Sixties Pop, Psychedelic Pop: Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty - Things 1968 (1997 Sundazed)

After cutting some fine folk-rock and psychedelia on ultra-rare records with his group the Exiles, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Merrell Fankhauser moved to Los Angeles, retitled his backing group H.M.S. Bounty, and recorded a fine, if obscure, slice of pop-psychedelia in 1968, Things. The diverse offerings on the group's sole LP recalled such fellow Californian heavyweights as the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Moby Grape, and even Captain Beefheart.

 They weren't quite in the same league as those legends, but the album has a light and enigmatic air all its own, and is well worth investigation by fans of late-'60s West Coast psychedelia. The group evolved into the interesting mystical avant-garde/blues/progressive rock group Mu in the early '70s.

Fine, tuneful '60s psychedelia with a pop edge, featuring Fankhauser's first-rate songwriting and warm vocals. About half of the tunes are excellent, especially the country-rocker "Your Painted Lives," and the folk-rock ballad "Ice Cube Island," and "A Visit with Ashiya," one of the best raga-rock songs ever cut. (Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com)

'Things' is an album full of fine pop songs with light psychedelic structures. It's a little more pop orientated as the music he played with Fapardokly, his band before this one. I love both albums and Merrell Fankhauser's skills to write, record and play seems to me always a little underrated. However, if you like sixties psychedelic pop, give it a try. Although i think most of you will know his music :-). Enjoy.(Frank)

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