Date of the first publication - 2002 / Last update - 2008
Odin was not only the name of the mythological god but also the name of a progressive rock band. Their one and only LP was recorded at Windrose
Dumont~Time~Studio in Hamburg in September 1972. All compositions were written by Odin's members with the exception of "Gemini", which was
written by P.Hammond. The LP was reissued on CD in 1992 and 2000 but we won't find whatever information relating to the group, beside a brief
statement: "A British four piece progressive rock band". In V.Joynson's "The Tapstery of Delights" we'll find only one sentence: "A British progressive
rock band but for some reason this album was only released in Germany". The next mysterious group!? At this point we come back to the mythological
Odin. In Scandinavian mythology, he was the god of war, victories and killed in fight. His equivalent is British Woden and German orgin Wodan. Odin's
drink was poetry and poets were under his care. He obtained power by drinking water from Mimir's source, that he obtained for the loss one eye. From
here on Odin is represented as a one~eyed old man
in blue, heavenly overcoat
with one~eyed ravens which are his helpers( Hugin, Munin). These informations in large degree explain the graphic arts origin from the cover. In this
place I want to remind, that rock's groups from the 60s and 70s introduced elements of mythology to their own creations. What today is outright
grotesquely used by groups from a heavier variety of rock. But orginal Odin played a typical progressive rock music. Musical material is permeated
with improvisation and changes of metre, over plenty of interestingly melodic lines. After some listening, it fully convinces the listener. Sometimes we
have the impression of little stumbles ( vocal line in "Life is only" ) but that's only my impression. Greatest attention deserve two compositions, the one
begining ("Life is only") and the one finishing the record ("Clown").One of two instrumental compositions on the record deserve special attention.
It's "Tribute to Frank". What was mysterious Frank? I invite interested on the following subsite. The text from "Turnpike lane" is very simple (ya,ya...)
but it's great matrial for a single. When I mentioned earlier about certain vocal stumbles, the group makes up for it with a high level in acustic
composition: "Be The Man You Are". The main charm of a seemingly straight composition "Gemini", you'll find in the middleparts, with galloping
demonstrations of instrumental competence. At listening to "Eucalyptus", one thought comes to mind, of the "sleep~inducing" influence that this plant
has on Koala bears.
Rob Terstall ~ gt, voc
Jeff Beer ~ keyboard
Ray Brown ~ bg,voc
Stuart Fordham ~ dr
LP Vertigo 6360608 1972 LP Akarma 339 2006
CD Repertoire 4230 WP 1992 CD Living in the Past LITP 1972~002 2002 CD Akarma AK 339 2006
CD Long Hair Music 00058 July 2007 *
Summing up: a very interesting record. A forgotten group that I want to instruct you about with clean consience.
Ladies and Gentelman !
Here before you are unique photos and messages, which you will not find anywhere else, about this splendid group.
Side A
1.Life is only (J.Beer / R.Brown) 2.Tribute to Frank (J.Beer) 3.Turnpike Lane (R.Terstall)
4.Be the man you are (R.Terstall / R.Brown)
Side B
5.Gemini (Hammond) 6.Eucalyptus (J.Beer) 7.Clown.(J.Beer / S.Fordham / R.Brown)
Produced and arranged by Odin
* CD reissued by Long Hair Music, contains bonus: "Oh No" (F.Zappa)
Ray Brown Jeff Beer Rob Terstall Stuart Fordham
bg, voc keyboards, percussion, voc gt, voc dr