Comus-Firts Utterance (1971)

Comus are another of those very strange British bands from the early 70s, so much so that it's almost impossible to compare their style with other contemporaries due to their unique and original themes, which made them part of the dark scene of that period. Even so, Comus are one of the most interesting bands to emerge from the progressive folk scene. If one were to draw a comparison, one could say they are a disturbed and experimental version of Jethro Tull; however, this ambiguous comparison wouldn't do them justice. Comus was formed in Kent in 1967 by guitarist and vocalist Roger Wootton, bassist Andy Hellaby, violinist Colin Pearson, drummer Bobby Watson, flautist Rob Young, and guitarist Glen Goring. Their only album, not a conventional concept album, speaks of the fragility of innocence when confronted with abusive power (violence, rape, and shock therapy). That said, their music often ranges from idyllic passages to the strangest tribal sounds, accompanied by brutal and highly graphic lyrics. Their first album, and ultimately a monumental creation, was "First Utterance" (1971), considered by prog rock fans to be a stunning work and one of the best progressive folk albums of the 70s. It features demonic and dark lyrics alongside acoustic and at times pastoral music, a stark contrast to their earlier work. Here, paganism, brutal murders, gothic eroticism, and mental illness are all mixed together, described with unsettling frankness. Their music is a rare amalgam of psychedelic folk, with hints of classical music and unclassifiable sounds.