It'll All Work Out In Boomland

Combining members of the hard-rock bands Gun, Neon Pearl, and Bulldog Breed, T2 swirled its collective members’ influences to form a highly influential proto-prog trio that rocked under the radar. Though 1970’s It’s All Work Out in Boomland remained an obscure vinyl nugget for more than four decades, its 2011 reissue on Akarma Records has freed the four-song grail from obscurity. The EP starts with “In Circles”: five minutes and 15 seconds of flute rock on par with Jethro Tull, save for some impressive arrangements that had more in common with Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s debut from the same year. Singing drummer Peter Dunton’s vocal performances are theatric throughout. Here he croons with a soulfully tortured wail before taking a slightly cartoonish approach in the following “J.L.T.,” where sped-up vocals sing over staggered rhythms like whimsical woodland creatures. Aware of the novelty in this approach, Dunton also sings perfect three-part harmonies with bassist Bernard Jinks and guitarist/keyboardist Keith Cross.