T2 - It'll All Work Out In Boomland (Decca 1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

T2 were one of the great mysteries of the late 60s early 70s. Should have been HUGE but somehow lost out to lesser heavy progressive bands. All three members of this trio were exceptional musicians and the song writing is top-notch. The interplay between the trio is well balanced between individual virtuosity and group dynamics. If you like the idea of the darker sides of the Hendrix Experience and Cream, paired with the scope and expanse of the early days of progressive rock, then this release is well worth checking out.

When I hear the opening crashes of In Circles, I get a thrill and it barely lets up throughout the course of this excellent album as the power prog-trio expand on the psychedelic and jazz-rock tendencies of Cream (with liberal splashes of orchestrated symphonic prog) to create that rare and beautiful object … a masterpiece of progressive rock. The aching tone of Dunton's limited vocals work perfectly with the compositions (he is after all credited with having written all the songs!), although T2 can really mix it with the best of them. T2's remarkable gift is that their songs sound so fresh that one almost takes them for impromptu jams, and yet they are way too skilfully executed and structured to have been.

In Circles in particular is an example of T2 applying the restraints on its own fury and then eventually letting Cross' abundant talent loose. His fiery playing puts him in the Paul Kossoff bracket of special guitarist who shone brightest in their mid teens. The piano-led J.L.T introduces Dunton's propensity for writing unforgettable melancholic melodies and its outstanding, orchestrated deceptively-timed outro is one of my favourite "subtle" moments in all of prog. And then we have the latent power of the intro to No More White Horses which really is a thing of beauty. The melody of the song itself is bewitching. When Dunton goes "someone is sitting there" it's like a release and as for the sudden silence after the chorus … it's perfection! Cross's superbly-constructed blues solo that moves from ice to fire, and the ominous conclusion that echoes J.L.T.'s with piano, brass and strings giving it an epic feel, all go towards making this one of my favourite ever songs. But still the ultimate statement of intent has to be the 21 minute-long Morning. I can't think of a 20 plus minute prog track that flows more naturally than this one. It begins with a simple acoustic guitar strum and another melancholic Dunton melody … "to a sky that answered not at all" … but the boys soon take off on an astral blues-rock jam, full of twists and turns, there's a "bridge" 6 minutes in, a sound effects-laden section, a third vocal section that comes in around about the 12 minute mark that is jazzier and rockier than its predecessors, there are hints at a jazz-waltz and yet another majestic brass-heavy outro! Frequently sublime stuff. Progarchives.com

Track listing:

A1. In Circles

A2. J.L.T.

A3. No More White Horses

B1. Morning

B2. CD (Bonus track, not on the original album. Demo for their aborted second LP)

Keith Cross: guitars, keyboard instruments, harmony vocals
Peter Dunton: drums, lead vocals
Bernard Jinks: bass guitar, harmony vocals
All songs written by Peter Dunton, arranged by T2,
with additional arrangements by Peter Johnson
Produced by Peter Johnson and T2
Recorded at Morgan Studios.