2024 repress.

 

Uriel became an underground legend after recording the psychedelic extravaganza Arzachel in 1969. The album is now considered a classic by psych fans and original vinyl copies sell for astronomical sums. Uriel was formed by school friends Steve Hillage (guitar), Mont Campbell (bass) and Dave Stewart (organ) and the line-up completed when Clive Brooks answered their 'drummer wanted' ad in Melody Maker. Hillage subsequently rose to fame as a '70s guitar hero, while Stewart became a leading light of the 'Canterbury scene' bands Hatfield and the North & National Health before storming the pop charts in 1981 with his partner Barbara Gaskin.

 

Writing in 2007, Dave Stewart says: "We didn't mess around too much with studio effects or overdubs on Arzachel - we just went in and played. Because of that, parts of it give a good impression of what Uriel sounded like live - if you shut your eyes it's like hearing the four of us on stage in 1968. The album also shows what a great guitarist Steve was, even at the age of 17. Nearly 40 years on, it seemed like a good time to re-release it in its full psychedelic glory along with decent sleeve notes written by the musicians, never-before-seen archive photos and our early demos, which no-one outside the band has heard since we recorded them.”