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Cargo was a short-lived quartet from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which had previously performed under the name September. After releasing a series of singles, none of which were particularly successful, the band members decided to change their musical direction and also their name. Under their new moniker, Cargo, they recorded their self-produced debut album at Bovema Studio over a two-day period in mid-April 1972. The line-up consisted of four members: the two lead guitarists and brothers Adri and Jan De Hont, bassist Willem DeVries, who also took on the vocals, and English drummer Denis Whitbread.
The self-titled album, released in September 1972 and featuring four long tracks, is an outstanding example of guitar-heavy progressive hard rock, impressing with its brilliant interplay of two guitars in extended jam sessions. The two brothers play uniquely interlocking guitar lines rich in melody, complemented by a dense rhythmic base and harmonious vocal passages. However, Cargo’s first and only album, which was released exclusively in the Netherlands at the time, went completely unnoticed. This was because the renowned EMI Harvest label failed to undertake any promotional activities, and there were no live performances to support the album. Consequently, at the end of 1972, the musicians abandoned the band project due to a lack of success. Today, this extremely rare gem of early 1970s hard rock is in high demand and highly valued.
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