BRUFORD: ONE OF A KIND

Bruford's second album is a typical end 70s release illustrating how fusion mellowed out to harmless background music. The tension and improvisational freedom of the highly productive early 70s have been entirely replaced by overstated Miami Vice-synths, velvety production values and melodies that are so easy on the ears that it becomes annoying.

Annoying to me at least, as this album seems to be massively popular and is considered a masterpiece by everyone, a few lost sheep excepted. There's some flashy musicianship to justify its status but I find this music to be cold, formulaic, devoid of feeling, unexciting and way too radio-friendly. Maybe the popularity comes from the emphasis on melody and synths, or maybe it's just the names on the flipside. Yes, I really wonder if anybody would have bothered with this release if it had been by less popular musicians.

Anyway, if this album brings people to fusion then it serves a good purpose. But on the other hand, this happened to be the album (together with Weather Report's Heavy Weather) that drove me away from it and made me stop listening to fusion for more then 20 years. That's how much I hated what I was hearing, and I still do.

Don't expect anything hinting at the powerful music Bruford created with Yes and Crimson, but if you don't mind mellow and easy-listening jazz, the album is quite a treat apparently. In order to keep any perspective against the stellar music in the jazz-rock section, I really can't give this soft-fusion more then 2 stars. And then I'm still being generous.