Comus –
First Utterance
1971,
United Kingdom
00:49:12;
90M;
256S;
385;
-
Diana
- 4:36
-
The Herald
- 12:14
-
Drip Drip
- 10:55
-
Song To Comus
- 7:31
-
The Bite
- 5:26
-
Bitten
- 2:15
-
The Prisoner
- 6:15
Glen Goring - acoustic guitar [6-12 string], electric guitar [slide], drums [hand], vocals, artwork by [inside cover design]
Andy Hellaby - electric bass, bass [slide], vocals
Colin Pearson - violin, viola
Bobbie Watson - vocals, percussion
Roger Wootton - acoustic guitar, lead vocals, artwork by [front cover design]
Rob Young - flute, oboe, drums [hand]
First Utterance is the debut album of the British progressive rock band Comus. It was released in 1971, with the opening song Diana being released as a single. Unfavorable reviews, combined with a postal strike, resulted in low sales, and the band quickly dissolved after its release.
First Utterance was notable for its unique blend of progressive rock, folk, psychedelia, and elements of paganism and the macabre. The overall thematic tone of the album is of vulnerable innocence facing abusive power,[1] the songs dealing with violence ("Drip Drip"), rape ("Diana", "Song to Comus"), and harsh treatment of insanity ("The Prisoner"). These themes contrast starkly with the acoustic sound of the record, featuring acoustic guitar, violin, flute, and lyrical, almost arcadian, female harmonies. Although since reissued, the vinyl original has been known to change hands for £150.00 (~$US300)[2]
References to Comus by other bands and artists include Opeth, citing its lyrics in album and song titles. Experimental outfit Current 93 also covered "Diana" as the opening song on their 1990 LP Horse
Victor, VICP-62166
