by arbor #2

"Stained Glass Window" 1975

Radioactive Records confusingly published two albums with similar covers, both showing a Madonna with child, and both with “Window” on the front cover, so at first I wondered if this album was the second album by the band Window (see review on next page), but this seems not to be the case. Both albums are extremely obscure, and I am afraid this unofficial re-release might be the only chance to hear the album, even when it deserves a proper reissue, the simplicity and directness might withhold real supporting labels to try such a reissue.

The sound quality is good in the left channel, but strangely enough starts a bit bad and with distortion in the left channel, which makes it at times slightly disturbing when listening to it on headphones, but this seems not to be heard on stereo equipment.

The album is a solo album by Bob Racine, and sounds like an inspired singer-songwriting album with a fine male voice, (not sure who to compare it to, perhaps to one of both Subway singers) and with acoustic guitar, and is an album which is especially convincing on its first side. On the second side the singer sings each song a few tones higher, and less calmly introspective, until the last song, with it's simple guitar, more in the direction of Dylan. I would like to have the lyrics to get deeper into it, to understand it enough. But there is no doubt it is a fine discovery.

DL