REMINISCENCE

The purpose of a Toronto-based obscure combo HEAT EXCHANGE would have been a solid mixture of blues rock in that they had roots in their younger days and early-70s progressive rock along with some prog vanguards around them. Sadly after recording some material for their "unrealized" debut album in 1972 they were disbanded without any notice, consequently their big dream had not come true by the end of the century. But Prog Goddess did not abandon them ... their obscure but precious material has got resuscitated by a Spanish independent label Guerssen Records finally. Authentic progressive rock fans have been impressed in this brilliant matter eventually, I guess.

The first shot "For Those Who Listen" can be called as a case in point. Deep, heavy, bluesy rock style obviously inspired by Deep Purple or around-70 heavy blues rock pioneers opens the curtain of Heat Theatre. In the middle part is symphonic passage filled with hot synthesizer and flute fountains, which you would be crazy immersed in. The following "Inferno" is more and more straight blues one featuring wow-wow guitar essence based upon heavy rhythmic analysis. The titled track reminds you that Mickey Curtis meets Jethro Tull. Phantasmagoric cinema show of flute, voices, or guitar, is chilling. It can be well understood why this "Reminiscence" got to be the title of this debut album.

The overall soundscape arrangement in this album is, as mentioned above, heavy bluesy rock coated with complicated rhythmic attachments and kaleidoscopic melodic lines. Almost all of a-few-minute songs are created with kinda similar structure. Each track is not bad indeed, but you might be bored with listening to this compilation throughout. Luckily the last "Four To Open The Door" the longest track in this album has sorta mysterious atmosphere, psychedelic ambience, strict Kansas-ish symphonic statements, fascinating solo plays of drums, flute, especially keyboards to the very end. The finish is flowery, flavourful, fantastic. Not decently unified but worth having a listen definitely.