Review Summary: A powerful and sadly underrated and overlooked great in the prog and psychedelic music world
Its a crying shame that this debut was this band's only display of their abilities, but I could gladly say that if they would have continued onwards in their career in an alternate reality, this would be the album that they would strive to best.
The Shiver was a Swiss psychedelic outfit back in 69', when trippy swirls and organs ruled the music scene. However, unlike most bands who made their songs to speak of incense and peppermints, this display of raw guitar, vocals, and a very eerie church organ sound echoing in the album makes this piece of music one that would remind a drug meddler an experience similar to a bad trip.
An eerie, huge, expansive bad trip that is very enjoyable...if one could enjoy bad trips.
The Members of this outfits include:
Mario Conza, on Bass guitar, flute, and vocals
Roger Maurer, on Drums and vocals
Dany Ruhle, on Guitar and harmonica
Jelly Postorini, on Keyboards
and Peter Robinson on Vocals
So at this point you might be asking, "James, what are the highlights of this album?" Personally, I think the album as a whole works perfectly, but lets see point out some individual moments that I find are significant.
The album immediately begins with a seven minute powerhouse cover of Procol Harum's instrumental masterpiece (and my favorite track of theirs) "Repent Walpurgis", which would be the influence on the title. It is the perfect song to set the stage of the gloomy, moody, haunting bluesy nightmare you will enter for the next half hour.
After a few great covers of "Leave This Man Alone" by the Moody Blues, and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" which was immortalized by way too many artists to count, they show their very own efforts with their single "Hey, Mr. Holy Man". Slow, haunting, and honestly one of their more political songs. The song is lead with the familiar tune of "Dies Irae" but with their own lyrics and sound added to the mix.
The final two songs of the album "No Time" and "The Peddle" close off the album with a more noticeable blues sound leading the psychedelic overtones.
With the help of H.R Geiger's first album cover submission (fun fact), the album definitely has its very own unique, foreboding and worthwhile identity which makes it really disappointing to note that not enough know of its existence. Do yourself a favor if you are fond of psychedelic, prog, the blues, or eerie imagery to check this one out. You wont be disappointed.
