MUSIC OR NOT MUSIC

4,5 stars really!!!!

Ladies and gentleman, please attach your seatbelt as we expect a storm of madness, a hurricane of notes and a typhoon of progressive rock for the duration of the flight disc. Please note that there are no parachutes aboard this plane and you can jump but at your own risk, however for those brave (or crazy enough) to hang on till the dénouement, we have a one way ticket to the Hotel Progifornia - you will never want to check-out and leave your wallet to the first bum on the street.

Right from the first track you will know that you are in a special ride with the classical being superseded by a screaming Zeppelin-esque guitar. Some 15 short tracks (only three of them above the 3 minute mark and them three just barely over 5 min), most of them linked to each other will take you in a gigantic swirl of sounds, an endless barrage of tempo changes and strange time signatures.

While not really RIO or not being jazz-rock either, the feel is somehow a bit Canterbury (the humour certainly is), but I chose to place them in Avant-prog. To actually tell you which track are the best or most representative is almost impossible as all these tracks are fairly de-structured (it is still relatively simple when you have a CD at hand, but I pity the ones having bought the vinyl, trying to find out where the hell they are on the album. Clearly the structures evolved Zappa's Mothers albums even if they do not sound the same. Only the relatively structured Last Train To Rhythmania can actually give you a hint of how the album is progressing. The aptly titled "..And The Producer Got Mad" (I think I can understand why even if I could eventually guess is the he WENT mad ;-) is simply awesome, Glove Story finding the punch, to knock you on your arse. Nothing's Holy is another aptly titled track and might just be considered as the centrepiece of the album (a bit of Strauss) and the other stand out is War Business with its deadly bass line (and good guitar improvs) and short national anthems as interludes. Remember these guys, although a KB-lead trio, sound NOTHING like ELP, but a lot more towards Egg.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for flying, know you will be back and now welcome to Insanity Beach and it is only a very short swim to the desert island, where this album will be on your top ten.

NEED I SAY MORE???????

Tought not!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoyed the debut from this band and on this the follow-up (and final album) from 1972 they've made things even more interesting and challenging. A lot of shorter tracks and we get random sounds like a door-bell and an alarm clock going off right out of the blue along with many other samples. This trio from Belgium doesn't mind distorting their instruments either, as heard with the bass and organ at times. Nice.

"Music Against Music" has this "Strangers In The Night" piano meldoy to start. It's replaced by some ripping guitar before a minute then back to that opening piano melody to end it. "Music For Your Dog" has crisp drumming with keys early. It picks up with the bass helping out. Drums and spacey sounds lead late. I like this. "The Night Was Clear,The Moon was yellow" is a very short acoustic guitar piece. "Where Is The Bar,Clay ?" is organ and drums to start before the piano helps out then leads. "Caligula Suite In Horror Minor" has the organ and drums standing out and it ends in a psychedelic manner. "My Grandmother Likes Andy Williams Too" is led by bass, organ and drums. Piano joins in then a door bell rings. Such a cool track. "We Don't Like It Either" has strange processed vocals and a beat. "Last Train To Rhythmania" sounds great with that groovy organ, bass and drum soundscape. It picks up as the piano replaces the organ. The organ is back before 2 minutes. Samples join in. A change before 3 1/2 minutes. Lots of drums and percussion follows.

"...And The Producer Got Mad" has the sounds of cars going by like at a race track as the organ floats and drums pound. The piano leads late to end it. "Glove Story" has some nasty organ with drums until the piano takes over a minute in. "Laughin' People-Meanwhile : Starvin' Children" is a short piece with distorted organ and a beat. "Nothing's Holy 1" has more organ as the guitar plays over top. Organ only then the drums lead. Piano 1 1/2 minutes in and more guitar before 3 minutes. The organ leads late. "Concerto For Elevator" has floating organ and samples until jazzy bass with piano takes over. "War Business Is A Good Job" has a catchy rhythm and raw guitar. Love this track. "To End Or Not To End" is the short concluding song with floating organ and piano as a beat kicks in.

I like these albums that keep me interested and have a Psych flavour to them. A solid 4 stars.