BURNIN' RED IVANHOE

The selftitled second Studio Album from Danish act Burnin´ Red Ivanhoe was released in 1970. The debut album from 1969 called M144 is a really excellent album and one of the most important Danish progressive releases. Burnin´ Red Ivanhoe even enjoyed some success in both UK, Germany and the rest of the Scandinavian countries which was ( and still is) very rare for a Danish band.

The music is bluesy jazz/ rock very much in the vein of bands like Colosseum and Audience. On this second album there is a much more dominant experimental jazz/ rock touch to songs like Canaltrip and Secret Oyster Service compared to the style on the debut, while the blues influence is clearly heard on Rotating Irons and Across the Windowsill. Near the Sea is a mellow song. Gong-Gong, The Elephant Song is also in experimental jazz/ rock territory with dominant brass work. The main theme reminds me a bit about The Mothers of Invention ( King Kong). There is also a harmonica solo in that song.

The musicianship is excellent. Burnin´ Red Ivanhoe was and still is one of the most accomplished bands in Denmark. The two brass players Kim Menzer and Karsten Vogel dominate the music but the vocals from Ole Fick which this time is solely sung in English are also really good. Jess Stæhr on bass and Bo Thrige Andersen on drums also makes for a really tight and excellent rythm section.

The production is excellent. Organic, pleasant and well sounding.

M144 stands for me as one of the most groundbreaking and important progressive releases in Danish music history and that´s pretty hard to compete with. Burnin´ Red Ivanhoe is a bit too much in experimental jazz/ rock territory for my taste. Not unlike Soft Machine really even though this album is much better than anything Soft Machine ever did after the first two albums. This is still a good album though and it deserves 3 stars IMO.