AXIS

4.5 stars. Man if I was from Greece there would be three albums that I would hold up with pride as the most monumental recordings from that nation. This third and final studio album from AXIS along with APHRODITE'S CHILD's "666" and PLJ BAND's "Armageddon. Three absolutely adventerous and intriguing albums right there. They all fascinate me in different ways. This final record from AXIS is a major change from the two albums before it and why this band is listed under Jazz/Fusion here. The first two had a 60's vibe with lots of vocals and they played in a psychedelic style that was at times poppy and at other times folky. The first two records shared six tracks. Then the band grew up! I mean they graduated with honours. This is not for the faint of heart, talk about an about face. We get some avant jazz, free jazz and experimental tunes, but also melodic stuff like the hard rocking opener that could have been a single and those Canterbury moments mostly with that fuzzed out organ that brings HATFIELD AND THE NORTH to mind.

Two lineup changes as the guitarist leaves and is not replaced. None is credited in the liner notes but I think I hear it but maybe it's the keyboards. They add a second drummer and I don't know if that's because there were two recording sessions in 1973, one in April where they did 6 tracks including "Pa Vu Ga Di" at a German Evangelical church which consists mostly of vocals and church organ. Then four tracks in June which are actually the first four songs off this album. The bass player was also replaced. The keyboardist adds mellotron this time and the electric piano is really good. SpaceFreak from another site who is from Greece mentions that Chris one of the drummers here(not the guitarist) bought Christian Vander's drum set that he had used on MAGMA's debut. Chris would go on to drum for CLEARLIGHT, Francis Moze and ZAO although he never recorded with the latter.

That opener "Waiting A Long Time" is just a hard rocking tune with a chorus that softens to great affect. The second instrumental break is out of left field as they turn to an avant Jazz style and check out that piano. "Sewers Down Inside" is dark with faint sounds to start and it stays sparse really with some brief outbreaks before the intro returns around 3 minutes in. Then suddenly a full sound before 4 minutes. Another surprise is that it settles with vocals, mellotron and beats before 5 minutes. I like the bass on "Materializing The Unlimited" and there's an electronic quality to this track as sounds cycle and swirl until 2 1/2 minutes in when distortion and drums take over. A relentless attack to the end.

"Asymphonia" I and II which are tracks 4 and 7 are Free Jazz with what sounds like double bass, piano and drums and this is avant later on. Love the electric piano on "Suspended Precipice". "Roads" along with the opener and closer are my top three. A definite Canterbury vibe here with the keyboards. Distortion! Jazzy drums and bass. More of this Canterbury flavour on the closer "The Planet Vavoura". I want to mention "Dancing Percussion" as well which starts off haunting with experimental sounds as voices cry out in the distance. Floating organ and dancing percussions follow.

A bit shocking to hear this after spending a lot of time with their debut "Ela Ela". I mean it doesn't sound like the same band at all. Out of the park!