First Utterance

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First Utterance
First Utterance cover
Studio album by Comus
Released 1971
Recorded November - December 1970
Genre Psych folk, progressive rock
Length 49:17
Label Dawn DNLS 3019
Producer Barry Murray
Professional reviews
Comus chronology
First Utterance
(1971)		 To Keep from Crying
(1974)

First Utterance is the debut album of the British progressive rock band Comus. It was released in 1971, with the opening song Diana being released as a single. Unfavorable reviews, combined with a postal strike, resulted in low sales, and the band quickly dissolved after its release.

First Utterance was notable for its unique blend of progressive rock, folk, psychedelia, and elements of paganism and the macabre. The overall thematic tone of the album is of vulnerable innocence facing abusive power[1], the songs dealing with violence ("Drip Drip"), rape ("Diana", "Song to Comus"), and harsh treatment of insanity ("The Prisoner"). These themes contrast starkly with the acoustic sound of the record, featuring acoustic guitar, violin, flute, and lyrical, almost arcadian, female harmonies. In recent years First Utterance has grown to be recognized in some circles as a minor classic, and as of May 18, 2008 it is 181st on Rate Your Music's Top Albums of All-Time list[2]. Although since reissued, the vinyl original has been known to change hands for £150.00 (~$US300)[3]

References to Comus by other bands and artists include Opeth, citing its lyrics in album and song titles. Experimental outfit Current 93 also covered "Diana" as the opening song on their 1990 LP Horse.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Diana" - 4:37
  2. "The Herald" - 12:15
  3. "Drip Drip" - 10:56
  4. "Song to Comus" - 7:31
  5. "The Bite" - 5:27
  6. "Bitten" - 2:16
  7. "The Prisoner" - 6:15

[edit] Personnel

  • Roger Wootton - acoustic guitar, lead vocals
  • Glenn Goring - 6-12 acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide, hand drums, vocals
  • Andy Hellaby - fender bass, slide bass, vocals
  • Colin Pearson - violin, viola
  • Rob Young - flute, oboe, hand drums
  • Bobbie Watson - vocals, percussion

[edit] Album Cover

  • The cover artwork was drawn in ball point pen by Roger Wootton, lead singer and songwriter of the band. The centre-fold artwork (not shown) was painted by guitarist Glenn Goring.

[edit] References

  1. ^ comus.html
  2. ^ Rate Your Music
  3. ^ Record Collector Magazine, Issue c. 1982

[edit] External links