Gorgeous vinyl reissue for this hands-down classic 1970 British folk/rock masterpiece originally released on the legendary UK progressive imprint Harvest. Chapman’s currency has risen in the underground over the past few years, forging alliances with the likes of The No-Neck Blues Band and playing on bills with a bunch of contemporary heads. Fully Qualified Survivor features Mick Ronson on guitar and Rick Kemp of Steeleye Span on violin and it sits somewhere between the euphorically stoned post-Dylan vibe of Roy Harper’s Harvest sides and the kind of downer private press acoustic psych of Bob Desper, Bill Fay et al. The songs have a feel of constant revelation that unfolds in waves of singing violin and peaking vocals that have a dazed, automatic quality. The set touches on the kind of floral Albion moves of Bert Jansch and John Renbourne’s solo work but there’s a ton of mystery in the way Chapman floats through the music like a wraith and his guitar playing is strikingly individual, synthesising a buncha folk traditions while situating the whole deal downwind of the late-60s experiments in extended psych and when Ronson appears he tears your goddamn heart out. The label describes it as “the perfect album for a lazy day and a joint” and it’s hard to disagree. Love this record and Light In The Attic have done a great job with a heavy gatefold sleeve, 180g vinyl and a new interview with Chapman on the insert. Highly recommended.