2024 Fusion / Jazz Journal Vol. 4 - Complete

Bjorn J:son Lindh - Cous Cous. 1972 Metronome Sweden (LP). Collection revisit (Oct). Mostly an easy listening jazz flute session, with two tracks referencing the Middle Eastern album title. Some tasty fusion moments with Jan Schaffer providing the electric guitar. Nice album though nothing here to elevate to the next level.

Kraan - Let It Out. 1975 Spiegelei (LP). Collection revisit (Sep). A much more generic funky jazz fusion than I had recalled from my initial listen. Certainly not unpleasant but not distinctive either. 'Die Machine' is an out of place motorik styled Krautrock piece and yet it's the best track here. 

Herbie Hancock - Crossings. 2001 Warner Bros. (CD) (1972). Collection revisit (Aug). There are certain albums in my collection that I really want to like and Crossings is one of them. From the idea, sound, album cover, and spirituality - Crossings offers everything I enjoy about this kind of jazz. Except I don't connect with it. When an album is based on this kind of emotion and lacking in the composition department, that connection then becomes germane to the entire appreciation of the performance. Why we relate to some albums and not others is a discussion and discovery for deeper study. But reputation alone does not have me keeping this.

Oliver Lake - NTU: Point From Which Creation Begins. 2019 Freedom/Muzak (CD) (1976). Online acquisition (Aug). Well.... I tried. It was advertised as "spiritual jazz", which oftentimes is a softer way of saying "free jazz". I was hoping for something more than grating noise and mindless improvisations. And there were some friendly moments here, especially A2. I know what spiritual jazz means to me, and this ain't it. I wasn't elevated in the slightest. Rather I was annoyed. Not for me. Being the eternal optimist that I am, this will go down as a "good investment". Similar to Motley Crue in that way.

Noa - Journey to Babel. 2020 Arcangelo (CD). Collection revisit (Aug). Noa are one of those obscure Japanese bands that have been around for 35+ years but few know who they are. In this case, the group released the gone-before-anyone-knew-it-existed Tri-Logic back in 1987, only to return in 2018 and release three albums... that no one seems to be aware of. The music sits in the middle of jazz and prog rock, a bit like Kenso, weighing more towards the fusion side. The lack of "analog color" instruments creates a more one-dimensional perspective. The synthesizers sound dated even by 80s standards, and misses the warmth of earlier creations. No flute, sax or anything else to soften the guitar and keyboard brashness. The guitarist is very talented and does a fine job of keeping his solos in the melodic realm. A fine album, but I've heard it done by too many others for me to take much notice at this point.

Kraan - Wiederhören. 1977 Germany

From a collection perspective, I see 2021 as the year that I loaded up on jazz funk LPs and CDs. It seemed everywhere I went, I ran into cool early to mid 70s American albums that specialized in this genre. But what of my older European prog collection that was secretly hiding similar type music - would it hold up in court? Kraan's 5th album would put that theory to test. I knew when this one came up in the random search that it belonged to Kraut Fusion, but my memory had it that it was more funky than I usually cared for. That is to say, it wasn't going to scratch that Embryo and Missus Beastly itch. It's been close to 20 years since I heard it, so let's see what we have here.

'Just One Way' opens the album and all my fears came straight to the front. It's rather dreadful "uptight white guy" funk with terrible vocals and stiff rhythms. Well, so much for that I said to myself. Ah, but wait. Next up is 'Vollgas Ahoi' and all is right again with its fiery fusion. This is followed by 'Silky Way' which provides the perfect soundtrack while viewing the islands from your fantasy yacht. Like all of our favorite albums, it gets better as it goes, and the final 2 tracks provide the highlights. Something to look forward to as you immerse yourself into Wiederhören's magic world. Even the other vocal cut 'Let's Take a Ride' isn't so egregious, bringing about a fine funk fusion number. Basically start with track 2 and never look back. This listen was close to a +2, much better than I had anticipated it would be.

Ownership: CD: 2000 FünfUndVierzig. Standard jewel case release with no extras. Album cover is boring, so getting this on vinyl is no priority either. If I find one out in the wilds cheap, I'll likely replace this CD, but I have no intention of seeking this one out online otherwise.

7/30/22 (new entry)

Kraan. 1972 Germany

I can never think of words for this album, even though I've owned it forever and a day. It's a fine Krautrock meets Kraut Fusion type album. Certainly it's excellent, and that's how I remember it, but I've never focused on it much. This listen didn't change that pattern. 

Ownership: LP: 1976 Spiegelei. Gatefold. Acquired from a friend (1997).

I;ve also had the 1972 original, but this copy was in slightly better shape.

1997 (first listen); 6/18/20 (review/new entry)