Vindication

Description

The self-titled and sole album by the American progressive rock band Vindication was released on Custom Fidelity in 1973. (The Custom Fidelity Company, Inc. was a private press record company located in Hollywood, California, that produced records on contract for artists.)

If Fraction is the Holy Grail of psychedelic privates then the corresponding honors in the world of progressive rarities would hands down go to Indiana’s Vindication. This is bona fide five-star progressive rock from start to finish, quite unlike any other album in Christian music. Lengthy tracks are the norm here and every one of them is solid. The instrumental «Sonnet To Seagulls» starts things off in driving allegro fashion – and the energy level doesn’t let up for a moment throughout the whole LP. «Atop Of The Mountains» follows in classic art rock tradition with the trio’s trademark ELP-ish compositional complexity of constantly shifting mood and tempo changes. «Money Window» and «Satan’s Song» share a similar focus, as does the 11-minute epic «Master Law» that opens side two. Here Brad Garton takes on the Keith Emerson role of the group with skillful piano and synthesizer that reveals strong classical training. Patrick Kennedy also gets several opportunities to shine on guitar, showing agility in not only the fast-paced jamming stretches, but also the more graceful acoustic passages (in particular the beautiful closer «You And Me And God»). Geoff Pacheco keeps the ever-changing beat going and gets a nice little solo in «Master Law». Intelligent lyrics and good sound for a custom. An incomprehensibly rare thing – only a couple hundred pressed. Hopefully a re-issue will come through cuz this is music that needs to be heard. Breathtaking from start to finish! [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Sonnet To Seagulls” (Instrumental)
A2. “Atop Of The Mountains”
A3. “Money Window”
A4. “Satan’s Song”

Side Two
B1. “Master Law”
B2. “Walk To The Sea”
B3. “You And Me And God”