ARRIVING TWICE

Wow, man, this is a trippy album, but something is missing and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe Arriving Twice is not this Canterbury band's best collection. Perhaps the Fender Rhodes-drenched compositions, heavy on bass, jazzy meanderings and stoned atmosphere, painfully date the music here. Or maybe the boys were just having a series of slow session as evidenced by the lazy afternoon feeling that exudes from this posthumous release. Whatever the cause of the sloth pace and somewhat muddy sound, it is also a quite decent collection of English jazz-rock featuring some of the best of their ilk; the sweet and subtle keys of Alan Gowen, Phil Lee with some pretty kickin guitar, and Neil Murray's warm bass. Also included on several tracks are keyboardist Peter Lemer, and bassists Steve Cook and Jeff Clyne.

Fortunately, this Cuneiform release picks-up a bit by the third cut, 'Island of Rhodes', with hot boppin and semi-symphonic rhythms that generate some sparks. Things slow again for the improvisational 'Extract' but are revived by the upbeat symphonic jazz of 'One End More'. It is followed by the excellent 'Notwithstanding', the album's highlight and best representation of this group's accomplishments. I wouldn't suggest this be your first taste of Gilgamesh but if it's all you can find, they were a fun and significant band in the Canterbury milieu, and played some good music.