Pigmy — Keith Christmas

Polydor 2310/128

Third album from Keith Christmas but the first to be released here. Quite a well-known singer in England, he belongs to a group of people (called September Productions) whose main function is to run around the country as supporting acts for the bigger groups (—he was "discovered" touring with Jethro Tull about two years ago).

There is one track from Pigmy on a conglomerate album hopefully entitled Hot Rock, released by Polygram as a sampler — however, how the hell they figured Keith Christmas to be in the same category (or class) as Mountain etc. remains a mystery.

Pigmy is interesting in one respect (dare I say one?), in that side one is entirely acoustic folk/rock, while on side two he is backed by (among others) Rod Argent on organ/piano, and Calvin Samuels on bass (remember Stephen Stills?).

If you used to dig the Matthews Southern Comfort and are now grooving to Ian Matthews, this album is very similar in style and sound to If you could see through my eyes. It has no recurrent theme other than a mild rejection or inferiority complex, perhaps implied by the title. Between tracks he says "I'm going to sing a blues song" and giggles — I wince — technician sounds of "Rolling take one" — Christmas camping up "Take one? You must be joking"

— I weep.

And there you have it. This type of record must of needs rely to get going on above average lyrics, or that the artist himself be out of the ordinary. But, the lyrics are pleasant and ordinary (like this review), the music and singing not-outstanding. And that's that.

— Grant Mazengarb