Tamam Shud - Evolution (Bonus Track Edition) (1969/2017)

Aztec continues its Digitally Remastered CD reissues programme of classic Australian rock albums, this time presenting the landmark 1969 LP by pioneering progressive-psych rock band TAMAM SHUD - Evolution.

The name Tamam Shud is indeed a legendary one, with a highly regarded status in the annals of Australian rock music. Led by singer/guitarist/songwriter Lindsay Bjerre, the Shud was one of the first local acts to embrace developments in the world of acid rock. The group issued two ground-breaking albums, Evolution (1969) and Goolutionites And The Real People (1970) which, based on musical quality alone, represented much that was new and exciting on the late 1960s / early 1970s Aussie rock scene. And with links to the local surfing culture which was based around freedom of expression, expanded consciousness and getting back to nature, they were at the local epicentre of a worldwide counter-cultural youth movement.

In the autumn of 1969 film maker Paul Witzig invited the Shud to record the soundtrack to his surfing movie, Evolution. Having financed the soundtrack session in return for being able to use the songs on his soundtrack, Witzig donated the left-over studio time to the band so they could record a few tracks of their own. Developing the soundtrack ideas further, and taking full advantage of the situation the quartet recorded an entire album, live-in-the-studio, in two and a half hours. The result was Evolution, one of the first wholly original acid rock albums produced in Australia and a remarkable example of new developments in the musical epoch of the day.

Evolution boasts a heavy, raucous sound with a bluesy trace still evident in the heavier psych rock moves, and added jazzy touches as displayed on the single ‘Lady Sunshine’. As a bonus, this CD edition includes all the singles by pre-Shud bands The 4 Strangers and The Sunsets - 14 extra tracks!