BRAINSTORM

Though with one of the worst album covers in existence, it's what is inside this album that counts. Smile A While is wild and woolly European fusion at it's best, what i like to label "bonkers, but brilliant". Their approach to jazz-rock on this record is mostly unbridled and frenetic, though at times they can slow things down and even get a bit moody, though never loosing your interest for a moment. The early seventies atmosphere created by Brainstorm on this debut of theirs is spot on, and very special-it is like a true time journey connecting with it.

The vocals are average, but what makes up for that is the group's instrumental prowess, highlighted by frenetic runs with electric organ, sax, a bit of guitar, along with some tasty flute soloing, and great serpentine bass lines. The quirky and complex drumming of Jo Koinzer leads the way, being one of the single most under-rated fusion drummers on the planet.

Whether tracks are long or short, it's an exciting trip, though they hit their creative peak on the long title track, where they have more room to jam and branch out, instrumentally.

All in all, this album has stood the test of time for me, and i never tire of it-5 stars.

"Smile A While" (actually I did smiled after taking a quick glance on nic kitsch cover) starts with a nice blast of "Das Schwein Tr'gt" (which is also a funny title) with beautiful reeds unisono and fuzzy organ sound. Tha mellow Canterbury tune is breaked by jazzy "Zwick, zwick" with fantastic nervous pulse and fine rough solos. The "Bosco Biati WeiB Alles" suit is a great example of European fusion with bit of Wyatt's influence - on the contrast with "Snakeskin Tango" with amusing scream. Album ends with 15-minutes suite - however in this point I feel a bit bored, looking for more interesting themes or bass lines that doesn't happen.

The CD reissuie comes with fine booklet, with biographical essay and some photos, and bonus tracks, including live and some from previous episode (when group existed as Fashion Pink).

"Himwind" opens with atmosphere that gradually intensifies. It settles back and vocal melodies come in around 2 minutes then it kicks in. Great sound here. I like the flute and mellotron. Guitar to the fore after 4 1/2 minutes then it settles back with vocal melodies to end it. Amazing opener right there. "Herbst" is led by acoustic guitar and flute. Beautiful stuff. It picks up 2 1/2 minutes in. "My Way" is led by reserved vocals and atmosphere early on. Vocal melodies before 2 minutes as it picks up. So good. The guitar is abrasive 3 1/2 minutes in. Vocals are back around 6 minutes as it calms down. More abrasive guitar then it picks up. Killer stuff.

"Aftenzahn" has a good instrumental intro, in fact the whole song sounds incredible. Flute leads after 2 1/2 minutes as keys pulsate. Guitar and bass standout before 4 minutes. "There Was A Time" has liquid keys and drums to start. Sax and bass join in, and I should mention that the sounds are sparse at first. It picks up around 2 minutes with sax. Great sound.Vocals after 3 minutes. Love the distorted organ 5 minutes in. Sax leads after 6 1/2 minutes to end it. Man every song sounds so good. "Marilyn Munroe" is a laid back vocal track at first.It picks up around 2 1/2 minutes but not for long as spoken words take over. This is so cool. It's picking up before 5 1/2 minutes before settling back with vocals.

It seems that the album cover from the debut has turned a lot of people against this band which is a shame because these guys are brilliant musicians and they play a style that I just can't get enough of.

"Das Schwein Trugt" hits the ground running and you gotta love the distortion. It settles before 1 1/2 minutes as the sax solos tastefully. It kicks back in at 3 1/2 minutes as we get some nasty organ that comes and goes. "Zwick Zwick" opens with the drums, flute and sax standing out. It's just a pleasure listening to each one of these guys play. The distorted organ after 3 minutes brings SOFT MACHINE to mind. "Watch Time Flow By" is a vocal track and he really sounds like his singing has been influenced by Robert Wyatt and Richard Sinclair. A beat with flute helps out. "Bosco Biati Weiss Alles" is Jazzy with prominant bass, sax, drums and more. A drum show 3 1/2 minutes in then some distorted organ 5 minutes in followed by a calm with vocal melodies. Nice. It kicks back in again as contrasts continue. We get an intense finish.

"Snakeship Tango" has some crazy sax then vocal expressions as a catchy soundscape takes over. "Smile A While" has these deep bass sounds with atmosphere to start. It picks up 1 1/2 minutes in and builds with the sax leading then flute. This is great ! Vocals 2 1/2 minutes in are brief then the flute leads again. More fuzz after 6 minutes. Nice. A calm before 8 1/2 minutes then the sax starts to lead. It settles with flute after 10 minutes and we get reserved vocals before 12 1/2 minutes in this laid back section. It kicks in again as he sings "Smile a while" and we get more fuzz late. Killer stuff. "You Are What's Gonna Make It Last" is catchy with vocals and some guitar too. I like it ! "Don't Forget" is the very short closing instrumental. I have to mention the first bonus track called "Thesen & Antithesen" because it sounds amazing and it goes on for 14 minutes.

A very solid 4 stars and one that SOFT MACHINE and MOVING GELATINE PLATES fans might want to check out. Enjoy the cover boys !

The album shows the interesting transformation of Fashion Pink from a Psych/Blues Rock band to a Progressive/Jazz rock beast.The short opening tracks see them playing decent Psychedelic Rock with lots of organ and flute by Bodenshon and decent vocals,not far from bands like early CARAVAN and JETHRO TULL.Moving on Fashion Pink develop a more complicated sound with strong Jazz leanings and a tension for improvisation,like the highly experimental ''Number six'',yet they never denied their psychedelic roots,the driving organ and melodic flutes are still alive and well and the guitar remain a trademark of the band.Towards the middle of 1971 they had fully transmitted into a complex Jazz Rock act with Schaeffer grabing the saxes for good and FRANK ZAPPA being a notable inspiration,while now the best comparison would propably be OUT OF FOCUS.Powerful organ grooves,sax attacks,lovely flutes and jazzy guitars compose a good sound-picture of the totally instrumental 10-min. ''Brainstorming''.The following and closer of the album 14- min. ''Thesen-Antithesen'',again an all instrumental number, is even more demanding with great guitar/organ/flute interplays,complex guitar and flute work always in a jazzy mood,psychedelic and nervous organ playing and improvisational saxes.The later sound is actually a very good introduction to the real Brainstorm band,recording a year later.

''...to Brainstorm'' is a very good archival release of the pre-Brainstorm days and the listener can see it as a living document of a company of young guys trying to search for a personal and inventive music approach.Recommended,especially for the two long and most progressive tracks,but the rest of the album will also appeal to fans of Heavy/Blues/Psychedelic Rock.

I'm sorry, that was me being sick all over my Mac after looking at the front cover. What on earth were they thinking on??!! Easily the worst record sleeve in the history of music. I mean, for crying out loud, what they're wearing is what I found in my mums washing basket when I was 10 years old. Gross... simply foul.

Luckily for Brainstorm, the music is far,far better, otherwise I'd be running after them with a Panzerfaust. In a funny way it reminds me of 'The Two Ronnies' (which, for Europeans - was a hilarious British TV comedy duo from the mid 70''s). Jazzy Krautrock is the order of the day, but it's played brilliantly. Such a shame. One of the finest Kraut Albums I've heard - yet annihilated by the sleeve.

Every time I look at this album I feel like throwing it in the bin - then when I listen to it - it turns out to be great.

What was a definite 4 star has been downgraded to 3 simply because of the abysmal cover. I mean - can you imagine showing this to your friends?

3(-), no, this is not the way how it should be done.

The music is Canterbury, or at least it is as near as I can tell. Sort of a slightly-mad fusion kind of thing going on, which is largely how I hear Canterbury, so I suppose that fits. The musicians seem to have a sort of self-deprecating sense of humor, so I’ll give them credit for that.

According to the band’s notes they were previously known as Fashion Floyd as a sort of sick tribute to Pink Floyd, but changed their names, probably to avoid confusion (not!).

Nothing really to get excited about for the most part. “Bosco Biati WeiB Alles” features a drum solo, which is pretty weird for a fusion album. And the opening of “Snakeskin Tango” sounds like a singer whose crotch is caught in the mic stand grip. There are also a few live tracks which are comparatively more straightforward upbeat jazz with some pretty decent guitar work and a lot more vocals in a rather funky vein.

But overall this is clearly something that hasn’t held up well over time, and is probably best relegated to the collections of fans of the band (if there are any). And yes – I’ll admit I was only interested in this album to hear what kind of music would be covered by such a gaudy picture. Can’t say I’m overly surprised. Two stars.

peace

This second album holds many different styles mostly reminding you of Lizard-era Crimson for the opening track. In the third track you could swear Wyatt is on vocals and Ratledge on kb but halfway thru you jumped into a different planet. The last track Monroe holds a long monologue that could be tiring after repeated listenings. There Was A Time is probably were Brainstorm develops their personality best and happens to be my fave. For once, the bonus track is not bothering the untity of the album but it does not bring that much more.

Enjoyable album but no must-have either.