IAN CARR'S NUCLEUS: IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO

Not only was Nucleus founder Ian Carr a big fan of fellow trumpeter Miles Davis but he actually wrote what has become the definitive biography on the man. It's even boldly called Miles Davis-The Definitive Biography. Carr must have taken his cue from his American peer as much of Carr's work is a blend of high energy fusion, though not as esoteric as what Davis would conjure up on On The Corner or Bitches Brew. Carr had his own agenda, producing a fine tonal blend of jazz rock with some of Britan's brightest musicians including guitarist Chris Spedding and the trio of bassist Roy Babbington, sax/obeo player Karl Jenkins and drummer John Marshall who would go onto to join Soft Machine during its latter stages, in fact around the same time as this album was released. In Fragrante Delicto is a latter day Nucleus album, a live album recorded in Germany during February 1977, and while it features another dramatic change in line up with saxophone player Brain Smith returning to the Nucleus fold. The album contains four tracks and for all its enjoyable, if dark and sombre, moods it never reaches the energetic heights of earlier Nucleus. Carr is still producing some interesting music here but without the drive of a guitar player the album lacks a cutting bite. All over the album there is a touch of minimalism but for a live set I fail to see this working, there are far too many empty spaces on the record and while bassist Bill Kristian tries to fill some spots, notably on "Mysteries", I was not too impressed. The musicianship is typically tight on In Fragrante Delicto but Carr may have been better off having worked out a new plan to drive his music forward, even adopting some sounds of the then time may have added a newer balance to the works for all its sins. All in all this is a good live album but it never becomes that essential a listen. In Fragrante Delicto , unfortunately, is the sound of fusion growing old in the late seventies in all its live glory.