Record Reviews
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  | BRAND X ~ THEORY OF NOTHING (RECORDED LIVE 1977)
MOONJUNE 150 (Barcode: 692287915025) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2026
This is an archival live album by the British Fusion / Prog band Brand XFind albums by this artist, recorded during the 1977 North American tour by the second lineup of the group following the departure of drummer Phil CollinsFind albums by this artist, which included guitarist John GoodsallFind albums by this artist, bassist Percy JonesFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Robin LumleyFind albums by this artist, American drummer Kenwood DennardFind albums by this artist and percussionist Morris PertFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents ten tracks, including three tracks, which were yet not released on albums at the time of the recording and would appear later on the “MasquesFind albums with this title” album. All the music was original, written by the band’s members. Although not intended for release, the quality of the recording is quite good and allows most of the sonic details to be heard properly, in contrast to the many bootleg recordings by the group available on the market.
Brand X were a great bunch of highly talented musicians, alas their arrival on the scene was just a tad too late to really make a statement, simply because both Progressive Rock and Fusion were already dying, with a distinct smell of decay already in the air. The truly great statements in both genres have been already made during the first decade of the 1970s, and all that was left to do was sadly and probably mostly subconsciously, an attempt to repeat / copy / restate some of the substantial statements already made.
As a result, as almost everything recorded in these genres after 1975, was destined to sound “déjà vu” in one way or another, despite the fact that this album includes some great musical pieces and many virtuosic performances, but all not enough to make it truly exciting or surprising in any way. But of course this is a splendid tribute to Goodsall, Lumley and Pert, all of whom are sadly deceased.
Overall, this is a wonderful piece of British Prog / Fusion history, which is definitely worth being heard and remembered, but offers nothing really new about the history of the band or the genre in general. Of course kudos to MoonJuneFind albums on this label Records for releasing this piece of memorabilia!
| | Updated: 07/09/2026Posted: 07/09/2026 | CD 2 Digisleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ THE MAN FROM THE EAST
ESOTERIC 2082 (Barcode: 5013929718227) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008
Japanese percussionist / composer Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist settled in England in 1972, after studying music in his native country and later in the USA. He worked mainly as a composer for theatre music, but his signing as a recording artist for the IslandFind albums on this label label brought his work to the attention of a wider audience. This album was his 2nd release for the label, recorded with a Jazz oriented ensemble called Red Buddha TheatreFind albums by this artist, featuring bassist Alyn RossFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Robin ThompsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Morris PertFind albums by this artist, guitarist Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist and others. The music is a wonderful fusion of Western and Far Eastern elements as well as many cross genre excursions, from atmospheric ambient to high spirited Jazz-Rock Fusion. One track from this album were later included as part of the soundtrack of the movie "The Man Who Fell to Earth", starring David BowieFind albums by this artist, which made this album a sought after collector´s item.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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