Fresh Maggots - Fresh Maggots (2025) [Hi-Res]

Long established as a cult classic and collector’s grail, Mick Burgoyne and Leigh Dolphin’s sole album is presented here with their full co-operation. Recorded in 1971 when they were just 19 years old and fresh to the studio, Fresh Maggots is one of the best distillations of folk and psychedelia ever recorded. Combining gentle, pastoral songs with violent fuzz guitar, it’s a highly unusual and powerful record that enjoyed extravagant acclaim on release, and has gone on to acquire a major reputation amongst acid folk fans.

“The British folk-rock duo of Mick Burgoyne and Leigh Dolphin were just 19 years of age when their sole, self-titled album came out in 1971. Comprised entirely of original material, the LP has an admirable array of textures, adding some heavily distorted electric guitar and orchestration around an acoustic guitar base” – Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com “There are no weak links on this consistent album, which is thoroughly recommended”- The Tapestry Of Delights.

"Although Fresh Maggots' sole album has a greater range of arrangements with a folk-rock base than many U.K. folk-rock albums of the time do, the songs aren't special enough to move this out of the desirable-mostly-for-the-sake-of-its-rarity category. While much of the material is acoustic and folky at the core, it's embellished by a good deal of instrumentation by Mick Burgoyne, who plays tin whistles, violin, and glockenspiel, in addition to some surprisingly burning distorted electric guitar. The tunes are pleasant but not brilliant, and kind of repetitive. If "Dole Song" takes an unusual subject as its focus (signing on to "the dole," or welfare, in Britain), other compositions can be simplistic to the point of awkwardness. "And When She Laughs," for instance, sounds a bit like Donovan at his lightest, but even more dainty and lovey-dovey. There's some fine acoustic guitar picking and a bit of tasteful orchestration. Yet only "Rosemary Hill" has a bittersweet tune strong enough to merit a place on U.K. '70s folk-rock rarities, should a definitive series of those ever be assembled."

Fresh Maggots:
Mick Burgoyne, guitar, vocals, percussions, violin
Leigh Dolphin, acoustic guitar, vocals

Digitally remastered