Spanish record label Guerssen continue to dig up those rare underground folk releases for vinyl reissue, their latest is from Australian prog folk duo, Madden and Harris. Fools Paradise was their only album released on their own private label, Jasmine Records in 1975. Only 500 copies were pressed. Despite re-issues in the ’90’s and in 2003 as a mini-LP both are as as rare as hen’s teeth.
According to Richard Allen the album is “essentially a contemporary folk record, it displays some beautiful neo-medieval folk, explores the edges of progressive rock and folky pop rock, and even skirts Kinks like vaudevillian humour” “Sections of the album seem cut from the very same tapestry that gave the world Ireland’s Tír na nÓg or the English Magna Carta”.
Interviewed by Sydney’s Go Set magazine, Harris said: “our music lies halfway between a 16th century chamber sound with light jazzy influenced breaks”, but it has an unmistakable 60’s / 70’s folk-rock sound with a lot of mellotron…
The beautifully illustrated original gatefold album featured an other-worldly innerfold, painted by Jane Lerossignol, which provided the inspiration for the sidelong suite, ‘Fools Paradise’: a) Children Of Ice (featuring a childrens choir), b) Will You Be There, c) E.I.E.I.O and d) End Game on side two. As well as a new insert and detailed liner notes the gatefold cover has been colour corrected as originally intended by the artists.
Listen in full below:
Due in on 4th April 2014, pre-order via Norman Records.