NEBULAR TRAJECTORY

A very unique band to present,QUASAR was an Australian trio recording and performing from mid-70's to early-80's.Information are hard to come but to my knowledge they were formed in 1974 in Brisbane and featured a keyboard and trumpet player in their early years along with the standard bass/guitar/drums instrumentation.Sometime after their formation they moved to Melborne for about a year,before returning in Brisbane now as a trio with brothers Trevor and Barry Tiplady on drums and bass respectively and Len Henderson on guitars.

''Nebular trajectory'' came out in 1979 on ACR Records in a small amount of 500 copies and this was a very hard listening for the time.Actually it still remains one of the most complex stuff I've ever heard.A totally instrumental complicated release,offering trippy jazz/prog with ultra-complex guitar work and a freaky rhythm section.While I am often reminded of KING CRIMSON listening to this album,this is even more experimental music to my ears using KING CRIMSON's influence only as a guide.Henderson is the man here,delivering obscure soloing and heavy parts with his guitar with Trevor Tiplady being a monster behing the drum kit,often having his solo moments.His brother Barry plays the bass in a more varied style,flirting here and there even with funk.A few keyboard effects can also be heard at the starting moments on a couple of tracks.Compositions sound sometimes too abstract,but the overall performance is very professional and could be a nice example for the trully technical side of prog.

For anyone who wants to explore what trully experimental prog means,I recommend this album warmly.For the non-mystified,prepare for an unmet painful experience...2.5 stars.