Spheroe. 1977 France

Spheroe's debut album opens with sustain guitar and heavy percussion, which should tell you the direction this fine album is headed. 12 minute 'Black Hill Samba' is one of the best Latin influenced fusion tracks there is, as it never sits still in one place, constantly moving about in a progressive rock manner. And it never lets up from there. Some of the shorter tracks provide mellow interludes, but overall this is a spirited affair that avoids most of the genre's negative trappings. If the fusion phase of Santana interests you, then be sure to pick up Spheroe.

Ownership: LP: 1977 Cobra. Recent online acquisition. Though the album was released on Inner City here in the States, I never bothered to pick it up. It was a fairly common album to find in the used stores back in the late 80s and 90s. At the time, though, fusion wasn't really my thing - so it was probably wise that I laid off. Once I saw the French original, I knew the time was right.