Rock Archeologia

First Light - First Light (1978 M.F.S. Records) 

Artist: First Light
Album: First Light
Label: M.F.S. (Music Farm Studios)
Catalog#: MFS 0002
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Australia
Released: 1978
Genre: Rock, jazz-rock, Prog Rock
Format: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Bitrate: lossless
Duration: 00:40:35

• Australian band First Light's rare self-titled album from 1978 is a concoction of mid-70's jazz-rock, jazz-fusion and progressive rock with prominent and proficient interplay between the sax, electric piano and the electric guitar with the occasional moog lead; one online reviewer comparing them to Aussie bands Mackenzie Theory and Crossfire. The music is predominantly instrumental with the exception of three tracks which feature female vocals - the standouts are the dreamy flute, mellotron and classical guitar driven prog of 'Zenith' (the sound on this track is quite different to the rest of jazz-oriented material on the album) and the frantic jazz-rock track 'Earthwave', which features some Linda Hoyle-esque vocals courtesy of Marian Henderson.
• The album was privately released on the M.F.S. label, which had been based out of the Music Farm Studios in Coorabell, Northern NSW. The only other album on this label is the 1977 'Just Playing' Compilation', used to promote the newly-created studios and the many artists and bands based in the Byron Bay area; this release seems to be much more difficult to track down than the First Light album, which is quite rare itself. First Light consisted of John Gray on Guitars, Harry Freeman on pianos and keyboards, Graham Jesse on saxophones and flute, Allan Freeman on bass and most notably, Ron Carpenter on drums and mellotron, who was the main composer for Australian prog-rock band Aleph, and drummed for AC/DC at one point in time. Moreover, John Gray and Harry Freeman were also in the progressive rock band Aeon, who are featured on the aforementioned 'Just Playing' compilation; although the musicianship on that song is nowhere near the standard on this album. Overall, the First Light album will certainly appeal to collectors of the jazz-rock and jazz-fusion variety and I am sure prog collectors will find the album enjoyable as well.
  

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 • Side One:
A1. Firat Light 04:00
A2. Emerald Tide 04:04
A3. Sonidos Negros 02:55
A4. Duologue 05:15
A5. Zenith 04:02
• Side Two:
B1. Earth Wave 04:40
B2. Tropical Inequation 05:03
B3. Azure Azimuth 03:27
B4. Solar Illusion 04:48
B5. Fire In The West 02:16

     Recorded at Music Farm Studios, Coolamon Scenic Drive,
     Coorabell, NSW, 2482, Australia.  

Members:
John Gray - Electric, Classical and Acoustic Guitars
Harry Freeman - Electric and Acoustic Pianos, SH 5 and Moog synthesisers, string ensemble
Graham Jesse - Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxes, Flute
Allan Freeman - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Ron Carpenter - Drums, Mellotron, Vocals
Marion Henderson, Beth Freeman, Jeanette Freeman - Vocals
Gerald Frape - Percussion

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