When Irish psychedelic folk band Dr. Strangely Strange released their second album Heavy Petting in 1970 it sort of fell between the cracks. Music was getting louder and playing in bigger venues as an acoustic act did not work. Half-heartedly they tried to insert the use of electric instruments into their new material, but somehow it failed to gel. Being rooted in tradition was all fine and dandy, but adding a burst of guitar played a very young Gary Moore and organ (think Deep Purple Mk I) every now and then felt awkward. In hindsight, it is obvious that they were scrambling and missed their window to become a big act like Fairport Convention or that band's most notable off-shoot Fotheringay.
Heavy Petting is not a bad album as such by any means, never mind its lack of a cohesive approach. Had they built upon the stand-out track, the sprawling Sign On My Mind, it would have become an instant classic. If anything it offers a glimpse into their modus operandi and with the release of the expanded 55th Anniversary Edition the tracks sounds clearer and have more punch.
