WATERFALL

The new and improved fourth album

Unlike the band's first three albums, "If 4" was not released in North America, reportedly due to management and contractual issues. Later the same year though (1972), this album appeared in its place in those territories. As can be seen from the track listing, no less than four of the tracks on this album also appeared on "If 4" with two ("You in your small corner" and "Svenska Soma") being replaced by "Paint your pictures" and "Cast no shadows". The track order too is completely different, with "Sector 17", which seems to have been pruned back a bit, losing its headline spot to this album's title song. The two new tracks were recorded by a a slightly different line up with a new rhythm section and without John Mealing.

The re-ordering of the tracks means that the album gets off to a much more satisfactory start, with two in your face slices of jazz rock ("Waterfall" and "The light still shines") providing a tight, brass fuelled, attention grabbing first 10 minutes or so. "Sector 17" retains the extended guitar noodling of "If 4", but the sax excesses are kept in check.

"Paint your pictures" is one of the two tracks unique to this album. The song leans on the blues side of the band, the simple backing rhythm supporting an extended lead guitar break and some fine brass. From the keyboards work, it sound like John Mealing may in fact still have been around for this recording. "Cast No Shadows" has a distinctly The Who feel to it in the Roger Daltrey like vocals. The track otherwise has more in common with Chicago than BS&T, being reminiscent of "Does anybody really know what time it is" (to these ears at least!). The album closes with "Throw Myself to the Wind", a straightforward jazz rock number with a toe-tapping rhythm.

For me, this is a far more satisfactory configuration of "If 4" than the UK release. The bland fusion experiments are kept firmly in check, with the album benefiting from a feel much more in line with If's previous releases.

The 2003 re-release of the album has three bonus tracks. The first two of these are a single A and B side which contained an edited version of "Waterfall" and "You in your small corner", the most commercial track on "If 4". The final track is a superfluous mono version of the radio edit of "Waterfall".

IF were a Jazz Rock band from the UK who formed in 1969 and broke up in 1975. They did make a comeback album in the 10s. Generally they were a seven piece band with two horn players, getting tagged with brass rock by many for the blasting horns ala CHICAGO, LIGHTHOUSE and BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS. Thankfully they keep those horns in check here, it's more of an added flavour, but it's definitely a thing. The music is either commercial sounding with vocals, or all instrumental which is far more satisfying.

So very much a hit and miss affair. And a reminder of a time when bands would sometimes release a different album in America than they would at home. So this is "If 4" also released in 1972, but with two tracks swapped out. Some of this is live as well. Although the crowd seems way too amped up for the music(haha). The two songs that open the album are "Waterfall" and "The Light Still Shines, and both are upbeat, energetic pieces that feature plenty of vocals. Commercial sounding songs that start this record off on the wrong foot in my opinion.

Now "Sector 17" is a different story as we get my favourite track that is all instrumental and has a lot of guitar in it. "Print Your Pictures" isn't bad. They slow it down with vocals here but the instrumental break that is guitar led is really good. "Cast No Shadows" opens with some appreciated flute fluttering over top before the vocals take over. Horns though will come to the fore here often during the 7 1/2 minutes. The drummer gets a chance to show off a little as well. I love the guitar solo starting before 5 minutes. The closer "Throw Myself To The Wind" is a cool little piece. The vocals have character here. I like it.

IF were a band who carved out a nice little career for themselves. They were very active from 1970 to 1975 releasing eight studio albums, even if this one was more or less a duplicate of "If 4". And they toured constantly. They just never hit the big time though. A very talented band regardless.