George Clinton's band the Parliaments had released a few records before this 1970 LP, but Osmium is where the true madness began. Muting their doo-wop stylings and swallowing a generous portion of psychedelics, this is Parliament's soul-psych-rock masterpiece. Yeah, there are the requisite sampled moments to point out, like De La Soul's cheeky swipe of the rubberband bounce of "Little Ole Country Boy" or "My Automobile" lifted by NWA on Efil4zaggin. But the record has much more to offer- a black rock bonanza with all the grit and bump that phrase implies. Check the thump of "Moonshine Heather" or guitar god Eddie Hazel's whiplash "I Call My Baby Pussycat." Add in a few abrupt breakdowns and weird interludes, and you have the makings of a nice little lysergic acid diethylamide document. This new Invictus pressing features superb remastering. 

• 180g black vinyl pressing
  
• includes printed insert
• original release year: 1970
• music label: Demon Records 2019

reviewed by Monk 12/2016