Moe Whittemore's first and only album on his own 700 West label is one of
Indiana's oddest left-field rarity. Ostensibly a selection of publishers demos,
the album was rumored to have been printed in a very small run of only 300
copies.
The style runs the gamut from beat-heavy progressive rock on
"Nowhere To Go" and "Slammer" to futuristic space noodlings on "K2- 3rd
Movement". "Congratulations" is sounds like a lost Pink Floyd out-take from
Dark Side of the Moon. The final track on side A -- Muscle Pumpkin is thinly
veiled ode to Captain Beefheart -- sounding like a Trout Mask Replica attack
complete with choral background singers and Ornette Coleman oboe
(courtesy Mo).
The flip is dominated by more "normal" songs, including
drum-heavy "Make a Little Wine" which saw some local airplay as a 45 rpm
release back in 1976. It begins with a monstrous break-beat that sounds like
bong-smoking noises in the background. Two country songs follow. Anthony
Black of Lamp Records fame (Tony Black and the Revolution) provides vocals
on the sweet soul masterpiece of Indianapolis -- "Check Me Out." Absolutely
sickening!!
All in all, the album is something between a demo to promote his
recording studio and a library record of styles. Absolutely recommended to
beat heads, library collectors and psych fans.
