5 Stars
Audio CD (paid link)
Formed in the Gravesend part of the garden of England, Kent, in 1970, it was a crying shame how Fantasy never got their day in the sunshine of stardom.
The first few years were tumultuous, to say the least, with various lineup changes and name changes. The band could not make up their minds whether Firequeen or Fantasy suited them more. Then, tragically, Bob Vann, lead guitar and vocals, the very lynchpin of the band, was killed in a terrible car accident. Slowly, the band picked themselves up and regrouped.
Lead guitarist Pete James was brought in to complete the lineup of Paul Lawrence on lead vocals & 12-string acoustic guitar, David Metcalfe on keyboards & vocals, David Read on bass guitar & vocals, and Jon Webster on drums & vocals. The band as Fantasy was snapped up by Polydor Records, and the Paint a Picture album was released in 1973.
The music is classic progressive rock from that era, with its superb musicianship producing an ambrosial sound swaying from beautiful to bouncy. Paul Lawrence’s voice and his intricate acoustic guitar style give the band a unique sound. Whilst the guitar and keyboard work of Pete James and David Metcalfe is never short of superb, their combined soloing, although at times quite restrained, holds your attention, never intruding on their songs’ wonderful melodies. The rhythm section of David Read and Jon Webster gives admirable support whilst keeping to the background. The trump card for Fantasy was their five-man harmonies giving each song such depth.
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There were no epics on the album; unusual for prog bands of the time. If a band did not have an epic song to fill one side of a vinyl album, they would simply cobble together a few ideas for different songs and turn them into one long one. Not in Fantasy’s case, as each song was allowed to stand on its own. Of the ten songs, the longest, ‘Circus,’ clocks in at 6.18 minutes, whilst the shortest, ‘Window,’ is only 2.12 minutes. But all do what it says on the card. No unnecessary long and twiddly solos for Fantasy. Just compact rock songs with delightful messages.
The title song is first up to lead you down the Fantasy path, with each musician introducing himself along the way. No massive power chords or threatening flourishes, but an iron fist in a velvet glove on the tiller. Up next is ‘Circus’ where Fantasy show off their progressive rock credentials. Paul Lawrence’s are vocals very much to the fore, with the band giving raucous support. Pete James is cut loose here, given an opportunity to show his credentials as a rock guitarist alongside any other.
‘The Award’ shows off Fantasy’s more reflective side, with the five-man harmonies shining, it’s a beautiful song that possibly could have made a breakthrough single.
The fourth song in, ‘Politely Insane,’ is a delightful romp through the mind with its driving beat and yearning vocals; it’s a real treasure.
Each song is a complete story with no wizards or dragons etc., so popular at the time.
When required, Alan Pryce Jackman steps in with some wonderful brass flourishes.
The famous Graham Preskett did a delightful cello arrangement on the mournful ‘Window.’
‘Icy River’ is probably the central track of the album, as it was in their stage show. Certainly the most dramatic, immediate song on the album, epic-like if not in length. The vocal harmonies, to the fore again, as well as how beautifully the band combined musically, are plainly here for all to hear. ‘The Icy River’ is all about searching fruitlessly for the meaning of life! Too deep for this dog.
During ‘Young Man’s Fortune,’ Fantasy show they have the venom with brutal chops as they rage against the younger generation’s lot.
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‘The Gnome’ is a rather sad song about solitude, perhaps way ahead of its time with our present concerns over mental health.
‘Silent Mime’ leaves us in the same contemplative mood as the opening song, completing the journey.
to a tee: shoulder-length hair, cheesecloth tops, and
bell-bottom loon pants.
As soon as the album was not immediately successful upon release, Polydor Records turned their back on the band, withdrawing all the necessary financial support. Once again, Fantasy found themselves cast adrift.
As a teenager I managed to see the band twice in their live environment. Once at an art school dance, third on the bill to Atlantis and Focus! Then in a biker bar just outside London. Although, as ever the band were true to form, this was not the right environment for them to thrive. They needed to be put on a support tour with a major band playing theaters to build confidence and ability.
The band then hunkered down in a studio to build more songs to avail themselves of a new recording contract. It was of little use, as bands like Fantasy were simply not required with the advent of the new wave of punk rock. Which is a shame as years later, in 1992, some of the recordings were released as the album ‘Beyond the Beyond.’ Six of these tracks have been added onto the latest CD release, ‘Paint a Picture,’ as bonus material, showing how much the band were developing on their own. The song ‘Alanderie’ shows great development in both song writing and musicianship. Coming in at over eight minutes, it could’ve been Fantasy’s epic.
Fantasy’s ‘Paint a Picture’ is a must-have for any lover of progressive or symphonic rock.
Written by Mott the Dog.
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