Cressida (3) – Trapped In Time: The Lost Tapes

I thought it would sound a lot better because of the remaster. It's close to AM radio or like listening in front of an old portable reel-to-reel tape recorder. (And that's where these recordings are from.) But it has its own charm. And once you get into the sound it is such a great album. Such beautiful, driving demo recordings packed full of energy with so many haunting melodies. I guess almost every track was recorded live. Meanwhile I prefer this one much over the official albums!

It features the guitar a bit more prominent. Some chords and vocals vary from the later albums. 'Depression' and 'Let Them Come When They Will' are much more focused. So great! 'Sad Eyed Fairy' is a pop tune that's close to the Moody Blues (even though the bridge always gives me that 'We're Going Wrong' Cream feeling). 'Situation' comes twice in a totally different arrangement. The first one (written and played by John Heyworth) has a nice middle section with a driving guitar/bass meldody that was later omitted. The second recording of the track is the only song here played by later guitar player John Culley who added a more straight intro. This later 'Situation' was a recording for a single that was never released, the sound is a bit better - I presume it could be from an acetat.