EAST WIND: FREEDOM IS FRIGHTENING

Stomu Yamash'ta is a keyboardist/drummer from Japan who composes and arranges his own music. He released two albums in Japan in 1971 before moving to France and then over to England. That explains why his next album from 1972 "Floating Music" has all these english musicians on it including two future BRAND X members in Peter Robinson and Morris Pert. A strong record then two from 1973, first "The Man From The East" where Robinson and Pert return with bigger roles, plus Gary Boyle guests on guitar on one track. Significant because he would be the guitarist on the next one from '73 called "Freedom Is Frightening" that I'm reviewing now, and I understand this is where he met Hugh Hopper who is on here playing bass and they would later form ISOTOPE.

There's just four tracks here but each one is different. The opener is a haunting affair at first where the organ stews in it's juices and we get these creepy synths. A bass line after 3 minutes and this is catchy and heavy. Boyle starts to light it up before 7 1/2 minutes. "Rolling Nuns" is a complex and impressive song with some good contrasts while "Pine On The Horizon" features a jazz section contrasted with a more keyboard driven sound. Love Hopper and Boyle late on this one. The closer "Wind Words" is a disappointing way to end it. Just too mellow and new agey for almost 7 minutes. Not my thing.

I have to mention Stomu's GO project that released two albums in the second half of the seventies with Klause Shulze on synths, Al DiMeola on guitar, Michael Shrieve on drums and the first record had Steve Winwood singing and playing keys. As for "Freedom Is Frightening" I feel it's his best work and a solid 4 star album.

Short story. I bought a cat from this cat shelter who was born there and never been outside, he had been there 5 years at this point. I kept him as an indoor cat since that's all he's known and besides we've lost so many cats over the years. Anyway, so here we are many years later he's around 12 now and his name is Miles Davis. A couple of weeks ago I open the front door, go outside and call him. He gingerly comes out, keeps looking behind him at the open door, walks about 5 feet then couldn't handle it and runs back in the house. Freedom is frightening. I actually mentioned the name of this album as I related this story to some people.

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