VISITOR 2035

For anyone who, for reasons known only to them, still truly enjoys Fusion from the peak era ~ the real thing; that stuff that makes your friends force tight smiles and once caused your aunt to nod off after supper but you love dearly for its deft blend of two great forms and superb musicians who tended toward it ~ Visitor 2035's second issue hits the spot. As most fusionheads will tell you, the good stuff is not common and the bad stuff was aplenty between about '71 and '81, so when an ensemble of accomplished players throw together something that contains the strength and integrity of both jazzrock and prog rock at their best, it may be worth looking into. Like, say, UK was. Keyboardist John Mason and trumpeter Craig Pruess led a notably tight party of bass/drums/guitar and in 1978 laid down what shaped-up to be among the nicest sessions of the period. But that's coming from someone who still plays old DiMeola records and thinks Colosseum II were one of the best outfits ever. Like, ever.

Don't get me wrong-- you do have to sit through the rippling, undulating sounds of 1970s synth-porn with its leering reminders of pimpled butts thrusting in ratty motel rooms and unwelcome visions of overcoated middle-aged men in darkened theaters performing unnatural acts. But when you like jazzrock (the material is Eclectic to the extent that much art music was), you accept the fact that it influenced all sorts of music, some not so dignified, and that a cheesy synth was an accessible and affordable way to compose modern content. Nigel Robinson's mean paradiddles support 'Don Genardos Waltz', swift Latin jazz-fusion that ebbs & flows, a solid opener followed by slightly commercial 'At the Gates of Consciousness'. And then there's 'Toefunk', the kind of bit that requires the utmost tolerance when listening to JR/F; a white man's shame; a cringing, wide-eyed exercise in obligatory mulatto mediocrity. Go away, Toefunk, go away.

Tragically titled 'Celestial Dream Song' is not much more than a cool space jam but 'Centre of the Winds' better, getting into symphonic jazzrock a la Hiseman's C2, brandishing laser twin guitar/keyboard lines and spicy dual leads. Killer cut, unlike drowsy 'Cassiopeia' which will undoubtedly help you sleep, but 'Contemplation' rouses and closes on a reasonable note.