Reflection - The Present Tense (1968)

For the debut lp on this obscure Christian label, the group Reflection chose to interpret the songs of Sydney Carter, a man I had never heard of and who apparently was one of those against-the-grain types. Carter’s songs are described as “perhaps folk, religious, or protest” and range from titles like ‘When They Shouted Hosanna’, ‘Lord Of The Dance’ (probably his best known tune, based on the Shaker melody ‘Simple Gifts’), and ‘Judas And Mary’ to the more eccentric ‘I Wan’t To Have A Little Bomb Like You’ and ‘The Vicar Is A Beatnik’. The guys and girls take turns at lead vocals while the music moves from lyrical acoustic to plugged-in folkrock - it’s definitely a full-fledged British sound. From classical textures via cello, flute, and oboe, to a more raw Steeleye Span electric approach. Then there’s the delightfully snotty pub folk of ‘George Fox’ (founder of the Quakers) which boldly asks “If we give you a pistol will you fight for the Lord? No you can’t kill the devil with a gun or a sword!”. Then the chorus “with your old leather britches and your shaggy shaggy locks, you are pulling down the pillars of the world George Fox”. Lots of variety here, all excellently done and packaged in a curious mushroom cloud cover. (Ken Scott - Archivist)

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