VA - Group Therapy, The Stars of Infinity [1972]

UNDERGROUND ROCK

VA - Group Therapy, The Stars of Infinity [1972]

Released in 1972 by Infinity Records, Group Therapy: The Stars of Infinity is a rare and electrifying snapshot of Australia’s underground rock scene at the dawn of the decade. More than just a label sampler, this LP plays like a curated journey through the country’s most adventurous blues rock, prog, and psych-inflected sounds, capturing a moment when local bands were pushing boundaries with raw energy and studio experimentation.

The compilation opens with Heart ’N Soul’s “Hot Boogie Band,” a swaggering, horn-laced groove that sets the tone for what follows: a mix of grit, soul, and cosmic ambition. Tymepiece’s “Why?” offers a brief but potent burst of melodic psych, while Blackfeather’s “On This Day That I Die” delivers one of the set’s emotional peaks, a dramatic, organ-drenched ballad that feels both theatrical and deeply personal.

Ray Brown & Moonstone’s “Start of a New Day” brings a touch of folk-rock optimism, before the B-side plunges into heavier terrain. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs’ “Goodbye Baby” is pure pub rock muscle, Kahvas Jute’s “Free” stretches out into jam-band territory with searing guitar work, and Chain’s “Gertrude St. Blues” anchors the set with a slow-burning, harmonica-driven lament. Cleves closes the album with “Wait for a Moment,” a reflective, piano-led track that adds a touch of melancholy to the mix.

What makes Group Therapy so compelling is its sequencing, it’s not just a showcase of label talent, but a mood piece that moves from swagger to introspection, from cosmic jams to street-level blues. Pressed by Festival Records and issued only in Australia, the LP remains a sought-after collector’s item, rarely reissued and often overlooked in broader rock histories.

For archivists and fans of early ’70s Australian rock, this compilation is a hidden gem. It captures a scene in motion, raw, ambitious, and emotionally charged. These weren’t just “stars of Infinity”; they were artists chasing something bigger than radio play. Something cosmic. (B)

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Track list

01 Heart'n'Soul - Hot Boogie Band 2:53

02 Tymepiece - Why 2:13

03 Blackfeather - On This Day That I Die 3:41

04 Ray Brown & Moonstone - Start of A New Day 2:57

05 Aztecs - Goodbye Baby 3:22

06 Kahvas Jute - Free 4:54

07 Chain - Gertrude St Blues 4:44

08 Wait for A Moment - Cleves 3:02

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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