Paladin - Charge (1972)

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A good progressive/hard rock outfit, their first album was recorded live in the studio and their strength was really as a live act. Lou Stonebridge went on to play for McGuinness Flint. Joe Jammer also recorded as a solo artist.
Paladin may only have ever released two albums, but their second “Charge” is an absolute classic of early 70’s prog. There are many different styles and sounds on the album, yet the whole is nothing less than a coherent masterpiece.

The Roger Dean sleeve may not be an absolute guarantee of quality, but Paladin sit well with their peers such as Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia, etc., whom Dean graced with his artwork.
There are four feature tracks on the album. The opening “Give me your hand” sets the tone, with rich organ and guitar backing a strong vocal for a fine piece of melodic hard rock. “Good lord” is a slightly softer but still upbeat song with some excellent guitar work by Derek Foley. It leads into the album’s best track, the wonderfully atmospheric “Mix your mind with the moonbeams”. The multi-tracked vocals and trippy lyrics are pure early 70’s ("Let the cosmic light diffuse itself, in all its magic ways"). The track is awash in keyboard layers, and chiming guitars. This is PENDRAGON years before Pendragon existed! Also included is an all too rare Hammond organ solo, similar to the one on URIAH HEEP's “July Morning”.

The closing track “Watching the world pass by” has everything in about 9 minutes. It starts with some interesting keyboard moods, before breaking into an almost funky harmonica led wall of sound backed piece. About midway, we suddenly lurch into a barn dance, before a superb guitar solo of some length brings the album to its climactic conclusion.
The album is rounded out by three shorter tracks. “Well we might” is an almost SLADE (yes Slade!) like rocker with some great guitar and some very effective stop go interludes. “Anyway” is a melotron backed ballad which contrasts superbly with the generally upbeat nature of the album. This track appears to have been a late addition to the original LP, as it appears on a sticky label added to the track listing. "Get one together" is the only dip, being a pretty nondescript instrumental.

“Charge” is a truly superb album, very much of its time, but still highly enjoyable. The band were destined to split before recording any further albums, but at least they went out on a high.

(info by: CGR)

01.Give Me Your Hand
02.Well We Might
03.Get On Together
04.Anyway 05.Good Lord
06.Mix Your Mind with the Moonbeams
07.Watching the World Pass By
08.Give me Love to you (Bonus)
09.Sweet Sweet Music (Bonus)
10.Any Way (Variation - Bonus)
11.Sweet Sweet Music (Variation - Bonus)
12.Well we Might (Variation - Bonus)
13.Fill up your Heart (Instrumental - Bonus)
14.Bad Times (Instrumental - Bonus)


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Size: 138 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download part.1
Download part.2