Arcadium - Breathe Awhile 2-LP. Originally released in 1969, Arcadium's ominous, cathedral-like organ, distorted guitar, and anguished vocals are clearly derivative of bands such as The Doors, Iron Butterfly, and Vanilla Fudge - very much in the 'downer-heavy' school of the genre that was popular at the time. Their album is something of a bad-trip soundtrack that relies on minor-key melodies, ghostly harmonies, and anguished vocals. What with all its flaws - bad production, sloppy vocals, and doomsday atmospherics - its historical significance is immense. The music's intensity and sense of urgency, the blazing acid-drenched guitars, the tortured vocals, and heavy nightmarish sounds all perfectly convey the late '60s atmosphere. I think this was a limited record store day release 180-gram vinyl definitive edition including a bonus album featuring the lost acetate-mix version and also a bonus 7" single with picture sleeve. You also get a booklet and poster housed in a gatefold cover. (sealed)