Atomic Rooster - In Hearing Of (1971)

I always felt that, particularly at their peak, Atomic Rooster were in something of a quandary: on the one hand they had ELP-style prog rock pretensions and on the other, more soulful, song-based Uriah Heap stylings. This 1971 release does nothing to clear-up things either featuring both Hammond-driven instrumentals and more commercial vocal-based numbers.

However, the above doesn’t mean the album is not without its merits, far from it there are many, but just that the juxtaposition of the two conflicting styles doesn’t make for the most consistent of listening experiences when listened to from start to finish.

The album opens with an uptempo eighth note piano riff overlaid with keyboard that builds, with the introduction of the drums, up to a quite a riff including guitar and vocals. Track two is based around a simplistic guitar riff and vocals and does little to stick in the memory – similarly track 3, Decision/Indecision, whilst a pleasantly melodic piano/vocal based number does little to inspire the listener.

Where things really begin to pick up is with A Spoonful Of Bromide which is a belter of an instrumental allowing drummer Paul Hammond to loosen up and Vincent Crane to provide some great Hammond and keyboard soloing built around a central motif to which it repeatedly returns.

The following Black Snake is uneventful but then Head In The Sky returns to the instrumental mode with a guitar-driven piece containing once more some good drumming and Hammond twiddling, but in this instance there’s a vocal track crow-barred into it to but, thankfully, this subsides into a lengthy soloing section.

The Rock is also a strong instrumental piece featuring both Crane and John Du Cann laying down a selection of solos. The album closes with The Price, again a vocal-based number of little merit.

I really wanted to like this album when I first purchased it many years ago, and indeed there are flashes of genius throughout but sadly whilst the band were aware of their undoubted abilities, they didn’t seem aware of their limitations with their songwriting, as opposed to instrumental writing, ability passable at best and for me, John Du Cann was perpetually attempting to punch above his weight.

All-in-all, a disappointing album from a talented group but worth a listen, if just for A Spoonful Of Bromide!

• Vincent Crane – Keyboards
• John Du Cann – Guitar
• Peter French – Vocals
• Paul Hammond – Drums