FLIGHT

Having read about FLIGHT I had high hopes for " Incredible Journey " expecting to find something really eclectic and tasty here. But I was dissapointed. Dated '70's fusion is the only thing I hear in it. This record, manages to encapsulate (in a strange way) all the flaws that mid-70's Prog rock had : bloated arrangements, synthesizers overkill, pretentious playing and above all, cheesy vocals. You know, they had to sing just trying to hide the otherwise lackluster and anonymus compositions. As for the drummer he is ok, but give me Carl Palmer any day of the year. All these would be forgivable, if at least we'd treated with some memorable melodies. Alas, they took all the well known stereotypes of the Jazz rock fusion genre and they put it here and there with very limited inspiration and patchy results. Finally, a song stands out of the mediocrity : " The sands of time ". It has some mood and at last it contains a piano solo .... But it's too little, too late. I am aware that FLIGHT will appeal to some listeners that love all things weird, fusionesque and technicallly skilled. As for me, only 2,5 stars.

Magnificent US prog band,recording and performing between mid-70's and early 80's.They recorded three albums as far as I am concerned:''Flight'' (1975),''Incredible journey'' (1976) and ''Excursion beyond'' (1980).The first two are considered as one of the best examples of artistic progressive jazz rock,the latest is said to be in a much more commercial vein.The one I can talk about is their self-titled debut,featuring Pat Vidas on trumpets/vocals,Jim Michael Yaeger on keyboards,John Ray on acoustic & electric basses,Russell Dawber on drums and Ted Karczewski on electric and acoustic guitars.

This one is progressive jazz rock at its best for sure.Compositions are really fast,complex and intricate,offering tons of adventuruous interplays and a very rich sound.However,FLIGHT are not your average band,delivering long improvisated parts or jam sections.The compositions are mainly short with a great developing structure and also featuring often humurous vocals of somekind of late-60's pop style.Pat Vidas present a wide variety of catchy trumpet parts,supported by great electric piano,moog synths and a touch of mellotron and even some fantrastic solos by guitarist Ted Karczewski.The funky bass lines of John Ray try to create a more relaxed atmosphere...but instrumental parts are trully mind-blowing,reminding me of GENTLE GIANT and actually if you can imagine a cross between GG and NUCLEUS you are very close to FLIGHT's unique sound.Energetic brass rock in battle with complicated jazzy prog with also some hints of classic progressive rock.

This band deserves a lot more than this limited fame they earned.A must-have for ages, certainly highly recommended.