Morgen
(Self-Titled)

(Probe 1969/Radioactive 2004)

www.radioactiverecords.com

Very little is known of the elusive group Morgen, who recorded a one-off album for ABC's psychedelic subsidiary Probe in 1969 and then apparently vanished. The group's namesake leader was Steve Morgen, and while some reference books actually credit the album to him solely, Morgen was indeed a group, consisting of Steve, Rennie Genossa, Bob Maiman, and Barry Stock, all of whom supposedly hailed from Long Island, New York.

Their album made no impact when originally released and has since become rare and sought-after, especially after dealers and collectors began declaring it a "psychedelic classic" in recent years. While the label "classic" might be a bit of a stretch, the album does certainly include a few very good tracks. "Welcome to the Void" is an effective opener that features some nice drumming and lead guitar work, as well as some suitably psychedelic, apocalyptic lyrics. "Of Dreams", probably the strongest song on the album, is a gorgeous, floating psychedelic excursion highlighted by a captivating, fey vocal and some more strong guitar and drum playing. An edited single version of "Of Dreams" was featured on Arf! Arf!'s excellent compilation Beyond the Calico Wall and offers a different mix of the song, but it decidedly sounds best here, in its five-and-a-half-minute, stereo incarnation. "Beggin' Your Pardon (Miss Joan)" had the potential to be a decent, slightly bluesy tune, but its plodding momentum and comparatively simple arrangement make it a bit of a sleeper, especially after the psychedelic splendor of "Of Dreams".

It's likely the album's weakest offering. "Eternity in Between" is more engaging, and it features some guitar work that sounds almost like a tribute to The Who's Pete Townshend, specifically, some chord changes borrowed from Tommy's "Underture", as well as the guitar pickup switch feedback sound that Townshend used liberally on signature Who tunes like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere". "Purple" is a very nice song propelled by a good drumbeat and underscored by droning guitar leads. It's also perhaps the best showcase for Steve Morgen's soft vocals. "She's the Nitetime", a catchy tune with good musicianship all around and more nice vocal contributions from Steve, is another major highlight of the album. The eleven-minute closer "Love" sounds a little reminiscent of The Doors' "When the Music's Over" in its vocal phrases, and is narrowly rescued from tedium by a rather good guitar solo halfway through. Although Morgen's album might not be a 100%-excellent whole, it does include some very satisfactory ingredients. This new reissue (available on both CD and vinyl) comes warmly received since the only previous reissue (from the short-lived French label EVA) has been out of print for some time.

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