SPLASH

3.5 stars. SPLASH were an eight piece Swedish Jazz Rock band who released 3 studio albums before calling it quits after a ten year run. This is the middle album released in 1974 and recorded in Oslo, Norway that same year. By far the majority of fans pick this one as their best. Three of the guys play horns and a variety of them. I understand their debut was more horn rock than this one but we certainly get multi horns blasting a lot or so it seems. Just not big on it. Two of the musicians play violin including the guitarist and keyboardist. The latter plays organ, piano and mini- moog. Flute, bass, drums and bassoon are some the other instruments in play.

I like the creativity on this album as we get three songs over the 42 or so minutes. The opener alone is almost 21 minutes long. We do get vocals after 2 minutes and they sound kind of rough but certainly have character. Not big on them though. Lots of piano and blasting horns on this one. Of course changes in tempo and mood abound on a track this long. Quite a few spoken words late. I do like the shortest track the most. Bassoon, horns, drums and piano stand out early then violin around 2 minutes as it turns catchy. It kicks in before 4 minutes with some nasty organ, horns, drums and bass. Violins and horns lead late. Not big on the closer with that ethnic vibe including the spoken words. We get guest percussion and maracas on this one as well. The guitar is at it's best though on this one.

A pretty good album that just doesn't deliver when it comes to my taste in music.