Crystalline - Axe Music (Reissue, Remastered + Video) (1970/2012)

Axe (also known as Axe Music and Crystalline by the time they recorded their rare acetate) were an obscure British psych band led by acid-rock guitar player extraordinaire Tony Barford and graced by Vivienne Jones’ ethereal vocals. In 1970, they recorded a demo album of which only 12 copies were pressed on a 10” acetate. Here’s the first-ever straight reissue of this legendary artifact, as the previous “reissue” on the Kissing Spell label was altered without the band’s consent and included new remixed tracks, added echo/phasing effects, altered song titles, etc. Here you’ll find the acetate recordings in their pure form: 100% unadulterated heavy psych and acid-rock sounds full of raw, fuzzed-out guitars and dreamy female vocals. Four impressive, original songs, plus a long, psyched-to-the-max cover of Love’s “A House Is Not a Motel,” which has to be heard to be believed. Carefully remastered from an original copy (master tapes were lost) in 24-bit. Unfortunately, no masters survived and no clean copy is known to exist of the original 10”, but you’ll get the best result for the possibilities. New artwork (the original acetate came in a blank sleeve) and an insert with unseen pictures and liner notes by Paul Cross. And if all that wasn’t enough, this release includes a CD with the same album, plus a bonus 8-minute video track featuring color silent footage of Crystalline/Axe playing live in 1970 with audio from the acetate added. Footage filmed by none other than Steve Giles (Dark).