UK progressive rock musicians Absolute Elsewhere were signed to Warner Brother Records in 1976 by MD Derek Taylor, former Beatles publicist and manager of Apple Records. The band made two prog albums, moving the needle on experimental sound and pushing the boundaries of the genre.

Their first album, “In Search of Ancient Gods” was entirely instrumental, written and conceived by Paul Fishman, recorded with Jon Astrop, Phil Saatchi and featured Bill Bruford on drums. Musically they combined progressive rock with electronic music and since release it has very much gained a cult following. The album was very much a musical interpretation of Erich von Däniken’s famous books and, in fact, the band were approached directly by the publishers to do this. Prog Archive says of the album “This is a real fine album of HELDON meets CRIMSON and Alan PARSONS with tons of mellotrons.” It has since acquired a cult following as it has been sampled and recently appeared within the title track to the R&B artist Future's new album "We Don't Trust You".

The follow up album “Playground”, conceived by Astrop, Fishman & Saatchi, was planned and recorded with Andrew McCulloch on drums who, like Bruford, had been a member of King Crimson. The album was intended to be very different to the previous one in that it featured songs, big soaring melodies and complex arrangements, allowing the group to explore their abilities as multi-instrumentalists and fully exploit the range of possibilities in the recording studio.

When recording was completed, it coincided with the sudden and dramatic arrival of punk, which resulted in record companies not being interested in music out of step with this new genre. For many years the album remained buried in the studio vaults until 2024: when it was discovered, compiled and lovingly mastered for release. Now “Playground” can be revealed in all its intended progressive glory for all true connoisseurs of experimental and atmospheric music.

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Relax (10:59)
2. Time to Change (7:49)
3. Talk to Me (3:52)
4. The 7 Year Itch (5:59)
5. Elementary Fools (6:26)
6. It Doesn't Take A Burglar Long to Fall in Love (2:01)
7. The Nine Other Worst Dressed Men (3:22)
8. Tides (5:06)