TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Growers Of Mushroom" - Leaf Hound (1971 - Rei 2015)

"Growers Of Mushroom" - Leaf Hound (1971 - Rei 2015)

This is some heavy, hard-candy, UK stoner rock from the early cusp of the 70s.  And what Leaf Hound lacks in originality, the band makes up for with some sincere ass-kickery attitude.  I admit Led Zeppelin influences can be heard, but the band didn't sell their souls.  And this was 1970 after all.  There weren't that many trails to follow.

"Growers Of Mushroom" is a lot of fun and just what I'm looking for when I need to shake cobwebs outta my head and house.  Leaf Hound was workin' it out, man, and doing a pretty good job at it.  It's early proto-metal and still holds up better than many albums that have come down the pike.  This square has gotten plenty of respins and has run off all but the very coolest of spiders out of my house.

"Growers Of Mushroom" - Leaf Hound (back)

Favorites include the one-two punch of...'Freelance Fiend"...a stoner gauntlet that dares anyone to miss the train and "Sad Road To The Sea" which leaves little doubt that great riffs and fearless vocals are not going to go gently into that good night.  "Work My Body" is the longest track and a great change of pace filled with stoner-psych grooves that throw a louie or two.

Original copies, if you can find one, will set you back about four figures, so that ain't happening for me any time soon.  A nice reissue is definitely the poor man's way to go.  I grabbed my copy using an Amazon gift card I received from Doug Froeman, a longtime follower from Toronto, Canada.  It's a 2015 repress on Repertoire Records, remastered on 180g vinyl.

The vinyl also has "Half Speed Mastering" on the label which I wasn't aware of until cracking it open.  Whether that really means anything...who knows?  The record plays very clean, though.  It was packed nicely, shipped quickly, and arrived safely.  Not always the case with Amazon.  I am very grateful for the thoughtful gift and I have something in waiting coming back at'cha as soon as there's a break from the blistering sun out here in the Midwest.

Repertoire Records label

Cat #
REP 2208  /  V103
SIDE A  DEADWAX
-- 37203 --  V 103  A  SST  MW  1
SIDE B  DEADWAX
--37203 --  V103  B  SST  MW

"Freelance Fiend" - Leaf Hound / "Growers Of Mushroom" (1971)

TRACKS:
A1  "Freelance Fiend" 3:09
A2  "Sad Road To The Sea" 4:14
A3  "Drowned My Life In Fear" 2:58
A4  "Work My Body" 8:09
B1  "Stray" 3:45
B2  "With A Minute To Go" 4:16
B3  "Growers Of Mushroom" 2:16
B4  "Stagnant Pool" 3:57
B5  "Sawdust Caesar" 4:26

PERSONNEL:
Pete French - vocals
Michael "Mick" Halls - lead guitar
Derek Brooks - rhythm guitar
Stuart Brooks - bass
Keith Young - drums

Good stuff.

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