A notoriously jaw-dropping folk-funk classic, long treasured by the Balearic fraternity,
the self-titled LP from the brothers Batteau nevertheless remains a criminally
underheard gem. Appealing to fans stuck on Ned Doheny’s scorching blue-eyed soul
as well as Gene Clark’s rich country-rock, it’s an honour to present the first officially
licensed vinyl reissue of this undoubted masterpiece of proto-Yacht-Rock.
Like a forgotten piece of baroque folk caught in 1973, Batteaux’s eponymous album
somehow sounds magically timeless. A full 45 years after the fact, it remains a
mystery as to why they weren’t better known. The lush production and virtuoso
playing conforms with the ruling aesthetic of the time - well-crafted, melodic songs
performed with precision and balance - whilst the shimmering AOR atmosphere and
sun-dappled vocal washes align neatly with the best Crosby, Stills and Nash records.
Throughout, the beautifully penned tracks hold traces of Jimmie Spheeris, America
and Seals & Crofts. The immaculately orchestrated percussion and additional
instrumentation (electric piano and fiddle to name a few) are performed by
perennially celebrated West-Coast cats including Tom Scott, John Guerin and Andy
Newmark.

It’s no surprise that the heavenly “High Tide” is such a Balearic touchstone. A free
soul aqua-space groover, its sophisticated rhythms predict the swing of CSN’s
canonical “Dark Star” by a full four years. An alternative measure of its enduring
magnificence can be gauged by MF Doom sampling Paul Horn’s wonderful version,
subsequently used by Ghostface Killah.

The highlights are many and memorable. Gorgeous opener “Tell Her She's Lovely” is
the perfect example of the addictive, melody-driven songwriting which really should
have earned them stardom. Moody ballad “Living's Worth Loving” is nothing short of
heartbreaking whilst the chugging elegance of “Wake Me In The Morning” showcases
their bewitching harmonies. The hypnotic yearning of “Lady Of The Lake” is an exquisitely string-drenched, piano-laced favourite that achieves a peculiar strutting-
funk. It’s that good.

This lovingly curated reissue enables a long overdue reappraisal of the hitherto
buried genius of Batteaux. The serene aqua artwork which adorned the original
jacket - their father worked on a dolphin-human communication project in Hawaii,
hence the infamous design - and sumptuous inner sleeve have been faithfully
restored. Whilst, with access to the original tapes, Simon Francis’ sensitive mastering
elevates the sound throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly
weighty 180 gram.