REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIREPOOL

Material from ''The ritual continues'' sessions still surfaced in 1988, when Djam Karet released yet another cassette, ''Kafka's breakfast'', which included the 24-min. jam ''Walkabout'' along with tracks from the pre-Djam Kater band Happy Cancer, including the performance of drummer/keyboardist Andy Frankel.In 1989 the Americans return with the album ''Reflections from the firepool'', released in every possible format, vinyl issue came out on Gerg Walker's Synphonic label, both CD and cassette issues were printed by the band's own HC Productions.

''Reflections from the firepool'' contains the style, which would actually define what Djam Karet was all about for a period of years.The material here seems less loose and more properly constructed, thus more pleasant to the ears, long improvisations are good activities for musicians, but not headed for commercial consumption.On the contrary ''Reflections from the firepool'' eventually suggests some cool musical structures, which still hold this jamming feel linked to Djam Karet, giving a major role to keyboards and benefiting from the serious talent of guitarists Gayle Ellett and Mike Henderson.I would describe this as guitar-driven Acid Psych/Prog with some references to PINK FLOYD, OZRIC TENTACLES, KING CRIMSON and similar bands, but in fact this quartet starts to make its own distinctive music with stretched guitar solos, acid guitar lines, spacious keyboards and consistent bass/drumming, containing some complex, jazzy plays and a Fusion aura.Six long instrumental tracks come with the vinyl, while the CD (also reissued by Cuneiform Records) contains another pair of a similar taste.The use of some light organ sounds comes as a welcome surprise as well as the addition of some melodic guitar solos.Still the guiding light are the long, dark guitar acoustics and the keyboard experiments with the cinematic, psych-tinged and spacious overtones.

For me the most interesting work of Djam Karet in the 80's.It's still fairly experimental, even containing some Industrial-like percussion and guitar vibes in a few cuts, but comes as more convincing, consistent and efficient as a whole.Recommended.