Principal Edwards Magic Theatre — The Works 1969-1971
The project formed in 1968 at Exeter University- bringing together up to fourteen members- and they very much tried to bring together music with fringe & off-the-wall theater performance. Sadly due to internal problems, the logistics of such a large collective, and business pressure- the project only lasted until December 1971. But they left behind two impressive & distinctive full-length records 1969’s Soundtrack, and 1971’s The Asmoto Running Band.
This three-disc CD release appears on Cherry Red records- the set comes in a slim line card folder. This takes in the three discs, each in their own card sleeve, plus a twenty-page color booklet. As Cherry Red & related label reissues go it’s fairly sparse in it’s presentation- but I guess this is down to the more quirky & arty appeal of the project.
One great pity about the release is that there is no DVD- as of course with a project such as this the visual/ performance side of this was a big part of their make-up…but who knows maybe due to the period there is no footage of the projects performances. So the only hint at this big part of the band's identity comes in a selection of stills in the inlay booklet.
Moving onto the discs themselves, and first up we have Soundtrack- this was originally released on John Peel’s Dandelion Records( Peel was a huge fan & supporter of PEMT). It appeared in 1969, and the cover is a great snapshot of the band(literally) and the times- as it takes in just a photo of the bands fourteen members, in there often flamboyant late 60’s fare. The original album took in six tracks, and with this reissue, we get two bonus tracks- so in total this first disc takes in eight tracks & fifty-three minutes of music. The album opens with “Enigmatic Insomniac Machine” this starts with a sudden jolt- an alarm clock buzz, and then a ticking percussion. This soon joined by the blend of strummed ‘n’ galloping acoustic guitar, weaving flute work, and theatrical yet flighty female lead singing about an indifferent bed partner. This stands as one of the shorter tracks here, and I guess eases/introduces one into the bands often very wordy & theatrical sound. If this first track doesn’t click with you, then you certainly won't like the rest of the album, as many of the album's remaining tracks run between seven & thirteen minutes. The lyrics- sang mainly by a female singer, are really the driving force behind the band's sound, so you don’t really get your standard chorus/ verse structure- which makes the whole album nicely unpredictable & shifting. Moving from mixes of folk strumming ‘n’ flute weaves, onto more pounding psych rock & electric blues blends, onto jaunting psychedelics be it folk or rock. Really mirroring the album's cover Soundtrack is the wordier, trippy, and playful side of the late 60’s instilled into audio form…it’s an intriguing, often worthy, though not wholly satisfying opening shot.
Moving onto the second disc, and we have 1971’s The Asmoto Running Band. This album took in ten tracks, and no bonus/ extra tracks on this reissue. And on the whole, it feels a wholly more consistent & focused release- the projects wordy focus is still present, but the surrounding musical accompaniment is more dramatic, varied, and sophisticated. Also, the track lengths are a little more palatable, and never feeling overstretched. Genre-wise the sound is moving more towards prog rock/folk sound, blending together both male & female singing. More instruments are into the songs pallet too like a bigger use of piano, and the addition of recorders & violins. It feels less hippy-like too, often having darker, punchy, and head-spinning moments- through there are still the more folky & playful bound moments- it’s just these never become over indulgent & wondering. Clearly there feels like there is more focus on songcraft here, and the project working together. And I’d go onto say that much of the album rates up there with the more focused, precise, electric guitar based work by the likes of The Incredible String Band, Comus, or Gong. Sadly fairly soon after this album PEMT would Implode, with some of the members going on to form the more avant/ psychedelic rock focused Principal Edwards- which only themselves released one album in 1971.
The Third & final disc is entitled PEMT: Hidden Treasure- this brings together thirteen tracks, and seventy-four minute playing time. The disc starts off with five tracks taken from Top Gear- which was Jon Peel’s radio one show that run between 1967 & 1975. The tracks come from 1969 & 1970’s- taking in both off air live recordings and master tapes. As you’d imagine with old radio show recordings, these aren’t great, but it’s nice to hear early Peel banter in-between the songs.
Tracks six-to-ten are taken from a live recording in September 1971, at the Hampstead theatre-and all the tracks here didn’t appear on either of the bands two albums. Sound wise these tracks move from all out instrumental jams- blending jazzy edges into the band's psychedelic rock sound. Onto epic female sung tracks, that move between pared back hippy folksiness & more angular psych rock jams with lots of violin action. And jaunting, though slightly haphazard folk/ rock work-outs. On the whole, this live set is most satisfying- it’s just such a pity there is no filmed footage to go along with it.
The disc is topped off with three demo tracks, and once again these are unreleased/ nonalbum tracks. We move from jaunting ‘n’ grooving “Rainy Day Anne”- which sees the band try their hand at a more concise formal song structure- and I must say it’s pretty great, a real pity it was never released as a single. Then we get two shorter two-three minute tracks- these feel very B-side like, there interesting to hear, but really nothing special.
Topping off the set we have the twenty-page inlay booklet-this is a fairly colorful affair taking live pics of the band- in page collage & arranged throughout the texts. Full lyrics for the two albums. And a new four-page write-up about the band.
I wasn’t aware of this project before this collection came along, so I’m sure I won’t be the only person into 60’s psychedelic folk/ rock/ prog who won’t have heard of the project- so big kudos must go to Cherry Red for putting this release out. As I mentioned early it was a bit of a pity there is no coverage of their live performances in this set( aside from a few pics in the booklet)- but hopefully a set like this will renew interest in the band, and if there is any surviving footage, some one will put out a DVD or Blu ray. Really if you’re into any form of wordy & trippy music this set really is worth picking up, and at present, it can be brought directly from the label for £12.99- which is a bargain for a three-disc set.