Orpheus' self-titled debut album, released at the end of 1967 (and not to be confused with their fourth LP, which was also self-titled, but was released in 1971 on Bell), is a curious piece mixing lightweight pop with heavyweight ambition. Although
Orpheus was pegged as part of the Bosstown sound, which largely consisted of psychedelic or heavy rock bands, and although some of the members were ex-folkies, they were sentimental pop songwriters at heart. There's nothing wrong with that, but producer
Alan Lorber dressed up the arrangements with quasi-classical orchestration that sound, unfortunately, like television commercial jingles trying to be more important. The material is somewhat like sunshine pop, somewhat like mainstream harmony pop bands of the era such as
the Association and the Fifth Dimension, and slightly tinged with flower-power lyricism. Although the melodies are unusual, they're not memorable, and the whole combination is such an odd mixture of second-tier AM radio melodies and arty pretension that it's sometimes (unintentionally, no doubt) faintly laughable. Sitars come in for part of "Never in My Life," a track which goes through various phases of varispeed at the end for a further psychedelic touch; "The Dream," one of the better cuts, has the sort of downbeat dreaminess typical of Dino Valenti's cult 1968 album, with more ornate production. However, it's hard to imagine psychedelic enthusiasts going for this froth in a big way, and it lacks the hooks that would grab less adventurous pop listeners. The entire LP, with the exception of "Lesley's World," is available on Big Beat's double-CD compilation Best of Orpheus. ~ Richie Unterberger