Childhood's End by Phil Sawyer

"“If revolution’s art, like an affair of the heart, I’d choose a side, like I’d choose a bride… Why don’t you sing?”

Finding a copy of “Childhood's End” is so rare and its artist so elusive that it has achieved near-mythical status in the recent world of record collecting. Little is documented about Phil Sawyer, and this is believed to be his only album, but its scarcity combined with the artist's mysterious and enigmatic nature, makes this record feel almost like a legend.

Released on Sweet Peach in 1971 and arriving via the Australian psychedelic scene, you can hear a wide range of influences throughout the music here that wind through folk, rock, and blues. Sawyer, a Tasmanian poet and seasoned abalone diver, crafted “Childhood’s End” during reflective interludes between his rigorous diving seasons. These compositions are imbued with a deep sense of introspection, capturing the essence of his solitary musings and the tranquil yet profound moments spent beneath the waves.

The first track, ‘September,’ is an intimate acoustic ballad, where layered riffs of electronic guitar and swirling organ create textures that are pushed right to the back of the mix, allowing Sawyer’s soft, almost spoken, vocals to lead the song. There are also harder cuts here, with tracks such as ‘Electric Children’ and ‘Childhood’s End’ offering more to the avid rock and fuzz rock listener.

Sawyer put his heart and soul into every note of this record, and his influences and inspirations are displayed with pride. The range and depth here is reminiscent of artists including Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, The Grateful Dead, Graham Nash, and Gary Higgins, with each track sprinkled with his unique and alluring Tasmanian touch."