Quatrain - Quatrain (1969) [Hi-Res]

The involvement of frequent Neil Young producer David Briggs, who produced and engineered Quatrain's sole record, is about the most interesting thing about this self-titled LP. It's very much a record of its time and place — late-'60s Los Angeles — in its mix of folk-rock, hard rock, and psychedelia, without any of those styles being particularly dominant. Frankly, however, the material is mediocre, and the way the band plays is competent but run-of-the-mill. Better than the hard rock tracks are the ones that lean in other directions, like "Unconquered Islands," which has a spaced-out British psychedelic feel somewhat akin to Arthur Brown (though without as distinguished vocals or instrumentation). This and a few other cuts, like "Try to Live Again," can also bring to mind some of the things Noel Redding did outside of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. "Fields of Love" has a nice sunny hippie folk-rock feel a little akin to some of late-'60s Love, and the beatific "Rollin'" sounds more like a Bay Area band than an L.A. one. That still leaves a bunch of less attractive hard rockers to wade through, however, and the vocals are never a strong suit on a set that never seems to find sure-footed direction. ~ Richie Unterberger

Tracklist:
01. Quatrain - Fragments (04:13)
02. Quatrain - Unconquered Islands (03:17)
03. Quatrain - Flowing Robes (03:20)
04. Quatrain - Fields of Love (02:25)
05. Quatrain - Canyon Woman (01:21)
06. Quatrain - Rollin' (03:08)
07. Quatrain - Black Lilly (03:22)
08. Quatrain - Early Morning Company (02:53)
09. Quatrain - Ask Me No Questions (02:57)
10. Quatrain - Try to Live Again (02:58)
11. Quatrain - Masquerade (02:41)
12. Quatrain - The Tree (05:35)