INTERLIFE

An innovative blend of folk and jazz rock, "Interlife" was an all instrumental album like "Earth Birth", only this time Brett chose the ensemble approach rather than playing solo acoustic guitar. While he wields his considerable talent on all manner of axe, a weighty supporting cast helps bring forth a more celebratory vision. Among the well known talent are featured the ever present Mel Collins on saxes and a post Strawbs Rod Coombes on drums.

The title cut took up a whole side of the original vinyl, and is a tour de force of eclectic instrumental progressive rock. The main theme is noteworthy enough, but that which occupies most of the central minutes of the opus is simply brilliant, and lends itself, at turns, to light experimentation on guitars, saxes, synthesizers, even bass. This is like a less brocaded Mike Oldfield and better for it, especially relative to what Oldfield was doing around the same time. It's hard to believe this is produced by assembled hired hands, so in sync are the participants.

Side 2 consists of 4 shorter tracks in a similar vein. "Celebration" begins in a more folkie style with just Brett on acoustic guitar but gradually everyone joins in and Brett delivers a searing lead solo. Some of the time shifts are of a more jazzy nature, but the track eventually ends in a near jig, reminding us of Brett's sturdiest roots. "Segregation" has a similar structure but the lead solo is just as impressive for its bass work by Delisle Harper. While the shift from the relative shelter of the interlife into real life is no doubt a stormy one in practice, and the finale "Into Life" conveys this, it's heavy rock is out of place on the disk, and really the only disappointment.

It's a shame that "Interlife" did not appear a few years earlier. Not that it wasn't innovative even in its time, but in 1974 it might have had a chance to achieve for Paul Brett some merited recognition. Unfortunately, this release remains unavailable on CD, even though it begs for another life.

Nice "easy listening" Prog

With a handful of albums that I wanted to hear that are not available on CD or digital download, I decided a few years ago to purchase a USB turntable and the wanted albums on vinyl LP. Paul Brett's Interlife was one of them. Inspired by the previous review (by kenethlevine), I wanted to check this album out and now I have it my computer, personally transferred from vinyl.

This album is my first and only acquaintance with Paul Brett and while a pleasant listen throughout, I cannot claim to be very excited. The music is wholly instrumental and reminds of Mike Oldfield's and Gordon Giltrap's respective works. This means subtle, folksy, guitar-based instrumental Rock. Interlife also adds a Jazz flavour. A more recent purveyor of this kind of music is Collin Masson, especially his Isle of Eight album.

As I said, this is wholly pleasant and enjoyable music, but for me, it is a bit too easy on the ear and it works primarily as background music. It is music for hearing, but not for listening.

Good, but by no means essential or even particularly special or memorable.

English guitarist, born in 1947 in Fulham.He spent much of his early career as supporting guitarist for Roy Harper, Al Stewart and The Strawbs among others as well as a member of Psych Rockers Velvet Opera, before forming the Psychedelic/Folk Rock group Paul Brett's Sage in 1970.After three albums Brett decided to focus on 12-string guitar and move on to a solo career.His acoustic suite ''Earthlife'' from 1977 was much in the vein of ANTHONY PHILLIPS' acoustic albums, before Brett made an attempt to Soft Progressive Rock with the RCA-released album ''Interlife'' in 1978 (for both the UK and US market but with a different cover).Among his guest musicians were The Strawbs' drummer Rod Coombes and King Crimson's Mel Collins on brass instruments.

The album is highlighted by the 16-min. sidelong eponymous track, an attempt by Brett to mix acoustic soundscapes with his 12-string guitar with soft electric passages.Resemblances with ANTHONY PHILLPS' and GORDON GILTRAP's works are more than strong.His guitar touch on the electric parts has a light STEVE HACKETT leaning, while his 12-string guitar passages are very dreamy and folky-sounding.All his work is supported by the calm background synths of Derek Austin and, at moments, by Collins' melodic sax work, covering the spectrums of Folk Rock and Prog.This particular style continues on ''Celebration'' and ''Segregation'', a good alternation of acoustic and electric instrumentals with ethereal keyboards and smooth brass sections.''Isolation'' is another instrumental, this time entirely based on Brett's 12-string guitars, very mellow and slightly boring for my tastes.The closing ''Into life'' marks the more psychedelic side of Brett, a groovy Psych Rocker with very interesting guitar work, which also contains a funky piano/keyboard-based middle section.

If you like the works of STEVE HACKETT, ANTHONY PHILLIPS or GORDON GILTRAP, Paul Brett's ''Interlife'' definitely deserves a chance.Cool guitar instrumentals with decent arrangements, played with passion and emotion.Recommended.