Lethe-Lethe (1981)

After the one-album adventure of the band Mirror and an extensive tour of the Netherlands, they disbanded, and three of its members founded Lethe in 1978. These musicians were Philip De Goey (piano, flute, and oboe), Johan Saanen (bass), and Kees Walravens (guitar), who were later joined by drummer Hans Lambers and keyboardist Thuur Feyen. Like Mirror, Lethe also had a short career of barely a year, just enough time to release the album "Lethe" in 1981. This album consists of four extended instrumental pieces, beginning with the title track, a folk piece featuring elegant acoustic guitars subtly accompanied by delicate piano and oboe, and some ambient and synthesizer sounds a beginning reminiscent of the unmistakable style of the American band Oregon. The following track, “Avbury Circle”, begins with a similar musical structure and builds to a vibrant finale with hints of jazz, a brilliant Hammond organ, and pure rock guitars. The second side of the vinyl opens with the infectious and lively “Cold In Fingers” and concludes with the progressive “Le Tombeau”, brimming with glorious organ sounds, a great guitar line, and jazzy underpinnings supported by a powerful rhythm section.