Abstract Truth – Totum. 1971. 11-10.
Abstract Truth – Silver Trees. 1971. D: 11. And the mystery of this South African band has been solved. South African indigenous label Fresh Music has given us the first legit reissues of this great underground band from the heady days when Johannesburg looked to rival London and New York for global rock supremacy. “Totum” is named after the club the band labored in to make a living, and is still a bit too primal to be considered a classic. The folk pieces are a bit ordinary and the odd cover tune doesn’t help. Still, some cosmic journeys and other extended weirdo pieces go a long way to making this desirable, especially the sitar drenched closer. “Silver Trees” improves the composition and inventiveness quotient by another grade. A mixture of song based folk rock and lengthy instrumental journeys, almost Krautrock in sound.

Freedom’s Children – Astra. 1970. 10+11. Fresh Music also gives us the first legit issue of Freedom’s Children’s middle album “Astra”. Unfortunately the masters were lost in a studio fire, but this CD version is the best I’ve heard to date (including an original LP copy – which are almost always beat to hell). A wild, muddy ride through the dense forest of cosmic early Pink Floyd combined with the heavy rock of the Vertigo Swirl bands. It’s all good.