Saturday 25 January 2014

Brand X US review

Brand X Missing Period Gonzo 2014
One of only a handful of truly "lost" recordings that deserved to be found!
Brent Black / www.criticaljazz.com

Progressive rock, jazz rock or as I believe Phil Collins once referred to the band, "ripping good fun" these tapes are of good quality and are a significant find for Brand X fans and musical historians. Some refer to this release as the officially sanctioned bootleg and while technically they may be correct, the wrong impression is clearly given with such a innocuous statement. 

These live tapes are from the mid 1970's and are a sonic goldmine of previously unreleased material. While there are only six tunes, the length of the songs are far greater than the mere number included. All selections are over seven minutes in length and come together in their own fashion to highlight a most unique sonic exploratory of lyrical vision thanks to Percy Jones and John Goodsall. 

Fans and critics alike continue to argue the relevant place of importance in the lexicon of where original jazz / rock fusion should be considered. This is the harmonic equivalent of evaluating the smile or perhaps lack of (depending on your p.o.v) on the Mona Lisa. Perhaps we should differ to the drummer and call it what it is, "ripping good fun!" 

4.5 Stars

Tracks: Dead Pretty; Kegelblitz; Ancient Mysteries; Why Won't You Lend Me Yours? Miserable Virgin; Tito's Leg. 

Personnel: Phil Collins: Drums; John Goodsall: Guitar; Preston Heyman: Percussion; Percy Jones: Bass; Robin Lumley: Keyboards.

http://www.criticaljazz.com/2014/01/brand-x-missing-period-gonzo-2014.html

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO:
The X Files - A 20 Year Retrospective
2CD - £11.99

Is There Anything About?
CD - £9.99

Live at the Roxy, LA 1979
CD - £9.99

Missing Period
CD - £9.99

No comments:

Post a Comment

...BECAUSE SOME OF US THINK THAT THIS STUFF IS IMPORTANT
What happens when you mix what is - arguably - the world's most interesting record company, with an anarchist manic-depressive rock music historian polymath, and a method of dissemination which means that a daily rock-music magazine can be almost instantaneous?

Most of this blog is related in some way to the music, books and films produced by Gonzo Multimedia, but the editor has a grasshopper mind and so also writes about all sorts of cultural issues which interest him, and which he hopes will interest you as well.