Philwit and Pegasus (CD, Imported)

Philwit & Pegasus is an epic in search of a narrative or gripping theme, not to mention decent pop songs. The quite detailed and lengthy historical liner notes on the CD reissue of this rarity give the impression that principal creator Mark Wirtz thought he was devising an arty song cycle of sorts, or a movie on record. What it sounds like, however, is a collection of fairly unrelated unexceptional pop songs, decorated by occasionally ambitious grandiose instrumentation that sometimes puts it as close to easy listening as to pop/rock. The influence of the most Baroque elements of the Beach Boys and late-'60s California sunshine pop can be felt at times (particularly on "My What a Lovely Day It's Been"), as can (on "Yoyo Thoughts") early mellow laid-back L.A. country-folk-rock. Then, however, you get to "And I Try," which sounds like an even more overwrought Tom Jones tackling an MOR ballad. It's an odd and not especially tasty mixture. The 2003 CD reissue on RPM adds four bonus tracks. ~ Richie Unterberger