JAZZATTACK

Huh! No reviews for a nearly 20 year old album! Don't mind if I have a crack at it then! And perhaps, I'm realizing now (and remembering my own feelings), the band must be somehow more acclaimed for their classic Roger Dean cover for their relatively popular Charge! (1972) than they are for the music. Certainly, 1972 was not a weak year for Progressive Rock. An understatement, really. It's also not until now that I'm learning the origin of the band is in two backing musicians for the Rolling Stones! Now that really is something.

The stage is set with "The Gong" (12 seconds of a gong being struck--how do they come up with this?!). And honestly, I like what I'm hearing with "The Fakir I", an Eastern- sounding track with rolling toms and "exotic" violins. Slight build, slight fade. "Third World - Pt. I" was pretty flat, pretty boring. Got better as it goes, but that's it. "Third World - Pt. II" showed immediately more promise. A sort of... Latin(?) thing going on here. A tad better than the first part.

"Carry Me Home", almost as though the name somehow implies it, is a very classic Rock song. Really showin' their roots. The organ is probably the highlight throughout. Sorta like The Band, I suppose (like literally Roots Rock). "Dance of the Cobra" on the other hand, while still kinda sorta Rootsy, is a bit funkier. Gave my noggin' a little scratch haha. This also provided a few varied sections. Very refreshing compared to what came before (even despite the drum solo). It really does feel like a lot of this is them just glancing backwards. "Bad Times" continues somewhat in this trend with something reminiscent of Santana or... Iron Butterfly(?). Just like classic Proto-Prog, although performed in the modern era. The organ is once again the highlight here. And this specifically continues on "Fill Up Your Heart". I might start repeating myself... Again, something Latin.

And then "It's Time", time for some more Roots! hahaha. Then we're back to 'the East' with "The Fakir II". We out in the dunes? I don't ever want to ask a band or artist why they chose to do something, but... It's just interesting... And with this track, some interesting choices, but ultimately relatively static.

And wham! We have vocals finally appearing on "Trip to Venus", a sorta lovey dovey, classic rock tune. And really, the vocals are real nice. But y'all gonna like this? Unsure. Finally, "Anyway" is a classic, Prog-Pop song. My mind goes to ELO or to Argent (definitely something I'm into). "Anyway II" just feels like a mirror of its first part. It's pretty slow and light, with a slight build at the end. The melody is really great, but the song (the second part, specifically) felt unnecessary.

Overall, not bad. Even pretty good.

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