AND NOT OR

The better half of the For To Next And Not Or original release. The names (or terms really) used for these albums were taken from computer programming commands - not that I am a programmer, but a friend that is one has pointed it out. System 7 was also a computing system wasnt it?. Anyway, I digress (sorry).

And Not Or is an instrumental album whilst For To Next has vocals on every track. Both are heavily influenced by early 80s synth pop and do feature computerised drumming (theres that field again) with some rather monotonous parts. However, the pop song format is absent or subdued here compared to For To Next and most tracks feature excellent wall of sound musicianship from Hillage and Giraudy, dominated by superb guitar - especially echoing layers of sound.

At the time this came out it had been many years since he had released anything (nearly five years i think) although he had been involved in some production work for contemporary bands. The double album was a disappointment for many fans of his 1970s output, especially so if, like me, they had just missed out on being there when he was so active in 1978/9. Very much the product of its time and, possibly, an attempt to go in a more mainstream direction. It could (or should) have succeeded for its musicianship compared to what was around at the time. However, as it was almost certainly written off by the music press upon its release, only a few slightly disappointed fans ever heard it.