East of Eden - Mercator Projected (Deram 1969) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Released in the same year as In the Court of the Crimson King, Mercator Projected marks the debut of one of the most exciting, authentically progressive acts of the original prog era, now unfairly forgotten by most. Drenched in exoticism, from the stunning cover,to the evocative title (a Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection that distorts the shape and size of large objects), in spite of its undeniable rawness the album is a thoroughly exhilarating listen, blending Eastern sounds with jazz, blues, heavy rock and psychedelia in a heady brew that might at first sound dated, but is still deeply intriguing for a discerning music fan.
One of East of Eden's strengths lies in their use of an impressive array of instruments that, at the time, were still not common currency in the rock world. Dave Arbus' electric violin dominates the proceedings, weaving ethereal melodies or bringing a strident note to the compositions, while saxes and flute add a very distinctive character to the band's sound. In the best tradition of the original progressive rock movement (and not unlike KC's seminal debut), the songs on this album are at the same time accessible and experimental, soothing and harsh. While the band don't deny their rock and blues roots, they also push the envelope with their richly textured soundscapes, evocative of many different moods. Progarchives.com

Track listing:

A1. Northern Hemisphere

A2. Isadora

A3. Waterways

A4. Centaur Woman

B1. Bathers

B2. Communion

B3. Moth

B4. In The Stable of The Sphinx

Produced by Noel Walker

Bonus tracks from East of Eden's first release, one-off Atlantic single 584198 (1968):

C1. King of Siam

D1. Ballad of Harvey Kaye

Produced by Glazier/Collier for T.I.M. Productions Ltd.