Forever Amber
Love Cycle
CD reissue of one of the most desirable and elusive LPs of the British psychedelic era: 'The Love Cycle' by Forever Amber. This 1969 LP is a honeyed, melodic album, as intimate and irresistible as anything the Left Banke or The Zombies ever made, laced with perfectly-timed, dramatic fuzz-guitar violence. Created by six teenagers in Northern England, this sixteen song concept album follows the rise and fall of a summertime relationship. From the celebratory, deeply harmonized opener 'Me Oh My' which first notices the "new girl on our street" to the pensive, haunted closing track, 'My Friend', which pleads and quivers with sorrow. The eight chapters retell the entire romance through a compelling combination of jangling guitars, graceful organ, and the singular earnestness of heartachey teenagers. Originally issued by the band in an edition of only 99 copies (to avoid the English tax levied on any record pressed in a quantity of 100 or more), the record has long stood at the top of many record collectors' lists, and in 2004 was listed at #73 in Record Collector Magazine's list of "The 100 Most Valuable Records of All Time" with a estimated market price of 1000 ($2000 U.S.D.). This reissue is a lavish, meticulous tribute to this unique, heartfelt, lo-fi psych pop masterpiece.