Czar - Czar (1970) (Expanded Edition, 2007)

Keyboard-oriented rock with some KING CRIMSON, PROCOL HARUM and PINK FLYOD influences. This English foursome made their debut as TUESDAYS CHILDREN back in 1967. Although they did flirt with prog, their record company made sure they never strayed too far from pop. As such, they played the well-known clubs (Marquee, Speakeasy, Scotch of St. James, etc.) and toured extensively with the MOODY BLUES, PINK FLOYD, The TROGGS, The ANIMALS, The NICE, The KINKS, Jimi Hendrix, The WHO and a budding KING CRIMSON to name but a few. In 1970, they changed their name do CZAR, released one eponymous album and then broke up.

Their album was recorded after gigs, late at night. The tracks were written and recorded virtually the same day, then some Mellotron was dubbed over the lot. The result is nine interesting but structurally very simple rock tunes: thudding drum splashes and scratchy guitars pitted against lots of Mellotron and hoary blues-based rock riffs. Provided you're not too fussy about sound quality (the CD version sounds like a vinyl-to-CD job, especially the two bonus tracks), you'll certainly find some interesting snippets of early prog nostalgia here.