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Ayers Rock - Beyond CD (album) cover

BEYOND

Ayers Rock

Jazz Rock/Fusion


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lance008@yaho
4 stars Note: this album is not space rock but you'll like it. I saw this one as an incredible find for digging it up in a record bin for only two dollars. Rock, funk, jazz, and symphonia, this album has it all. Accessible (on the poppy side) and musically challenging, everything here is tight. A love song, maybe two, but usually enough music going on to keep you interested throughout so don't discredit it for that. Not very synthisized which I saw as a plus and did I mention funky. Even a touch of some very well played disco (way more bad-ass, meaning sounding infinitely better than your average repetitve disco from the late seventites). I can't say enough how well everything is played throughout. Like I said, jazz-rock, some funk influences, maybe some late Traffic, some wicked guitar playing and a full on an orchestra of around 15 to 20 strings to back them at given points. Like nothing you've heard and a bit of a lot of bands you like. Lots of tempo changes and incredible musicianship from all. Five man band including horn player. Do yourself a favor and pick up the vinyl if you find it. I only wish they would have reissued this on cd. Must-buy, I would give it a 5 but will settle for a four so as to not get anyones hopes up too much.

P.S. The album cover on my version looked different from this one. Looks like an illustration of Ayer's Rock (which they are named for) with two aboriginis seemingly hunting two fleeing kangaroos!?!

Report this review (#33012)
Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | Review Permalink
5 stars Wow! Was the first thing I said when I listened to Beyond. Before Ayers Rock the only Jazz Fusion I ever listened to, or heard for that matter, were bands like Return to Forever, as music like this is not easily accessible where I live.

This album is just amazing, and along with Crossfire's (fellow Aussie jazz rockers) 1975 debut simply make up the best jazz rock/fusion to come out of Australia/New Zealand and most of the world for that matter.

I honestly give this album 5 stars for Ayers Rock's music is so creative and many times different from their pears. So go pick yourself up a copy of Big Red Rock and Beyond!

-AP

Report this review (#189524)
Posted Sunday, November 16, 2008 | Review Permalink
Evolver
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams
3 stars This is another LP I have that still has a one dollar price sticker from the used record store. The things other people discard.

The descriptions here comparing this band to Santana and Traffic are right on the money. I wouldn't go as far as comparing them to The Mahavishnu Orchestra, but I hear where that's coming from.

The first song, Moondah, right off, falls right between Santana's rhythmic jams, and Traffics smooth rock sound. Place To Go, a slow vocal tune has some fusion aspects, and sort of reminds me of some of Stanley Clarke's early vocal fusion. Catchan Emu is a fast funky tune, where many of the Mahavishnu comarisons come from. While good, this is nowhere near as good as McLauhlin and friends.

Song For Darwin starts with a weird, almost orchestral intro, before settling into a Santana-like vocal arrangement. Angel In Disguise has a schmaltzty string intro, then becomes a nice slow fusion piece which segues into fast funk. Little Kings is a short, jazzy funk vocal tune.

I can understand why this band is so obscure. But for what they are, they are not bad.

Report this review (#248165)
Posted Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | Review Permalink
4 stars On this album the jazz fusion influence was much more overt, employing the much more sophisticated harmonic language of jazz and greater melodic effort, less reliance on blues scale, and greater prominence to Col Loughnan's winds and keyboards. There is still a commercial side to the band, on tracks like "Little Kings" and the Cyclone Tracey tribute "Song For Darwin" - although the latter has a somewhat crazy introduction, I'm guessing intended as a representation of the cyclone. You may not have believed it possible, but Mark Kennedy's drumming has gotten even better, more rhythmically fluid and inventive, shown to particularly good effect in tracks like "Catchanemu". A string section adds to the quality of "A Place To Go', though their reappearance at the beginning of "Angel In Disguise" is somewhat schmaltzy. A welcome progression from their first album.
Report this review (#724480)
Posted Thursday, April 12, 2012 | Review Permalink
AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Ayers Rock came to my attention back in the 70s when I was listening to Skyhooks. The inner cover of "Ego is not a dirty word" had a number of album covers listed as a form of promotion for Mushroom labels, and the iconic image of Ayers Rock on the cover was always something that made me wonder what this band would sound like. Interestingly enough the EP "Big Red Rock" is actually a live album with very rocked up songs sounding nothing like the work on this debut album release. The music on "Beyond" is more jazz fusion, and instrumentals abound, though at times it verges back to the straight forward sound of "Big Red Rock".

The album begins with ethereal atmospherics on 'Moondah (Beyond)' that relies heavily on Col Loughlan's keyboard skills and woodwind. The aboriginal sounds are prevalent using clicking sticks and a didgeridoo droning effect. It breaks into beautiful guitar and keyboard melodies, with chimes and strong percussion. It is a delightful melody and very original sound, and allows for lengthy twin guitar solos using wah wah pedal and tremolo bar. The sax lends a nice jazz edge along with the rocking tempo.

'A Place To Go' features a moderate tempo and a sax melody, and the vocals at last come in. The smooth approach is welcome and sounds a bit bluesy in style. The string section is beautiful on this giving it a symphonic quality. The sound is akin to Santana with the cool guitar solos and breezy tempos. 'Catchanemu' is a showcase for percussionist Mark Kennedy, using a full on drum attack. The sax sounds are prominent and powerfully played by Col. The lead guitar playing is like Carlos Santana, soaring and emotional throughout.

'Song For Darwin' is dedicated to the victims and survivors of the devastating Cyclone Tracey that hit Darwin in 1975 and left thousands homeless just prior to Christmas. The disaster is one of the worst in Australian history and it is nice to hear a song dedicated to the catastrophic event, and this is better than the more popular at the time 'Santa Never Made It Into Darwin'. 'Angel In Disguise' is another instrumental that begins with chimes and sparse piano. It builds with gorgeous violin strings, harps and a full symphonic sound of transfixing beauty. Guitar swells and cymbal splashes add to the light textures. A steady bass sig locks in with a lovely lead guitar solo and spacey keyboard squelches. A very relaxing piece of music is the result, and definitely shows what the band were capable of. It builds to a nice fast tempo and some extreme wah wah guitar finesse.

'Little Kings' finishes the album with a rock song, sounding like Traffic, that is uncharacteristic of the music previous. It certainly wakes you up after the beauty preceding and is a decent way to close things off. I like the sax on this and it has an infectious chorus melody.

Overall this is a solid album from Ayers Rock, though is uneven and inconsistent in terms of the musical approach. Rather than sticking to one style it tends to veer into some odd songs that ruin the overall feel of the album. In any case it is worth seeking out as there is some fine music here and it is a prime example of 70s jazz fusion, and perhaps Ayers Rock's finest recording.

Report this review (#817818)
Posted Sunday, September 9, 2012 | Review Permalink
4 stars Fun, worthwhile listening for the fusion crowd. Due to the presence of a number of AOR oriented tracks, this could be a good introduction to the neophyte fusioneer. The opener and the closer are smoking hot fusion featuring rapid tempo and mood changes and dynamic interplay between the rhythm section and the guitar, flute, sax, and other winds.

I'm giving it 4+ in my personal collection. The uneven nature and the collective styles incorporated within the album give it a certain charm, sort of like on the Stones' Sticky Fingers. I'd never heard an Australian fusion album from the golden age, and this spin is worth it. I looked up the musicians on this project, these guys proved the chops they show on this gem are for real. A cool cover rounds out a nice obscure set.

Report this review (#988261)
Posted Friday, June 28, 2013 | Review Permalink

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