Andy Kershaw Session 23.01.86

Precursors to The Thanes, Edinburgh mid-80s stalwarts The Green Telescope released virtually nothing during their brief lifespan. However, they did record a single BBC session for the Andy Kershaw show – and those four blasts of madcap organ-swirling psych are now released on vinyl by Precious Recordings of London.

The Green Telescope started out in 1981 as ardent ambassadors for 60s-style psychedelic sounds, soon becoming well known around Edinburgh for putting together exotic-sounding shows featuring freak-out style lights. A couple of line-up changes later, they took fresh inspiration from the British beat group era plus the US/European teen garage-punk explosion – think ‘Nuggets’ and ‘Pebbles’.

There were only two singles – including the much-sought-after ‘Face In A Crowd’ seven-inch –  so this session is a proper one-off, capturing the spirit and sound of the times via a swirling organ, a psych heart and three totally unreleased tracks. Plus one that was recorded only 20 years later in a different version by The Thanes. … and don’t miss their inimitable cover of the Driving Stupid’s ‘Horror Asparagus Stories’!