Although
Introspection bombed due to a belated release, collectors have since heralded
the End's album as one of the finest from the brief British psychedelia wave. Produced by
Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in early 1968, the spirit of the era (or maybe that of the previous summer) is sonically created with sumptuous results. Colin Giffin and Nicky Graham's gentle harmony vocals tread a similar path to Odessey and Oracle-era
Zombies, while sessionman
Nicky Hopkins' harpsichord, a pumping Hammond, Terry Taylor's searing
Cream-like fuzztone guitar leads, psychedelic duel-ragas, and floating Mellotron re-create the colors of a rainbow. The overall effect is psych pop rather than acid-inspired mayhem, although the drifting ambience of the production, lyricism, and instrumentation could not be anything else but a product of psychedelia. A majority of the numbers were clearly influenced by the
Their Satanic Majesties' Request sessions that
Wyman had been undertaking -- and indeed
Wyman co-wrote two songs -- although the
the End's more commercial pop edge forged a sound distant from
the Rolling Stones. With an abundance of moods, tones, and a gloriously over-the-top production,
Introspection is a superb period piece, and rightfully deserves it's near-classic status. [This version of the album contains bonus material.] ~ Jon "Mojo" Mills