IMPALA SYNDROME – IMPALA SYNDROME – 1969 (VEN/US) heavy psych

Originally from Venezuela, where they were known as Los Impala, this group relocated to Madrid, Spain in 1965. After a few months, their singer Henry Stephens left to pursue a solo career, recording an EP as Lord Henry Con Los Impala.

After a few years the band moved to Chicago, releasing their Impala Syndrome album which is well worth checking out. An effective blend of melodic, laid back songs (Love Grows A Flower, Land Of No Time and the superb Eastern-influenced finale, Run (Don't Look Behind)) combined with fuzz guitar numbers like Too Much Time and Let Them Try. New Love Time is also rather catchy but Leave, Eve sounds unashamedly like The Rascals' Its Wonderful.

The sound is often very similar to Cream, vocally and instrumentally, with some occasional muscular guitar/bass guitar/drumkit playing and some excellent riffs. In fact, "For a Small Fee" sounds like a Cream cover. In general, it's ordinary hippie jam rock without any jamming. The songs are all compact and commercially oriented, not much in the way of an acid rock edge and definitely more lightweight flower power sounding than Cream. Male vocals in English, excellent quality.

There's only a faint trace of native music; it's pretty much straight US/UK-derived rock with elements of R&B, soul, funk, and blues, just like Cream.

It's a solid album, about half mediocre and half excellent. I pulled off four tracks for comping: "Too Much Time", "Love Grows a Flower", "Let Them Try", and "New Love Time". The first three are truly outstanding gems, and the fourth is good enough to play again and represents the softer side of the band. "Let Them Try" is one of the most Creamy tracks on the album.

Rudy Márquez,
Edgar Quintero
Nerio Quintero
Bernardo Ball
Francisco Belisario
1. Too Much Time
2. Love Grows A Flower
3. Children of The Forest
4. For A Small Fee
5. New Love Time
6. Let Them Try
7. Land of No Time
8. I Want Hug The Sky
9. Leave, Eve
10. Fun (Don't Look Behind)

Very impressive South American psych album. Some great guitars and bass work and solid English lyrics. Most of the songs have merit but among them "Too Much Time," "Let Them Try," and "Leave, Eve" are the best that the album offers.

Highly recommended!
Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/258882/