SOLUTION

An elegantly-forged slice of jazzy progressive psychedelia courtesy of the Netherlands, this 1972 release from the little-known outfit Solution is yet another unexpected European surprise for those willing to undertake the exploration needed to locate such things. However, those familiar with the country's other progressive exports - the likes of Focus, Cargo, Trace, Supersister, Finch, Group 1850 etc - should sit up and take note as this is actually a rather different creation. Instead of flowing symphonic melodies and quirky art-rock, Solution's self-titled debut treads a distinct jazz-fusion path glossed with occasional Canterbury-style moments and one surprise(albeit, thankfully, rather brief) headlong rush into comedic faux-classical goofing. Supersister may be the nearest national Touchstone then, yet even that link may be tenuous at best. Made up of five fairly lengthy pieces and one disposable minute-long time-filler, 'Solution' should more than please those with a taste for Miles Davis' 1969-1975 electric period, Soft Machine's jazz-fusion series and the similarly-intoned sounds of Nucleus, Catapilla and Return To Forever. Highlights include both of the album's longer pieces, with the impressively mellow 'Phases' slowly building up a layered head of steam before morphing into the hazy John Coltrane tribute 'Trane Steps'. Both tracks display Solution's obvious affection for the sounds of classic American jazz, yet the real trick here is the group's seamless blending of complex jazz elements into a wider progressive whole. 'Trane Steps' in particular finds the group stretching out into almost psychedelic territory - some moments also hint towards National Health's first two studio recordings - yet kudos to the group for never quite slipping into the trap of indulgent soloing that blights many a lesser fusion outfit. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012