KARL JENKINS: RUBBER RIFF

It's inevitable this album is trashed on a prog site. Progressive rock was never made to be incidental music - the foundation of the earliest progressive rock was making a loud, landscape altering sweeping statement. Therefore, this made for background "library music" doesn't really fit the billing.

If approached with open ears, this can be a worthwhile experience for sure if used for its intended purpose. There's some riffs and some floating, and after I put this on while I'm stretching or making a salad I'm in a good mood.

I don't think the appeal would be as strong for me if this was labeled a Karl Jenkins solo record. He's magnificently talented but always seemed like an interloper and I don't much care for his solo records I've tried.

I really like the tunes "A Little Floating Music" and "Splot". "Melina" is a low point, and "Gentle Turn" isn't far behind - both sound like weak theme songs to a poor 1970's US television sitcom.

Two stars for the prog recommendation, four stars in my catalogue, three it is overall. I feel exactly the same about this album as I do similar albums on here "Codename Wildgeese" by Eloy, "Blitz" by Thirsty Moon and "Visa" by Duncan Mackay good activity music and mild instrumental prog curiosities.