overegginnit – The Black Albumen – review – 70s inspired prog retrofit

overegginnit – The Black Albumen – review
Buried Treasure

I remember being down the pub one afternoon and, in lieu of my usual grumblings about how my field recordings of Black Sabbath drum beats, recorded at the ruins of a 6th century, Dark Ages, chapel on midsummer night, had failed to make me a coke fuelled superstar, I suggested an Egg tribute album. This caused more hilarity than my suggestion of the previous year when I reckoned that field recordings of Black Sabbath drum beats, recorded at the ruins of a 6th century, Dark Ages, chapel on midsummer night would make me a coke fuelled superstar.

Which brings us to overegginnit and “The Black Albumen”. Oh, yes. I only heard about this because, once upon a time, in a far, far away place, I bought an album by the Dandelion Set. I can’t remember why. I work on the principle that once your head fills up with stuff, every new thing you remember means that something falls out of your memory, to make room. So, given a choice between remembering why I bought a record and remembering how to breathe, I chose the latter. For now.

Anyway, Glyn Bush, was a Dandelion Set and this record was his idea. He wanted to see if he could channel the music of Egg and, in particular, their 1969 debut album. Oh, and for those who don’t know, which is 99% of the world, Egg were a British prog band who released three albums before splitting up, with the three members going on to things like the Groundhogs (yay!), National Health (yay!) and a 1981 UK Number One Hit Singles (boo!).

And here we are. Hmm. There’s no Bach cover versions, and a lack of twenty minute symphonies. Although there is a jaunty nod to Prokofiev on, ahem,’
Provokovieff’. So it’s more akin to the actual songs that Egg recorded. You must all remember ‘The Song of McGillicudie the Pusillanimous (Or Don’t Worry James, Your Socks Are Hanging in the Coal Cellar with Thomas)’? That was a right sing-a-long. I think one of the X-Factor lads got a Christmas number one, with a cover version.

But, regardless, “the black Albumen” is really good. If you are one of those people who lament the lack of tone generators / test oscillators in the modern pop world, then this is for you. The vocal contributions of Finnish singer, poet, and lyricist Hanna Ylitepsa are especially delightful, whilst drummer Matt Hartnell ensures that no two time signatures are the same. Although, for something that has prog in its DNA, it’s also rather fond of jumping into motoric beats at the drop of a Liebezeit.

Although it’s Egg in nature, those of you who like to clear a room with their aforementioned National Health collection or, if a crowd is hard to disperse, Henry Cow records will feel right at home here. Favourites? Well, obviously, I’ve no idea what she’s on about, but the vocals from Ms Ylitepsa on ‘Tempters / Circle’ scared me. In a good way. Maybe it’s the way she rolls her R’s. As a Scotchman, rolled R’s are a trigger.

Now people who pay attention to stuff will pipe up and say “this has all been released before”, whilst waving their arms about, to ward off clouds of invisible flies that only they can see. You don’t need people like that in your life. Yes, it’s true. 2022 saw a limited edition 7″ EP and 10″ mini album. They don’t exist anymore but this brings them together. With remixes. Sighs. Remixes.

I’m pleased that this exists.

It’s on the Bandcamp thing.