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Nucleus - Ian Carr with Nucleus: Solar Plexus CD (album) cover

IAN CARR WITH NUCLEUS: SOLAR PLEXUS

Nucleus

 

Jazz Rock/Fusion

3.88 | 91 ratings

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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Solar Plexus is the third Nucleus album (now titled Ian Carr with Nucleus) and it is clear that a shift has occurred with Carr taking over songwriting duties from Karl Jenkins. The sound therefore is quite different, heavier predisposition to the brassier elements of jazz as well as a hint of experimental tones as the synth heavy "Elements I and II" display and reprised through the course of this recording.

This shift is proven guilty by reason of insanity on a title like "Changing Times" where things get oblique, funky and jazzy with a lesser dependence on Chris Spedding's guitar work and more on a trumpet/sax onslaught, bringing in mercenary brass cavalry courtesy of Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett to help out on Ian's blowing interventions. Huffy Puffy!

On the sensational "Bedrock Deadlock" the brooding majesty of Jenkins' oboe and Clyne's mournful contrabass (would that be the French term for an upright acoustic bass?) merge as a unified lament that affords a sensible podium for the soloists to explode into a vortex of exalted playing, another example of what makes Nucleus so timeless. I would dearly love to hear music like this in a jazz-club in 2012, wow what a mind blast that would be! ("You see darling? That's a wah-wah pedal, Yes, it's crazy, iznit! ).

Things get expertly mental on the free spirited "Spirit Level", very wayward jazz with no apparent structure or melodic spine, a theme that would define certain aspects of the nascent British Jazz-rock scene. Everyone gets to show their chops, a roving spotlight that shines a smoky hue on each performer, Marshall in particular contenting to percuss instead of drum, presenting a sensitive side to his otherwise muscular playing (I saw him live, one word = nasty!). The rock is jazzy sand on this tune, so be prepared for the dissonant and the angular! "Torso" is back to the upbeat, propulsive Nucleus attitude that made the first 2 albums outright classics, good and fast playing by all, some camouflaged bass groans from Clyne that snipe from below the drum underbrush, this is scintillating stuff that deserves a rewiring of one's jaw! All of this is fortified by a polyrhythmic drum solo that will once again confirm Marshall's undisputable talent.

The disc boldly closes with an epic 15 minute barrage of cool," Snakehips Dream" , a sexy musical broad with slithering thighs that seduces the listener into this suave groove that seems timeless like only good lovin' can be. I guess with all the horny horns blazing, this music may be conducive to some form of aural lust. This is ultimately the essence of Nucleus' hold on the prog world, being crafty physical brain music, with freedom and structure, emotion and brawn with a hint of audacious sensuality. Simply fantastic, once again but not as vital as the first 2 Nucleus jewels, mainly because Spedding is awfully quiet here.

4.5 ribbed cages

tszirmay | 4/5 |

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