Madder Lake - Still Point-Butterfly Farm (1973-74) [2008]

Artist: Madder Lake
Album: Still Point/Butterfly Farm
Australia: Australia
Released: 1973-74/2008
Genre: Progressive/Hard Rock
Format: MP3 CBR 320

The debut album from the Melbourne band formed in 1971 and still active today. Despite such a long history, they released only 2 studio albums. They were one of the first bands signed to Michael Gudinski, co-owner of Mushroom Records, who released their debut single "Goodbye Lollipop" in February 1973, followed by the release of the album "Stillpoint" in August of that year. The name of the group in translation means kraplak - artistic and printing ink of dark red color. The band members are former art students from the Swinburne Institute of Technology and have been playing together in the local band San Sebastian since 1969. In early 1971 they changed the band's name to "Madder Lake". They were influenced by British progressive rock ("Family", "Traffic", "King Crimson"). In January 1972, the band opened the Sunbury Pop Festival (an annual Australian rock festival held 30 kilometers from Melbourne from 1972-75). The album "Still Point" reached #13 on the Australian charts.

In 1974, the band recorded their second album, Butterfly Farm, which was released in April of that year. The band then went through numerous lineup changes and as of May 2009 Madder Lake is Andy Burns (keyboards), Fettes, Kreemers, Mason and McKenna. In November 2008, the band headlined the Queenscliff Music Festival.

Albums:
1973 - Still Point
01. Salmon Song (8:22)
02. On My Way To Heaven (3:51)
03. Helper (5:07)
04. Listen To The Morning Sunshine (5:11)
05. Goodbye Lollipop (3:36)
06. Song For Little Ernest (4:30)
07. 12-Lb. Toothbrush (6:02)
Bonus Tracks:
08. Bumper Bar Song (B-Side) (4:41)
09. 12-Lb. Toothbrush (Single Version) (3:50)
10. Country Blues (B-Side) (2:43)
11. Down The River (Live At Sunbury) (6:14)
12. 12-Lb. Toothbrush (Live At Sunbury) (8:18)
13. Bumper Bar Song (Live At Garrison) (5:50)
14. When Is A Mouse (Live At Garrison) (5:38)

1974 - Butterfly Farm
01. Rodney's Birthday (3:01)
02. Mother Ship (7:42)
03. Booze Blues (2:56)
04. Ride On Fast (4:28)
05. One Star and the Moon (5:21)
06. Butterfly Farm (3:34)
07. Slack Alice (5:10)
08. Back Seat Song (3:28)
Bonus Tracks - Singles & Live (1973-1976)
09. It's All in Your Head (Single A-Side) (3:54)
10. I Get High (Single A-Side) (3:28)
11. Rodney's Birthday (Live at Garrison) (2:57)
12. Lizards (Live at Sunbury) (5:06)

Personnel:
Mick Fettes (vocals)
Jack Kreemers (drums)
Brendon Mason (lead guitar)
Kerry McKenna (bass, synthesizer, vocals, guitar)
Andy Cowan (keyboards)
John McKinnon (Piano, Organ, Vocals)