Companion - Reap The Lost Dreamers - Rav US - 1977

California West Coast, Heavy Progressive from 1977.

Memphis-based Companion arose out of the ashes of Prog Rock band Leviathan, when guitarist Grady Timble left and his replacement Brit Warner joined in. While -according to the band's leader Waine Bradley- the band wrote its best material during the 6-month existence of the new line-up, personal conflicts led to the dissolution in 1974.Warner and Bradley continued to work together on their own ideas and created this project, inviting Mike Russell on keyboards and guitarist Andy Tate, while their only release ''Reap the lost dreamers'' (1974, Rav Records) was recorded with the help of drummer Bill Lineberry. This is another proof of how unique and underrated the 70's US Prog scene is. While Companion's music veers towards Folk Rock, the arrangements are highly eclectic. The short pieces of the opening side are the folkiest ones, this side contains elaborate Folk Rock with spacey synthesizers and organ use and light psychedelic vibes, mainly performed on acoustic guitars with a few naughty electric vibes akin to Yes, while lead vocals are close to Jon Anderson' style. Lovely work on string ensemble by Russell and some delicate, bucolic melodies. Beginning with the the 6-min. ''The lonely reaper'' there seems to be a change of scenery. Sound now sits somewhere between smooth Folk Rock and melancholic Space/Symphonic Rock with emotional guitar solos and more pronounced use of atmospheric keyboards and piano, vocals start to fit nicely to the semi-cosmic atmosphere and the combination of pastoral touches with keyboard-laden Art Rock works almost perfectly. The long tracks are definitely progressive with changing themes and smooth instrumental interactions. The album was pressed in 1000 copies, mainly distributed to local media, and received some scarce radio airplay. Companion fell apart shortly afterwards. Today, Waine Bradley runs his own production company.

A1 Blackbird 00:00 Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
A2 To The Better Days 03:26 Written-By – Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brit Warner
A3 The Child Goes On 07:15 Drums, Percussion – Shof BeaversWritten-By – Brit Warner
A4 The Lonely Reaper 11:13 Written-By – Brit Warner
A5 Prelude To The Lost Dreamers / Wine For Dreamers / Dreamer's Final 17:37
Written-By – Mike Russell (4), Wain Bradley
B1 You Will Know 25:17 Written-By – Brit Warner, Mike Russell (4), Wain Bradley
B2 Lost My Past To You 28:12 Written-By – Ginnie Cannon, Wain Bradley
B3 Second Chance 34:05 Written-By – Brit Warner, Wain Bradley

Bonus Track
B4 Anytyme, Anywhere 37:32 Written-By – Brit Warner

Drums, Percussion – Bill Lineberry
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar [12-string], Backing Vocals – Andy Tate
Electric Piano [Rmi], Synthesizer [Eml 101], Synthesizer [Arp Strings Ensemble], Organ [Hammond], Backing Vocals – Mike Russell (4)
Engineer – Brit Warner, Wain Bradley
Producer – Companion (3)
Vocals, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer [Arp 2600], Keyboards – Wain Bradley
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar [12-string], Keyboards – Brit Warner