O.W.L. - Of Wondrous Legends (Reissue, Remastered) (1971/2009)

Chicagoan Stephen Titra was a young art student in 1971 when he composed and recorded his only music studio release 'Of Wondrous Legends'. The project was financed with a small advance from Universal (aka Decca Records), who subsequently decided to not release the album. Titra would complete his studies and go on to a lengthy career as a painter and illustrator, primarily of portraits and landscapes often with religious or historical themes.

Fast-forward more than thirty years and Locust Records chief Dawson Prater (also a Chicagoan) discovered a test pressing of the record and was intrigued. After tracking down Titra he eventually released the music under the name O.W.L. in 2008, both on CD and vinyl.

Progophiles who identify with similar rediscovered obscure gems such as SPRING, OLIVER and SILMARIL will likely find something enjoyable here. The music is heavily steeped in the psych, folk and ambiguously spiritual sounds that were quite prevalent in the very early seventies.