BREMEN 1973

I have heard the studio albums in the mid-70's but this is too far away for me to review them , for I never owned a copy . This is a live album (typical product of Garden Of Delight Label ) only released recently and mixed with more recent live stuff. I rented this Cd last week and unfortunately , it did not leave big of an impact on me as I had expected since I had good thoughts of their two studio albums. From my faded memory , I could not rememnber what the good studio tracks would give live.

And since this album did not impress me that much , all I can say is that this is run-of-the-mill fusion from the mid-70's although this is meant to have the Canterbury feel to it , I was not convinced enough to make a copy of it. I think that sums it up . Still worth discovering though , but the studio albums will have priority in my wish list . Once I rediscover those , I shall come back to it.

About 2 weeks after BRAINSTORM released their second album "Second Smile" they played this open-air concert at Bremen's College of Technology. Radio Bremen recorded it for their Jazz Live series. It was a rainy day on that 23rd of June 1973, but neither the band or the audience let that affect their enthusiasm. Six of the nine tracks are from that second album but they start off with two from their debut and they end the proceedings with one last song from that particular record. Love the cover art by the way.

Anything i've heard that was recorded by Radio Bremen sounds fantastic, and this is not the exception. So yes the first two tracks are from the debut "Smile A While" and sound different from what will follow. These two songs called "Zwick Zwick" and "Das Schwein Trugt" sound like SOFT MACHINE somewhat with the sax and flute taking turns leading the way in these almost improv-like sounding jams. They can seem a little samey but I like them, just not as much as the tracks that follow. "Your The One" is a Joe Cocker cover and they use vocals here. No they aren't the best but they are passable.They do the song justice with better instrumental workouts including a bass solo before 4 minutes. "My Way" kicks in just before a minute then settles back with vocals that aren't so good but I love when it kicks back in after 2 minutes to a Canterbury style with some excellent vocal melodies. Some rare prominant guitar from ex-JUD'S GALLERY's Enno Dernov who mostly plays bass here.

"There Was A Time" is almost 14 1/2 minutes long. This sounds pretty cool a minute in then it turns a little experimental with avant sounding sax and sound. It's not until after 3 minutes that they settle in and the audience claps at the avant playing they have just heard. Yes this sounds excellent when they settle into this Jazzy groove with the sax playing over top. Vocals before 5 minutes. Prominant organ will follow after 6 minutes. Cool tune. "Affenzahn" opens with one of the band members talking to the audience in German then it kicks into gear. I like the guitar early on then the flute leads the way. The organ takes over followed by flute once again with the guitar helping out. "Himwind" is the longest song at over 21 minutes. Great sound 5 minutes in when the flute settles to the background. Sax and flute then start to lead the way with that jazzy drumming also standing out. It settles down then gets a little avant after 10 minutes. Yes SOFT MACHINE comes to mind with the sax dominating the sound. A drum solo follows. "Marilyn Monroe" is a vocal track of almost 10 minutes before this recording ends with the short "Snakeskin Tango" from the debut.

Gotta love the Garden Of Delights label for digging up these previously unreleased live albums. If your as big a BRAINSTORM fan as I am you need to get this one, a valuable live document from the band at the height of their playing days.