Principal Edwards Magic Theatre
Soundtrack
ROUND ONE Reviews
Music Week March 16th 1974
Round One. - Deram SML 1108. Producer: Nick Mason. - Unfailingly lively and imaginative album from this six-piece band. Variety of styles and sheer inventiveness suggest they have been accumulating ideas for some time. Spoilt only by the lyrics, which enshrine the patronising attitude of so-called trendies to so-called normal people. "A day in the life of the average chap is going to work and back", they sing, tongue only half in cheek. Otherwise a delight, and in view of the following they have acquired with their spectacular roadshow, bound to sell well.
***
Melody Maker March 20th 1974
PRINCIPAL EDWARDS: "Round One" (Deram). In the past few weeks I've been receiving some anonymous mail. A few weeks ago this card arrived with a black circle on it and the only words on it were "Round One." At first I thought it was a veiled threat on my life and it seemed as if somebody was reviving the sinister black spot. But as others followed — a word being added each time — things became clearer and it was obvious something much more trivial was involved. I now gather that this record is the end result of those silly little cards — it was hardly worth the bother. The album's moderately inter esting but that's about the best that can be said for it. There's one or .two good guitar breaks and pleasant violin, mandolin and drum solos here and there but the overall effect is akin to a rather weak amateur rock- theatre production. A school- kids "Godspell." Hints of social comment (yawn) and oodles of enthusiastic voices with precious little musical originality. Nick Pallett's voice is so dull. The moderate interest mentioned earlier is provided by the lyrics. Things like "Juggernaut" with its bit of Lennon mid- song insanity, and "Dear Mrs O'Reilly," the story of a man being locked behind bars for a murder, he didn't commit. The band's big production number, however, is "The Rise Of The Glass-White Gangster," a sort of mini- opera on which there has been a genuine conscious bid to come up with something slightly more imaginative. Once again it doesn't succeed because it lacks the power and inventiveness musically to carry through the ambi tion. Five marks for effort. - C. I.
***
College Event March 1974
Principal 'Edwards have seena a lot of changes since the self-consciously student days. Their abilities now far exceed their reputation, which sets them slightly grudgingly on the level of pantomime-rock combined with intellectual verbiage.
Now there is no doubt that Principal Edwards do have a bias to the theatrical, and they do write clever lyrics - but in no way does this make them inaccessible to the audience, whether in terms of live performances or recording,
Which brings us neatly to the subject of 'Round One'.
Principal Edwards' considerable lyrical talent is exhibited, to the full here. They manage to avoid pomposity, and the witty and even slightly surreal lyrics are intoned by vocalist Nick Pallett with lucidity.
'Juggernaut is a tribute to the invasion by foreign heavy goods vehicles of our trembling Isle, and 'Halibut Rock' poses an answer to world food problems.
The disturbingly futuristic feel to the band's lyrics accords well with the stage act and they can be compared, though not unfavourably with Genesis.
The music is exciting with the bands multi instrumental talents tastefully demonstrated. Belinda Bourquin, one of the survivors of the original line-up, plays piano, violin and recorders, and, with clear background vocalising gives the overall sound a flavour of It's A Beautiful Day.
Round One is representative of an inventive and professional live show But it also stands on its own merits. Surely Principal Edwards will be rated seriously once and for all ?
P.E.