Human Instinct: Peg Leg (Rajon)

 |   |  <1 min read

Human Instinct: Peg Leg (Rajon)

As interesting for its back-story as the contents, this period piece has been rescued from dusty vaults.

Auckland band Human Instinct scored with a couple of much sought-after classic Kiwi rock albums in the late Sixties/early Seventies, notably Stoned Guitar and Pins In It.

In '75 the band - guitarist Phil Whitehead, keyboardist Steve McDonald and bassist/singer Zaine Mikkelson, and with founder-drummer Maurice Greer still firmly at the helm - recorded these tracks at Stebbings, which were promptly filed then subsequently thought to be lost. They were rediscovered a couple of years ago and given studio polish for this first-time release.

Kicking off with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird doesn't make for the smartest of tracking orders, but from there on it's mid-Seventies, lightly exploratory progrock with pop-awareness (and sometimes dippy lyrics like "don't leave your mind on the shelf") which references Floyd, glam-era Bowie, King Crimson, Space Waltz, and the Elvin Bishop Group whose Struttin' My Stuff of the same year might have been among their favoured listening.

One for collectors and old fans, most likely, but also proof these musicians - Whitehead especially - were the equal of any at the time. And what a ripe old mind-expanding time it was.

The kazoo solo seems a little uncalled for however.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Over the Rhine: The Long Surrender (GDS)

Over the Rhine: The Long Surrender (GDS)

After a series of fine albums, Ohio's Over the Rhine here -- with sympathetic producer Joe Henry – deliver their most sophisticated album to date, one with an ear on their European-cabaret... > Read more

Adjiri Odametey: Ekonklo/Other Side (bandcamp)

Adjiri Odametey: Ekonklo/Other Side (bandcamp)

This delightful 13-song album came to Elsewhere direct from Ghanaian-born, Berlin-based singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Odametey. He seduces you in with the intimate Kootse but then... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Tokaanu, New Zealand 2007: Small towns on a slow up-spin

Tokaanu, New Zealand 2007: Small towns on a slow up-spin

About 10 or so years ago I spent a few days in Turangi on the southern shore of Lake Taupo in New Zealand's North Island. I was on an assignment for the Herald. I wish I could say the story... > Read more

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE AIN'T FREE (2020): The lives – and livelihoods – of others

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE AIN'T FREE (2020): The lives – and livelihoods – of others

Well, the “gig economy” that sociologists and economists were so excited about has gone belly-up for most of those involved. People in the creative arts who relied on an audience are... > Read more