Comus - To Keep From Crying (Reissue) (1974/2005)

Founded in Bromley, Kent in 1967 - Disbanded in 1972 - Reformed in 2008

Despite existing only for a brief period during the early 70s and being largely obscure throughout that period, it's undoubtable that COMUS was one of the most interesting bands to emerge from the folk-prog scene. It could be said that they're a far more deranged and experimental version of JETHRO TULL, although to say this wouldn't quite do them justice. Their songs often go from beautiful mellow passages to strange, tribal chanting, their lyrics often being brutal and graphic (just look at "Drip Drip" from their debut album!). The band's seminal 1971 debut album "First Utterance" featured a line-up of Roger Wootton (who also wrote most of the material) on guitar and vocals, Andy Hellaby on bass, Colin Pearson on violin and viola, Bobby Watson on percussion, Rob Young on flute and oboe, and Glen Goring also contributing guitar work. After this, the band went on a brief hiatus before returning with the even less known 1974 sophomore effort "To Keep From Crying". Only Hellaby, Wootton and Watson returned from the original line-up, and despite adding people like Lindsay Cooper of HENRY COW and Didier Malherbe of GONG on bassoon and saxophone respectively, the second album failed to live up to the first and marked the end of COMUS, leaving the band to fade away into the depths of obscurity.

As mentioned above, "First Utterance" is by far the stronger of the two COMUS albums. While it's hard to find nowadays, it certainly deserves a listen. As for "To Keep From Crying", if you manage to track it down (which you aren't likely to do), odds are you're just leaving yourself to be let down, as it is vastly inferior to the brilliant debut.

COMUS is recommended for any fans of folk-prog (that is, unless you're afraid of a little weirdness in your music), but even if you don't listen to that particular style, you shouldn't have a hard time appreciating their outrageous, crazy style if you like that sort of thing. So check them out, but use caution, as this is not easy music to digest, even to prog standards.