Sound of Salvation Records Paul Levinson : Twice upon a rhyme -LP-(US,rec.1969-1971,re.2010)***
This 13-song track LP which was reissued on CD before by Beatball/Big Pink Records in South-Korea and Vivid Records in Japan, now will have a vinyl reissue too.
Funny to see how the original makers insisted in recording it as a mono recording which they say had better and more natural contrasts and better balance of sound. This idea gives a different approach to sounds compared to today's studio's standards which make a balance in recording sessions so that it will listen well as a monotone peak-based recording in MP3 as well as in a normal (nowadays improved idea of) stereo (if it still matters) and sometimes, like they predicted, in the not too great idea of a surround system. Paul Levinson throughout the years got a PhD in media theory, wrote lots of scholar articles on the history and philosophy of communication and technology, so I guess he will still have his own ideas on this matter. I personally think mono recordings balance in studio has some advantages especially when not too many layers and instruments participate (early stereo recordings were only based more upon some tricks with frequencies, so I guess that's how mono for a long time still showed a better inner sound). In this case this album for many tracks has really a lot of participants, including rather orchestral ideas in which brass based upon saxes and clarinets and some violins. The main core are the songs themselves.
These songs can be romantic, have sunshine happy Americana or bluesier elements, with a handful of good feeling summer breeze love songs especially on side one. In these songs the lead voice has good variety and range. Arrangements with flute occur. The guitars are definitely American, with use of some rhythm guitars and some sliding effects, and just here and there a touch of Santana exotic elements adapted in it as well and a lot more fuzz guitar appearances. What also clear is an admiration of melodic and harmony vocals. Paul was a fan of Beach Boys and other harmony vocalists, which shows itself here and there too. The last and longest track of 7 minutes, “the lama will be late this year” is the band at its most psychedelic, a track with some spoken word and echoing vocals effects, becoming weird piano, a head spinning rhythm, a jam feeling and of course more fuzz guitars. Here and there the songs adapted strange effects, breaks and turns, like of course also on the last track's ending.
Participants on this album include guitarist Peter Rosenthal, saxman Boris Midney, organist Donny Frankel, pianist and drummer Mitch Greenberg, Alan Fuhr, Jay Sackett, Cyril Penn, Jesse Stiller, Israel Esquenazi, Sasha Humek and Joe Szalacsi. Paul Levinson participated afterwards with many more songwriters.
The album is listed in Hans Pokora's record collector books.
Later Paul also concentrated on writing, especially Science Fiction. Besides he remained active as a media commentator.
Limited to 250 hand numbered copies on heavyweight vinyl. My copy was a test-pressing.
