Description
Label Review.
Future Legends, Seven Secrets, The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes & Modern Masquerades with 3 bonus tracks. Esoteric.
Our Overview.
A treat for Fruupp fans old and new, a remastered box set featuring all the albums recorded by the legendary Irish progressive rock band ‘Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975’. The recordings of this much-loved band have become highly sought after by collectors and this four-disc set gathers all of their albums together for the first time.
Fruupp’s was one of the 70’s hardest working bands and then slipped into obscurity. Formed by Vincent McCusker - who after a brief musical apprenticeship in London - returned to Belfast and pulled together a group of largely classically trained musicians and Fruupp was formed in 1971 with it’s name created by a batch of words created form a Letraset sheet (letter rub down transfers).
The band featured Pete Farrelly (bass guitar, flute, lead vocals), Vincent McCusker (lead guitar, vocals), Stephen Houston (keyboards, oboe, vocals) and Martin Foye (drums, percussion). The band signed with Pye Records’ Progressive label DAWN in 1973 and were a much loved act on the British concert circuit, sharing billings with such luminaries as Genesis, ELO, Hawkwind, Man, Supertramp, Queen et al.
The band’s first album “Future Legends” was issued in October that year and saw the band gain a loyal following. The band’s follow up album, “Seven Secrets”, was issued in April 1974 and was a wonderful exercise in Symphonic and Melodic rock, the album was highly acclaimed upon release.
Released in November 1974, “The Prince of Heaven’s Eyes” was Fruupp’s third album and their most ambitious to date, being a conceptual work. Prior to the recording of the band’s fourth album, keyboard player Stephen Houston departed the band to be replaced by John Mason on keyboards, vibes and vocals. “Modern Masquerades” would be Fruupp’s final album and was arguably one of their most polished works. Produced by former King Crimson member Ian McDonald, the record failed to achieve the commercial success it deserved.
This re-mastered 4CD clamshell boxed set features all four albums in replica sleeve wallets and a poster.