The tale is told that the shade of Egyptian Ramesses II one day appeared before the Englishman Barrington Frost.
The big bald Frost learned there and then that he was the reincarnation of Ramesses II — not merely a central-heating contractor. The ancient pharaoh ordered the unlikely medium to spread the secrets of the universe to the rest of mankind, using music as his vehicle.
Psychedelic music, as it turned out.
Update: Read about the 2014 Ramases CD box set.
First, there were some strange singles in the late Sixties. Then “Space Hymns,” the first complete work, emerged in 1971, in the dimming of the original psychedelic era.
Despite the album cover by famed fantasy artist Roger Dean (Yes), few ever heard the musical word of Ramases — as Frost took to calling himself. Most of those who did found the album remarkable.
Looking back, “Space Hymns” serves as one bridge between the folk-tinged psychedelia of the 1960s and the space rock/prog rock of the 1970s. Maybe a cross between the Incredible String Band and Hawkwind. It anticipates the late-century mash-ups of Arabic music and rock, as well as the neo-psychedelic folk movement of the new century.
Hardcore 10cc fans know the album as an early group effort from Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, all of whom backed Ramases. Background vocals came from Ramases’ wife, now known as Selket.
(One rumor has Stewart singing the songs attributed to Ramases. This at a time when the future 10cc lads recorded at Strawberry Studios (in Stockport) under numerous fanciful names. Could Ramases be a cosmic goof? It’s a meaningless question.)
Gouldman remembers the sessions: “It was a really fine album to make. We would sit down on the floor with acoustic guitars, that kind of vibe, very hippy and mystical.”
The album’s first track, “Life Child,” opens with silence. Then a faint eerie sound out of “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Acoustic guitars morph electric. A disembodied voice emerges, in character as an alien returned to Earth. “I see your sun is going down; I see your wreckage on the ground. … Your seas are full of poisoned water.”
The Moroccan-flavored “Oh Mister” and the straightforward acoustic number “And the Whole World” follow. Then it’s back to spaceland:
“Quasar One” wanders across almost seven minutes, with production that’ll feel familiar to 10cc fans. Chants and drums leap back and forth from the speakers. The singer fades into a sonic black hole before returning to finish his cosmic love song, the proceedings increasingly dissonant and disorienting.
“You’re the Only One” tests listeners with its one-line lyric taken from “Midnight Cowboy”: “You’re the only one, Joe.” Over and over, with acceleration. Music to freak out by.
In “Earth-People,” our alien speaks of traveling the deserts of Zeus and witnessing the birth of a planet. But he cannot navigate human communication. Nick Drake on acid. The angels in “Wings of Desire.”
“Molecular Delusions” brings more chanting, with an Arabic music influence.
“Balloon,” the catchy repetitive single, cautions Earthlings not to foul their air: “Don’t burst your bubble/or you’re in trouble.” Things that go swish and zoom race from speaker to speaker before the apocalyptic finale. “Jesus Come Back,” a similar folkie ballad, advises “no fears for the future.”
“Journey to the Inside” closes out “Space Hymns” with more 10cc phase shifting, Beatle-esque dingo balls and dark sci-fi effects. “Oh, what are you going to do with me,” Ramases asks. Psychedelic cocktail party chatter brings us to stop.
The story goes that Ramases killed himself in the late 1970s. Survivors include this fine curious rock record and one other, “Glass Top Coffin.”
The “Space Hymns” import (Repertoire label) tends to go in and out of stock. (Update: The follow-up record, “Glass Top Coffin,”
Read more about Barrington Frost and Ramases at Brian Currin’s fan site. Also, John Bowers has a lovely piece on his blog titled “Ramases in Felixstowe.”
Note: This 2010 review gave Ramases’ birth name as Martin Raphael, which was the current information at the time it was written. That changed two years later. His widow — and the reissue producers — identify him as Barrington Frost and the review now reflects that. Raphael apparently played sitar on one of the recordings. The mystery goes on …
Yikes nevah hoid of ’em!
me neither but will check them out now
Great LP ! Glass Top Coffin has its fans, but this is the best Rameses LP to me. It is very spacey and it really does take you on a trip with a very weird guy. He dressed up like Ramesses all day every day, even when he used to go to a Fish and Chip shop near where he lived.
He was ex Army Fitness instructor and was a big powerful bloke, who somehow had a change of life experiance in the 60s! ( didnt a lot of people?) and he just had to make these Lps. He was apparently convinced of aliens living amongst us. The sleeve is Stockport Church in Mancester turning into a spaceship ! When everyone was going to San Francisco, or London at least, he moved to sleepy South Coast of England seaside town, Felixstowe ! The Lp has to be listened to as a whole and has to be listened to knowing that the brain behind it meant every word. Which can be slightly unselttling.
If you are not a 10cc fan, dont let their involvement put you off ! They are obviously fine musicians and do a great job here, but the Pharoeh was in charge of this spaceship !
Ed — thanks for the great comment. Definitely a one-of-a-kind artist. The singing and presentation are so gentle, seems like some whispy Incredible String Band guy would be behind this, instead of a gentle giant. I can take or leave 10cc, but they are terrific on this recording. Maybe his music will do a Nick Drake resurrection one of these days, Ramesses deserves to be heard.
I thought I was the only one who owned Space Hymns!
🙂 your not the only one Joe. 🙂
it really is one-of-a-kind , just sat here at Pc and played a few tracks, thoroughly enjoyed. wasn’t quite so keen on Glass Top … which took absolute ages to get hold of… down here at south east of planet. Space Hymns however~ stands apart n above as a great piece of work.
Hey Stu: Check out the Ramases box set. There is a bonus disc with “Glass Top Coffin” remixed that strips away the gunky production that was forced on him. It, too, is remarkable. But yeah the first is the best. Cheers.
Still have the LP. Play it time & again.
Hi
Just came back after a long while to re-read this excellent review … thanks for the shout-out and link to my fan site which is over 20 years old now!
The opening minute or so sounds like vintage Carradine ‘Kung Fu’
Superb album! Odd, yes but good odd. Very good indeed. And most of 10cc backing him up. Also one of Roger Dean’s greatest sleeves. That church is real, it’s in Stockport. It may or may not do that.