MOOD SWINGS

Former MYSTERY bass guitar player Richard Addison has released his first CD with his new band ADDISON PROJECT. This album and its music is in my ears far better than anything MYSTERY ever recorded, and I didn't think that MYSTERY weren't good; it's just that I like this kind of music even more. What kind of music is it then? It could be described as experimental jazz-fusion blended with progressive rock. Besides bass the band contains two drummers, three guitarists, two sax players, one violin player and two piano and synth players. "Mood Swings" is an appropriate title of the album as it contains many different moods. From freaked out progressive jazz tunes to the closing and very beautiful "Controlled Freedom", a track that contains some parts that reminds me of VANGELIS' "Memories of Green" from the Blade Runner Soundtrack. I really liked this album and I would also like to take the opportunity to recommend the band SPACED-OUT from the same label as ADDISON PROJECT.

Excellent addition to any prog rock collection. A mixture between fusion and prog-rock. And (at last) a fresh one. Whenever is it funky Montée de Lait or moody Controlled Freedom this album stays interesting and exciting. Recommended to any listener bored by today's "cheesy" prog-rock scene.

Richard Addison is a bassist who first became known through his work with Mystery, so it is probably of little surprise that this album has been released through Michel St-Père's label, and that Michel is one of the musicians to feature on the album. This is an instrumental jazz album, and as the title suggests is designed to capture different types of moods. Richard may be a bassist but he has brought the musicians together as a whole, not as a place for his own instrument to shine. Take opener "Sleepwalker" ? the sax and keyboards combine together to provide something that is complex yet laid back at the same time. This can be contrasted against the sax-led "The Muffin" which in its' opening sequence has some extremely dynamic and rhythmic bass, but all in the background.

This is music that works well both when being listened to intently, but also as a background to create a feeling. It is not New Age, and there are some extremely dramatic pieces on here, but the title really does the album justice. There is some great musicianship, and any fan of jazz or prog will get something out of this. For more details on this and other albums go to the label site at www.unicornrecords.com.