I SPIDER

An album that just came to my attention due to a 19-year old discussion thread on ProgArchives on the subject of Jazz- Rock Fusion masterpieces. Why have I never heard of this!? Other than Psychedelic Paul, why is no one ever mentioning this amazing album?!

1. "Concerto for Bedsprings" (10:10) (18/20): - a. "I Can't Sleep" - a motif that sounds like something from Van Der Graaf Generator and The Soft Machine as well as a preview/inspiration for Renaissance's "A Trip to the Fair." (4.375/5) - b. "Sack Song" - here the band slips into a care-free happy-go-lucky instrumental interlude that swings like Joe Jackson or something from Paul Weller's Style Council project. (5/5) - c. "Peaceful Sleep" - piano, vibes and voice make this motif sound even more like something whimsical from Joe Jackson with a tinge of Roddy Frame in the vocal and lyrics. (4.5/5) - d. "You Can Keep the Good Life" - a bit of a rebelliousness in the loose, adolescent vocal with some nice sax play from Tom Harris. Repetitious and, over time, monotonous--just like the grueling, repetitve schedule of "the good life"! (4.375/5) - e. "Loner" - a brief finale to acknowledge the anti-establishment attitude decided upon by this angst-ridden teen. So very Gen Z!

2. "I Spider" (8:30) from the opening organ chords and bass notes this one has the listener wrapped within one of its paralytic cocoons. Dave Lawson's wizard-like vocals only enhances the spell, giving this a Demons and Wizards sound and feel--and only 18 months before Uriah Heep's album was released! I absolutely love this song--and find it hard to believe that it came out in 1970! It's so clean, well-engineered (with multiple tracks performed by several musicians). It feels so confident and mature! Please keep me cocooned here forever: eat me slowly; I love this drug you're feeding me! (20/20)

3. "Love You" (5:21) another Roddy Frame motif turns Joe Jackson. Awesome! (9.125/10)

4. "Ymphasomniac" (6:43) the albums first song to approach the true Jazz-Rock Fusion sound, but it sounds so intentional, so "by the numbers" that you find yourself questioning the band's ability to pull it off. By the second half you realize that it's just a interlude/filler vamp (with some great organ play from Dave Lawson!) (8.875/10)

5. "Always I Wait" (8:10) almost falling completely into the EGG/HATFIELD & THE NORTH field of Canterbury dreams. Bass, drums, vibes, and especially organ take a jazzier turn in the instrumental second half. (13.5/15)

Total Time 38:54

This is very cool prog with Jazz, Canterbury, and Roddy Frame-like Pop-Soul -fusion elements--prog with a Soft Machine attitude and Van Der Graaf Generator musical sensibilities.

A/five stars; a minor masterpiece of wonderfully-rendered jazzy-prog--prog with an attitude!

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#3209785)
• Buy THE WEB music online with PA partners
• Show all THE WEB MP3/Stream
• Go to THE WEB page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to I Spider page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE WEB related discussions