppy, giving solo on the album at the mercy keyboardist, nevertheless ideally complements the overall sonic palette of the album for its melodic riffs and brute force, but on the "Three Sisters", you can hear a rare but a great guitar solo.
The album, containing, along with the original creations of the collective, the 11-minute treatment Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower", and showed the group to pull stylistic ranoobraziyu: jazz-rock "Night Flight" is adjacent to the melancholic folk "Mister Joy"; there is the majestic "atmospheric" ballad "I Wonder If I Care As Much", and assertive "I Am And So Are You" with impressive sounding brass.
Unfortunately, after the release of the album the band kicked the bucket. In 1971 Linda Hoyle released there on Vertigo his only solo album "Pieces Of Mine". It is noteworthy that as the accompanying staff to Hoyle was the group Nucleus, and some of the material for the album written by none other than Karl Jenkins, who after some two years, destined to become the "brain" Soft Machine. On the album, is much like disk Affinity, provided good-quality blend of blues, folk and soul - styles, the best way suitable for distinctive voices Hoyle.
Other members of the group after its collapse Affinity continued his musical career mainly as a session musician.
Unfortunately, nothing is known about whether there are live recordings group - in fact, the group performed and "alive". No information about the possible archival materials, not included in the album. And thus all the official artistic heritage Affinity together on one CD, published in 1993, the year the company Repertoire and republished in Russia in 2001 on the "license" the leading bookmakers on archaeological excavations and naphthalene in the face of "Asia Records."
For all fans of the "progressive" rock fans of British jazz-rock, and just people who appreciate the artistic female vocals and indifferent to the original and diverse music, I strongly recommend to read the works of Affinity.

1970 - Affinity

01. I Am And So Are You (3:33)
02. Night Flight (7:18)
03. I Wonder If I Care As Much (3:23)
04. Mr. Joy (5:05)
05. Three Sisters (5:00)
06. Cocoanut Grove (2:38)
07. All Along The Watchtower (11:39)
08. Eli's Coming (3:29)
09. United States Of Mind (2:44)
Total Time: 44:50

- Mo Foster / bass, bass (electric)
- Linda Hoyle / vocals
- Mike Jupp / guitar, guitar (electric), guitar (12 String)
- Lynton Naiff / piano, harpsichord, piano (electric), vibraphone
- Grant Serpell / percussion, drums

Affinity - 1970 - Affinity.rar