IAN CARR & NUCLEUS Solar Plexus VERTIGO SWIRL PSYCH LP

$

52

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

IAN CARR WITH NUCLEUS "Solar Plexus"

Original 1971 LP on the New Zealand VERTIGO label, STEREO 636009

COVER:  VG+, 2" seam split on spine

VINYL:  Plays VG+ to VG++

Don't know too much about jazz prog psych fusion stuff, so I'll let the guys over at ProgArchives do the talking for me on this one.  I know it's rare, and while it's not a UK full Vertigo swirl, it's a scarce New Zealand swirl issue and looks pretty nice.  "Snakehips" got me grooving the most, and you can hear a bit on the soundclip.

From ProgArchives - "Karl Jenkins was the main composer on NUCLEUS' first two albums,but "Solar Plexus" is 100% Ian Carr.I'll let Ian describe this album for you."I wrote "Solar Plexus" last year with the help of an "Arts Council" grant.It is based on two short themes which are stated at the beginning("Elements I & II").The first theme is angular and has a slow crab-like movement:the second theme is direct,simple and diatonic."Changing Times" and "Spirit Level" explore the first theme,and "Bedrock Deadlock" and "Torso" explore the second one."Snakeships' Dream" tries to fuse both themes". The big difference for me on this one compared to their first two albums is the bigger horn section.It's the same lineup here but there are 6 guests,3 of which play brass. "Elements I & II" is the just over 2 minute opening track.I'm thinking UNIVERS ZERO the first time i heard this dark and haunting soundscape.Synths and bowed bass help in that department. "Changing Times" opens like the sun bursting out from behind the dark clouds.Lots of horns in this very enjoyable track.This is simply a "feel good" song for me.Guitar with bass takes over late to finish the song. "Bedrock Deadlock" is very solemn with aboe and double bass for the first 2 minutes.Guitar,drums and percussion then take over.Sax after 3 1/2 minutes followed by trumpet.So much going on here.This is great! "Spirit Level" sounds so amazing to start with those dark angular sounds.It then kicks in with bass,horns etc. The flugelhorn throughout is fantastic.Marshall really shines here as well.Ian had this to say about John's drumming."It's like an essay on how to play drums for this kind of music.He's got incredible strength,he's very powerful,yet he has equally incredible sensitivity".Some excellent sax in this song as well. "Torso" is uptempo with guitar,horns,drums and bass.An outstanding sounding track.Sax solo before 2 minutes.A collage of sounds 4 1/2 minutes in then Marshall starts to solo. "Snakehips' Dream" is the over 15 minute closer.i like this one a lot.It's relaxing with electric piano and other sounds that come and go tastefully.Guitar comes in.I could listen to this all day long.Sax after 4 1/2 minutes.This song has the same main melody throughout. I like this better than their debut but "We'll Talk About It Later" remains my favourite probably because it sounds a lot like Miles Davis at times.Interesting though that the first three albums really are quite different from one another. I'd like to dedicate this to the memory of Ian Carr who recently passed away.A great loss.I mentioned somewhere else about being surprised to see Ian had guested on one of the NO-MAN albums a few years ago,and at the time i thought "How did they manage to get Ian Carr to play on here".A true legend

HEAR IT!

UPDATE:  SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.