This is one weird-ass album, and one that will probably become better
known as time goes on and more people discover that it's a very early
musical document of Allan Holdsworth -- he was part of 'Igginbottom's
Wrench along with David Freeman on drums, Steve Robinson on the other
guitar, and Mick Skelly on bass. 'Igginbottom's Wrench, their one and
only album, bears about the same relationship to Holdsworth's later work
that The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles & Fripp does to Robert
Fripp's work, and it's curious that both albums are on the same label.
'Igginbottom's Wrench also sounds a lot like GG&F, kind of arty,
theatrical psychedelia with some prominent jazz influences weaving in
and out, but none of it taken seriously enough to be played or sung
especially well, and it's easy to see how this recording got overlooked
in 1969. It's mostly notable for the presence of "Golden Lakes," which
evolved into "Velvet Darkness" and loomed ever larger in the decades to
come. This shows Holdsworth at his least precise and pretentious, not in
great form instrumentally or vocally (but not bad, either), noodling
around in a less-than-formal setting and calling it an album. It's great
fun and it will probably delight Holdsworth's fans, and anyone into
late-'60s progressive rock or jazz/rock fusion. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1. The Castle (Holdsworth) - 2:55
2. Out Of Confusion (Freeman, Robinson, Holdsworth, Skelly) - 2:09
3. The Witch (Holdsworth) - 3:03
4. Sweet Dry Biscuits (Holdsworth) - 2:54
5. California Dreamin' (Phillips) - 4:00
6. Golden Lakes (Holdsworth) - 5:12
7. Not So Sweet Dreams (Holdsworth) - 5:00
8. Is She Just A Dream? (Holdsworth, Kelly) - 4:33
9. Blind Girl (Robinson) - 3:46
10.The Donkey (Robinson) - 10:42
Credits :
Allan Holdsworth – Vocals, Guitar
Steven Robinson – Vocals, Guitar
Dave Freeman – Drums
Mick Skelly – Bass .jpg)
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