ILLUSION

ISOTOPE were another major name of the UK jazz-rock scene,led by guitarist Gary Boyle.Some say they were formed in 1972,others in 1973...one thing is for sure,ISOTOPE debuted with their eponymous first album in 1974,an album full of endless jamming and energy,but with a sound closer to jazz and rock than prog.Important changes to the band's line-up were rapid as original members Jeff Clyne and Brian Miller (who was also a main composer of the band)left to be replaced by Lawrence Scott on keys and superb bassist Hugh Cooper (ex-Soft Machine).This drastic changes had the same drastic impact on the band's sound,as it can be heard on the sophomore release ''Illusion'' from the same year.

The frenetic jams gave their place to a very elabarated,well-arranged and executed jazz/fusion progressive rock,characterized by the fantastic guitar work of Boyle,greatly inspired by JOHN MCLAUGHLIN and featuring some magnificent solos,changing climates and even some ethnic orientations.Hugh Cooper is there to fill the sound with his awesome bass lines,which contain a very psychedelic feeling and Lawrence Scoote proofs to be a very distinctive yet talented keyboardist with a number of excellent electric piano parts,not unlike what is heard by Chick Corea on RETURN TO FOREVER's albums.All compostions sound intense,rich,complicated and even melodic to my ears,covering a wide range of tempos and atmospheres...Another nice jazz-oriented release of the 70's,which undoubtfully deserves some of your time.