Bill Fay Group - Tomorrow Tomorrow And Tomorrow

Drag City - LP
US, 2006
Soft Rock / Indie / Folk

Late 1970's recordings by UK Folk Rock legend Bill Fay released 30 years later by Drag City. Excellent crepuscular prog-AOR that gives off Phantom of the Paradise or doomed Wings vibes. Original 2006 pressing.

Before there was Sixto Rodriguez, before there was William Onyeabor, there was Bill Fay Group: a long lost album by a UK folk rock legend, dismissed by the record industry whose two flopped albums gained a cult status among music proto-influencers like Jim O'Rourke or David Tibet, finally leading to a deal with one of the most hyped labels of the time, Drag City. The music obviously doesn't sound like Oneyeabor's or Rodriguez's songs but it shares a particular 1970's haziness.

Tomorrow Tomorrow And Tomorrow is a finished melodic folk rock album (not a collection of demo), with a prog synth-leaning sound. Discovering these recordings today, knowing the music Bill Fay released in 1970, feels like discovering a lost prog rock album by Nick Drake: it has the charm and freshness of any (very good and essential) reissue but is by nature haunting and sad. And I can't help but picture Winslow recording his songs in his secret studio in Phantom of the Paradise. (VG+/NM with insert)

Tracklist

1. Change Is Near
2. Strange Stairway
3. Spiritual Mansions
4. Planet Earth, Daytime
5. Tomorrow. Tomorrow & Tomorrow
6. Cosmic Boxer
7. Pear Tree
8. Life
9. Hypocrite
10. My Friend
11. Man
12. Sam
    
13. Isle Of Sleep