Clark-Hutcison’s A=MH2 is 49 minutes and 20 seconds of the most epic psyche-jam you have ever heard. Seriously, this is so smoking and amazing and totally drug-drenched and exotic that you will be transported to some dreamy oriental palace with harem girls, hookahs, much heroism and villainy, jongleurs, magicians, snake charmers, and a whole of other wild sexy illicit goodness - essentially this album will take you to whatever fantasy land the mind will create be it King Arthur’s court, a Spanish bullfight or soaring over the Nazca lines with some righteous splace alient chuckling over an old prank.
Who was responsible for this masterpiece? The duo of Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson, two London players who recorded this album in two sessions in May 1969. The playing is insane: Mick was responsible for tons of awesome and super-creamy fuzzed-out solos, and a great clean guitar piece that incorporates elements of classical guitar, Flamenco and early music. He also doubled up on percussion, piano, etc. Andy played drums as well as saxes, bagpipe chanter and more... They may have just been a duo but you’d never guess from listening -- this sounds like an inspired, impromptu jam session more than a couple of dudes holed up in a studio.
The second disc is the group’s unreleased debut album, an altogether affair. This one is more song-based and in a blues-rock vein. It’s really good but not my cup of tea so I’m not going to go to deeply into it. It’s a bonus album anyway - the real draw here is A=MH2
If you were only every going to own one psyche album, this should quite possibly be it. A mind-melting jam that defines what psyche, and perhaps all music, should aspire to. The mood it sets is so intense, allowing the mind to wander freely. Extraordinary playing but this album goes beyond chops... Truly incredible album.
