UNSETTLED

If you are familiar with the Canadian band ' Where The Nine" then you will no doubt be on the lookout for this recent release from co- founder and multi instrumentalist Dean Watson. Unsettled is a refreshing new release well entrenched in the jazz rock/fusion sound. Arguably a much more cohesive album than the groups more frenzied release " Desensitized to Insanity" but the undercurrent theme is still very much alive. The album kicks off with the highly percussive " The Encounter" before working up to a solid rhythmic outpuring of sound with some great guitar work challenging the percussion throughout. Keyboards/synths are ubiquitous on " Unsettled" and if you like Steve Hillage from the 70's or even some Ozric Tentacles you will know what I mean.

The apty titled "push' is just that...pushing! again laudits would draw comparisons to both The Dixie Dregs and Daryl Stuermer. Nice foot tapping stuff and by the sound of some great hammond work too. This instrumental offering continues with the serene " Out of the Mist' which offers a welcome break from the twists and turns of " Push" " Sequence of Events" is next and here Dean Watson really gets laid back as the languid keys play their part. The rest of the album remains consistently strong in particular " 11th Heaven Blues", IMO one of the high points of the album. To describe an album in a literal sense makes the final track " Still ( Unsettled" simply just that....unsettled. A very odd juncture to finish the album...or unfinish if I understand the artist's intentions.

Overall a great progressive piece of work, more appealing than the group offering and more accomplished overall. I hope it reaches wider audiences because the high level of musicianship deserves it. Four solid stars.