Gracious! supported The Who on tour in 1968. Touring with King Crimson prompted them to purchase a mellotron and change to a more progressive style. Their prospects were not boosted by the plain white ‘wallpaper’ image on their Vertigo debut in 1970 and their second album ‘This is Gracious!’ is often the more highly acclaimed of the two due to its variation in style incorporating rock, blues alongside symphonic prog as well as the interplay between the mellotron and electric

More hypnotic sounds from Astral Magic led by Santtu Laakso who wrote, produced, played and sang on his latest album. I particularly liked the eastern vibes of ‘The Veil of Isis’ with Fred Laird guesting on electric guitar and bouzouki and ‘Mirror Universe’ with guest Pete Bingham of Sendelica on electric guitar. ‘The Shining Ice’ features Luís Simões’ sitar, tampura, tabla and gong – the eastern vibes again. The synth exchanges on ‘Ghostly Apparitions’ are haunting (as you’d

Jazz lovers will find something special here on an album of originals (I think) and reworkings of jazz standards. There’s a swinging take on ‘Mack the Knife’ and the Hammond organ/ alto sax/ drums trio also bring a fresh originality to ‘Secret Love’. A revved up ‘The Autumn Leaves; also shows the band are not prepared to rest on their laurels as they bring a new vibrancy to a much-played piece. Then there’s a piece called ‘Facing the Waves’, an atmospheric, haunting creation