GILGAMESH

Gilgamesh were never on the front of the Canterbury scene, even if their leader keyboardist Alan Gowen collaborated an some first class projects (as National Health, Hatfiled and The North and short-lived Soft Heap). And this band's debut is (in all the band could be described as Alan Gowen's solo project between or besides of his participation in other bands) good answer why.

Gowen is very competent keyboardist and he showed it on his collaborative recordings, but there he demonstrates his strong and weak point in whole. First of all, musically this album could be placed somewhere on very border of quite diverse Canterbury scene, while music there is quite lite and strait ahead jazz fusion, characteristic for some US-bands, or later Soft Machine's period. Gowen adds some melodic elements, but far not enough to fill the music with some content - too often pleasant sound starts in the middle of nowhere and goes to the same point in eternity.

Albums is easy for listening, but you will hardly remember even single composition or just memorable tune. It's rare example when the music, formally related with Canterbury sound, is so teeth-less and face-less. Even later Return To Forever so heavily criticized albums have more memorable songs (being much more pop-oriented). It possibly doesn't sound attractive, but possibly this album sounds a bit like Canterbury version of elevators music.

Possibly, Gowen needed in help of stronger composer, or just more personalized collaborators' work (most possibly -both). But as a result album, which starts as quite interesting release, very soon becomes just another average polished fusion collection.

Gowen's work almost in all other (non-solo) projects are much more successful. He will return to this project again later, but band's releases will never will reach high standard of leading Canterbury bands.

Still competent and pleasant listening for fans of Soft Machine's music from mid 70s.