The glut of great bands vying for attention at the start of the 70s meant that some talented groups who did not shamelessly thrust themselves towards the limelight fell by the wayside.
Singer Mike Patto, whose voice fell somewhere between Steve Marriot and Paul Rogers, and sparkling young guitarist Ollie Halsall struck up a productive partnership that blended heavy rock with jazz and blues, characterised by Patto’s astute lyrics and Halsall’s fluid playing.
Listening back, it’s hard to understand why the band’s inventive songwriting and scope, as well as the simple but effective ‘live’ production, especially on their self-titled debut, failed to give them a commercial lift-off. But the absence of a stand-out gem left them floundering in the wake of their competitors.
