Great God Pan

Neon Pearl
1967 Recordings
(Acme Gramophone/Lion Productions)

The discovery of these early recordings from Please/T2-member Peter Dunton was one of the most memorable moments of the reissue world last year. Neon Pearl were a mixed-bag of British and German heads prone to extended jams, vaguely jazzy arrangements, and baddish vibes who gigged around West Germany in the mid-60s. Captured on tape in late 1967, these stripped-down recordings retain the punch of their reportedly “lengthy” live shows the shaggy exiles developed in Siegen teen clubs. With their bass-heavy and sparse sound that fortold future dark ‘n heavies like Sand, Flying-era UFO, or Burzum, Neon Pearl took Germany (or at least the “tiny medieval village outside Kassel” where they were crashing) by electrical storm, mututaing the day’s hits like Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)” into extended melancholy mysto-jams. Kicking off with “What You See,” an incredible, plodding kick drum/ride cymbal groove that kinda sounds like Section 25 covering Syd Barret, this collection keeps on in interesting directions, seguing from one memorable melody and ominously toned gem to the next. Some songs, like “Going With The Flow” and “Forever,” bely a West Coast influence, jangly and fey, yet tripped-out in all the right ways—think David Crosby when he’s trying to bend minds instead of bed maidens. Mostly though, the kids are alright with heavy anthemic guitar licks, subtly fuzzed out euphoria passages, and plenty of stoned Be Here Nowness.