ECLECTIC

I'm not quite sure how I missed this one back in 2017, as it appears to have been PAUL BRETT's penultimate release of new material, fittingly under the auspices of SAGE, his electrified "band", a format that seemed to become more meaningful to him in his last years. This one has a very different mood than most of what kept him busy after 2000. While still informed by unsubtle political and sociological commentary, "Eclectic" is much lighter afoot, best exemplified by the Monty Python-esque "General Erection", with its searing leads and careening off the walls of several pop and folk standards. "Captain Midnight" sees Brett channeling mid period LINDISFARNE, similarly brandishing brass. "Christmas Day" is somewhat superior to the average seasonal pop track, while "One Night Stand" almost dances itself off the virtual grooves before it takes a welcome proggy turn. Both "Boys in the Band" and the "Metal Hearts, Mental Minds" are similarly more adventurous than most of BRETT's later material, a more modernized version of the early SAGE work. As such they flirt with the prog boundaries while not quite undressing them.

One disappointment is the lack of documentation on precisely the formation of SAGE for this release, as it is even debatable whether a hardcopy version exists that could be consulted. It seems a bit disrespectful not to acknowledge these more than capable accompanists, as I doubt that BRETT played all instruments.

I suppose much of the healthier stretches of BRETT's last few years were consumed with the compilation of his "Stone Survivor" 4 CD anthology set that was issued by Cherry Red a few years back. I'm not sure I will get to that one but "Eclectic" and its successor "The Devil's Whisper" see him stepping off the curb with a dignified and sly smile.