The T2 were formed in London in 1970 from the ashes of Please, from an idea by Peter Duncan (Voice of the Soloist and Drums), Bernard Jinks (Bass and Vocal) and Keith Cross (Guitar, Keyboards and Voice), soon finding a recording contract with Decca, who also invested in the production of their debut album. A quarrel with their manager, diminished the scope of the album, which however had a good success, allowing them to play on the Isle of Wight Festival alongside TheJimi Hendrix Experience, as well as gaining an excellent live reputation. “It’ll All Work It Out In Boomland“, this is the title of the album, it still remains a work unfortunately underestimated and that has not got the right recognition, if not from the fans and the Prog lovers. The English trio proposes a Psychedelic Rock, powerfully, distorted guitars, continuous time changes and orchestrations to enrich a sound that also has Jazz and Blues Rock veins as well as Prog. Duncan‘s melancholy voice goes perfectly with music, Cross‘s solos are performed ad hoc, and he himself plays the keyboards. Even the bass is load-bearing and creates with the drum rhythms and time changes really worthy of note. The first 3 tracks, the shortest of 5:44 min, there are three pearls that clearly highlight the sound characters mentioned before, with an aggressive starter “In Circles“, which in its changes also passes through melodic traits, the second “J.L.T.” it is perhaps the most “atmospheric” of the disc, while “No More White Horses” is the most orchestrated and with a truly remarkable melancholic vocals. We then move on to the suite at 21:14 min. “Morning“, where there are no empty or too dispersive spaces, despite the very long duration, but like the rest of the album with its sudden changes and aggressive and powerful riffs, an excellent drum-bass cut in the final and a melodic moment with acoustic guitar reaches very high musical levels. The bonus tracks, present only in some reprints, except the last one which is a live version of “In Circles“, take up the style of the first 3 tracks and on “CD” there is also a detachment of classical music, demonstrating the musical preparation of the band. This record is a masterpiece, unfortunately it has to be looked for since it is little mentioned, when instead it deserves a better consideration. The style is reminiscent of Cream with the addition of continuous rhythm changes, the very particular voice, always on melancholic tones and really in tune with the rest of the compositions, the addition of orchestrations makes a work that is already in itself original. It’s very elaborate, the bass does not just keep time but add riffs that are never trivial, as well as the drum as well as dictating the time changes it has accelerations and variations of excellent quality. Despite an excellent live activity, in 1972 the T2 split-up without leaving other tracks, only live recordings of not good quality and the two studio tracks added as Bonus Tracks on the album. In 1992, however, the reunion, which also took place thanks to the enormous number of reprints of their first album, which today exceeds 20 editions, synonymous of the quality of the band, and in the same year they propose “Second Bite“, an instrumental studio album that has nothing in common with the previous one. In the following years also 3 other records were released, with those live recordings left in the drawer from the 70s, but due to a poor quality of the recordings, they did not arouse particular interest except among collectors. In 1997 the dissolution and the definitive end of T2, which in any case with their first album marked the history of the so-called “Minor” Prog, perhaps with a little more luck, artists like this could have had a better story and left a trace more significant in the world music scene, given that the record has nothing to envy to much more considered works produced by more famous bands. It’s more than recommended to listen to T2 for all 70s music lovers, they can be a pleasant discovery for those who didn’t know them and i guess it’s always a pleasant listening for those who already appreciate them, in me every time that i put on the record on the turntable always transmits excellent emotions and vibrations.

Discography:

(1970) It’ll All Work It Out In Boomland [Decca]
(1992) Second Bite [World Wide Records]
(1993) Waiting For The Band [World Wide Records]
(1994) On The Front line [World Wide Records]
(1997) T.2. [Essex Records]
(2012) 1971-1972 [Acme]

Lineup:
Keith Cross / Guitars, Keyboards, Harmony Vocals
Bernard Jinks / Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Peter Dunton / Drums, Led Vocals

Jacopo Vigezzi

http://progrockjournal.x10host.com

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