Saturday, 1 March 2014

BRAND X: German Review (translated)

http://rocktimes.de/gesamt/b/brand_x/is_there_anything_about.html

Brand X / Is There Anything About?

 Playing time: 33:21 
Format: CD 
Label: Gonzo Multimedia, 2014 (1982) 
Style: Jazz Rock 
Review on 2/12/2014 Steve Brown

I'll give it to you: to Brand X , I am at that time - it was the year 1978 - have come only because me on a plate with a pretty cool cover of the name Phil Collins caught my eye in the line-up. It was "Unorthodox Behaviour" and no two days later I could the then current "Moroccan Roll" call my own.Without this happy circumstance would Brand X very likely completely pulled me over, rather than take with all their vinyls a place of honor with me. 
In the year of the appearance of to be discussed here "Is There Anything About?" was a turning point for Brand X at. One of the main songwriter, bassist Percy Jones , was for "Do They Hurt?" got out and present only in one piece. However, it was with John Giblin replaced quite exquisite, the droves could put new impetus with his fretless. Percussionist Morris Pert had also (without replacement) quits. And Phil Collins had probably inside already (final) adopted - he finally took all his energy for the whisked curd his main band and the solo project for 'unique milestones of pop music' as Abacab , "Hello, I Must Be Going" or " Invisible Touch "- so much sarcasm may be quiet sometimes ... 
A sick groovy, funkjazziger introduction to "Is There Anything About?", As he was at that time to hear often like, is done with "Ipanaemia". From the melody which is strongly reminiscent of The Rippingtons and especially to Russ Freeman's liquid guitar playing. After this lively opening follows "A Longer April" one of the best takes, which ever of Brand X were captured on recordings. The new bass player John Giblin adds here with cottony-soft, elastic fretless figures best one. Who blows the sensitive soprano sax, the Spartan booklet are unfortunately not cheap. However, it could also be a keyboard, which was controlled via mouthpiece, although I am sure the sound is too authentic.'Gesampletes' birds chirping and rain splashing let a mood of early warm spring fever sprout. A fantastic number - in the ambiguous sense of the word ... 
Dreamy synth sounds invite you in "Tmiu-Atga" the 'central body' relaxation to New Age-type one.Waldorf pupils should this also - can dance her name ... - gently hovering In contrast, the "Swan Song" is very robust, majestic and powerful, therefore. The slapped bass makes a powerful alarm - towards the end of the basic theme is, however, rolled a little too wide and runs consequently 'dead'. 
The title track turns out to be the second flyer of this album. Here is Percy Jones of the party and shines with very freejazzigen bass figures that are pretty striking to the 'faded' Jaco Pastorius ofWeather Report remember. He is driven by Phil Collins with 'fluffigem' percussion formally before him. Fragment-like scatters Robin Lumley its Moogläufe and bell-like Fender Rhodes Parts one - onlyJohn Goodsalls guitar comes for my taste in this really very 'free' piece a little too short. 
guest keyboardist J. Peter Robinson , Andrew Lloyd Webber's pianist, contributes in the final "Modern, Noisy And Effective" concise Oberheim fanfare how to 'fellow' beautiful from the (then)Lyle Mays could hardly get to hear. In solos Lumley with his Mini Moog, that it is a pure joy. The crisp, compact number - a successful conclusion. 
So here comes up wrong impression: "Is There Anything About?" is - despite two grenades - a good but not the best Brand X disk, although it - purely viewed from the sales figures - among the most successful. The time between the end of the band hinted at home already ... 
As essential I would, however, "Moroccan Roll" call - this album should be practically the foundation for his Brand X set collection. Something 'demanding' is the entry into the world of Brand X certainly with the recent of our Joe discussed compilation Missing Period includes material never before published from the early days of the band (between 1975 and 1976, just before "Unorthodox Behaviour") . 
After half an hour the pleasure is over. The playing time of the CD also corresponds to 1:1 of the vinyl.Too bad about the one or the other bonus track - also live material from the studio versions - would you be happy yet. Hopefully we will soon be 'powered' by Gonzo Multimedia with other editions. Then, please check carefully with bonus material! 
Line-up:
Phil Collins (drums, percussion) 
John Giblin (bass - # 1-4,6, voices) 
Robin Lumley (keyboards, voices) 
John Goodsall (electric guitar) Guests: Percy Jones (bass - # 5) J. Peter Robinson (keyboards - # 6) 


Tracklist
01: Ipanaemia (3:51) 
02: A Longer April (7:23) 
03: Tmiu-Atga (5:09) 
04: Swan Song (4:37) 
05: Is There Anything About? (7:53) 
06: Modern, Noisy And Effective (3:58)

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