Comus: First Utterance, Remastered And Expanded Edition

• REMASTERED & EXPANDED RELEASE OF THE LEGENDARY ALBUM BY COMUS FROM 1971.

• WITH FOUR BONUS TRACKS.

Released in February 1971 on Pye Records’ progressive rock label Dawn, ‘First Utterance’ was a darkly stunning masterpiece by COMUS, a group who arguably defy being classified in any genre. Too dark, loud and eccentric to be folk, but too unconventional to be classified as a rock band, the influence of Comus’ work extended far beyond their short life.

Featuring a line-up of Glen Goring (6-string Acoustic Guitar, 12 string Acoustic Guitar, Slide & Electric Guitar, Hand Drums & Vocals), Andy Hellaby (Bass), Colin Pearson (Violin & Viola), Roger Wooton (Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals), Rob Young (Flute, Oboe & Hand Drums) and Bobbie Watson (Vocals, Percussion), COMUS were regular performers at DAVID BOWIE’s Arts Lab in Beckenham, Kent in 1969. Earning a reputation on the UK college and university live music circuit, COMUS signed to Dawn in 1970, releasing the album ‘First Utterance’ and the ‘Diana’ maxi single in 1971 before falling apart.

Their 1971 album later attained a significant cult following and is regarded as one of the most interesting and influential releases on the Dawn label. This expanded and remastered re-issue includes four bonus tracks taken from the ‘Diana’ maxi-single, along with the song ‘All the Colours of

Darkness’, recorded during the ‘First Utterance’ sessions. The booklet restores the original album artwork and features an essay by Malcolm Dome and interviews with band members.

TRACK LISTING

1.   DIANA

2.   THE HERALD

3.   DRIP DRIP

4.   SONG TO COMUS

5.   THE BITE

6.   BITTEN

7.   THE PRISONER

BONUS TRACKS

8.   DIANA (MAXI-SINGLE VERSION)

9.   IN THE LOST QUEEN’S EYES

10. WINTER IS A COLOURED BIRD

11. ALL THE COLOURS OF DARKNESS