Record Reviews
11 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | ISOTOPE ~ DEEP END
ESOTERIC 2274 (Barcode: 5013929737426) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2011
After playing with Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist and many leading Jazz ensembles, guitarist / composer Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative and technically brilliant players on the British scene, eventually founded his own quartet, called IsotopeFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, Isotope was one of the finest early British Jazz-Rock ensembles, which played ambitious music and included some of the best players on the scene at the time. But as usual, playing fine music made it difficult to keep the group going for a long time, so after recording three excellent albums and sticking together for a few years, Isotope disappeared into oblivion. This was their 3rd and last album and the group was expanded into a quintet and included keyboardists Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist and Zoe KronbergerFind albums by this artist, bassist Dan K. BrownFind albums by this artist and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist (who played with Boyle in Yamash`ta’s group) as well as several guest musicians. The music is brilliant from start to finish, slightly resembling Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but of course completely original. This is an absolute must to all early British Jazz-Rock connoisseurs!
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  | ISOTOPE ~ ILLUSION
ESOTERIC 2273 (Barcode: 5013929737327) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2011
After playing with Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist and many leading Jazz ensembles, guitarist / composer Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative and technically brilliant players on the British scene, eventually founded his own quartet, called IsotopeFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, Isotope was one of the finest early British Jazz-Rock ensembles, which played ambitious music and included some of the best players on the scene at the time. But as usual, playing fine music made it difficult to keep the group going for a long time, so after recording three excellent albums and sticking together for a few years, Isotope disappeared into oblivion. This was their 2nd album and the quartet included keyboardist Laurence ScottFind albums by this artist, great bassist Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist (Soft MachineFind albums by this artist) and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist (Hopper and Morris played with Boyle in Yamash`ta’s group). The music is brilliant from start to finish, slightly resembling Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but of course completely original. This is an absolute must to all early British Jazz-Rock connoisseurs!
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  | ISOTOPE ~ ISOTOPE
ESOTERIC 2272 (Barcode: 5013929737228) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2011
After playing with Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist and many leading Jazz ensembles, guitarist / composer Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative and technically brilliant players on the British scene, eventually founded his own quartet, called IsotopeFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, Isotope was one of the finest early British Jazz-Rock ensembles, which played ambitious music and included some of the best players on the scene at the time. But as usual, playing fine music made it difficult to keep the group going for a long time, so after recording three excellent albums and sticking together for a few years, Isotope disappeared into oblivion. This was their 1st album and the quartet included keyboardist Brian MillerFind albums by this artist (who also wrote most of the music on this album), great bassist Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist (NucleusFind albums by this artist) and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist (who played with Boyle in Yamash`ta’s group). The music is brilliant from start to finish, slightly resembling Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but of course completely original. This is an absolute must to all early British Jazz-Rock connoisseurs!
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  | STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ FREEDOM IS FRIGHTENING
ESOTERIC 2087 (Barcode: 5013929718722) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1973 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 Island label brought his work to the attention of a wider audience, which later led to him forming the group East WindFind albums by this artist, which recorded this exceptional album. Combining forces with some of the best British musicians at the time, the band included Yamash`ta on drums and percussion, his wife Hisako Yamash`taFind albums by this artist on violin, guitarist Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist (IsotopeFind albums by this artist), keyboardist Brian GascoigneFind albums by this artist, and bassist Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist (Soft MachineFind albums by this artist). 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. Although Yamash`ta became mostly known for the "GoFind albums with this title" recordings, which were done a few years later, this is truly his most remarkable album recorded for Island and the one that withstands the test of time most adamantly. Wholeheartedly recommended!
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  | STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ GO
ESOTERIC 2081 (Barcode: 5013929718128) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1976 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 Island label brought his work to the attention of a wide audience following the release of this seminal album – a super project in every sense. "GoFind albums with this title" is a large scale suite, combining many musical elements, from Classical to Jazz, World Music and Rock. For the recording of this project the composer created a true super group, consisting of some of the best musicians on the scene, including British vocalist Steve WinwoodFind albums by this artist (TrafficFind albums by this artist, Blind FaithFind albums by this artist), American drummer Michael ShrieveFind albums by this artist (SantanaFind albums by this artist) and guitarist Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), German keyboardist Klaus SchulzeFind albums by this artist (Tangerine DreamFind albums by this artist) and many others. The orchestral arrangements were written by the wonderful Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist. The album is full of brilliant musicianship and the music majestic and mystical, flows serenely engulfing the listener into a trance-like state. In retrospect the entire work is a proud precursor of New Age music, which would erupt on the scene two decades later, but at the time it was innovative and quite daring in its scope, which cased it to be embraced by the Prog fans. Although the album was very successful at the time, it was unavailable on CD for many years and this new remastered edition is a most welcome dream-come-true to many Prog fans.
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  | STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ GO TOO
ESOTERIC 2151 (Barcode: 5013929725126) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2009
3rd and last part of the "GoFind albums with this title" album trilogy by Japanese percussionist / composer Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist, recorded by an international group of musicians, many of which are celebrated and renowned by their own merits. The participants include guitarist Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist, drummer Michael ShrieveFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Klaus SchulzeFind albums by this artist and many more. The music is an eclectic mixture of ambient, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Funk and even disco, moving freely and smoothly from one genre to another in perfect harmony and somehow making perfect sense. In retrospect it becomes obvious that Yamash`ta was a visionary well ahead of his time, predicting a total meltdown of musical genres into a new amalgam. One thing is sure, it does sound today as good as it did at the time of the recording, which already proves its intrinsic musical values. Warmly recommended!
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  | STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ GO… LIVE FROM PARIS
ESOTERIC 2086 (Barcode: 5013929718623) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2008
Following the studio recording of the epic work "GoFind albums with this title" by the Japanese percussionist / composer Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist, the same cast of musicians embarked on a tour, performing the music live. The Paris performance was captured on tape and later released as a double LP, released here on single CD. The cast is a true super group, consisting of some of the best musicians on the scene, including British vocalist / keyboardist Steve WinwoodFind albums by this artist (TrafficFind albums by this artist, Blind FaithFind albums by this artist), American drummer Michael ShrieveFind albums by this artist (SantanaFind albums by this artist) and guitarist Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), German keyboardist Klaus SchulzeFind albums by this artist (Tangerine DreamFind albums by this artist) and several other backing musicians. In many respects the live recording is by far superior to the studio version, easily explained by the lack of time limitations and other constrains present in the studio. The soloists (and especially Di Meola, whose playing is truly inspired and Winwood, whose vocals soared that night) can stretch almost at will and considering the strength of the participating musicians they always receive a sympathetic and masterly support. The orchestral arrangements being replaced by synthesizer work also take off some of the studio version rigidity. In short this is one hell of a concert, one of those once-in-a-lifetime special nights. If you like the studio version of "Go", this is a must, if you didn´t, you still might find this to be great after all. Definitely worth trying out!
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  | 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.
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