Gracious-This Is...Gracious (1971)

A band from the nascent British progressive rock movement, founded in 1967 in the London suburbs, they initially played pop music, which evolved into more complex and ambitious territory after discovering the potential of the Mellotron sound. After several lineup changes, their first stable formation consisted of Alan Cowderoy (guitar), Paul Davis (vocals and 12-string guitar), Martin Kitcat (keyboards), Robert Lipson (drums), and Tim Wheatley (bass). From their debut album, "Gracious" (1970), the band displayed an interest in imbuing their style with risky and complex compositions, though with little musical coherence. In 1971 came "This Is...Gracious", featuring a more polished production and a more cohesive and committed band. Here Gracious shows impressive progress compared to his debut album, with the Mellotron taking center stage in the music, complemented by guitar interactions as demonstrated in the suite "Super Nova" which occupies one side of the album. The rest are shorter tracks with a more eclectic style and pleasant sounds that accommodate pop alongside influences of blues, rock, and symphonic textures.