Big Beat’s Seeds reissue series continues with an expanded edition of their third and most controversial album, 1967’s idiosyncratic Future. At this point the band, fronted by the enigmatic Sky Saxon, were hugely popular in their native Los Angeles, and seemed poised for major stardom on the heels of their national hit Pushin’ Too Hard . Encouraged by their manager, Lord Tim Hudson, the album was Saxon’s psychedelic missive to the world; an outrageous gesture with no expense spared: copious string and horn overdubs on a selection of material that espoused the singer’s new-found flower power philosophy. Nevertheless, Future contains many fan favourites such as Painted Doll, Flower Lady, Two Fingers and A Thousand Shadows.

2CD – Big Beat’s deluxe 2CD edition features the remastered stereo album, along with a selection of period mono mixes, including several that are previously unissued. A second disc, Contact High: The Future Sessions, is a fascinating rundown of the album s creation, utilising outtakes, alternate mixes and previously unheard versions to demonstrate that, beneath all the overdubs and florid platitudes, on Future, the Seeds collective rock n roll heart beat as strongly as ever. As with Big Beat’s previous Seeds remasters, Future comes as a foldout digipak with a jam-packed booklet full of revelatory details and eye-popping pictorial, to accompany this definitive edition of Sky and the Seeds psychedelic masterwork. Compilation and sleeve note by Alec Palao.

2LP – Deluxe edition. The first LP presents the original stereo master of Future showcasing tracks such as ‘Out Of The Question’, ‘A Thousand Shadows’ and ‘Travel with Your Mind’, in all their glory. The second presents bonus tracks, alternative takes and mixes demonstrating that beneath the overdubs, the Seeds classic rock’n’roll sound remained as strong as ever. Served up in a glorious high gloss, thick card gatefold sleeve Future also contains an eight-page lavishly illustrated booklet, with notes by Alec Palao.