THE LOST TRIDENT SESSIONS

More then 20 years after its recording, this lost MO album finally surfaced. These sessions were supposed to be the third MO album of the first MO line-up. When I first stumbled across this album in the library, I literally rushed home from sheer excitement. Could this be possible be as good as the liner notes said? Or was that merely cheap PR talk to sell inferior demo tapes to the unexpected listener?

Rest assured, this is a revelation! This album blows away of the known albums from this line-up, regardless how amazing those were.

Most of the music might be familiar from the Between Nothingness & Eternity live album but the tracks are much better here, not only because of the perfect sound but also because of the unbelievably tight musicianship. The Orchestra had been playing together for 3 years and they rage through the material with dazzling speed and focus. But it isn't empty musicianship meant to impress with skill and tricks. This album breathes passion and inspiration, and the musicians play with unheard emotion and dynamics.

Also the shorter tracks are interesting. John McLaughnin allowed each of the musicians to compose their own pieces, and apart from drummer Billy Cobham everybody rose to the challenge. Jan Hammer's Sister Andrea is well known and one of the more upbeat compositions here, really cool and groovy. Fiddler Jerry Goodman wrote I Wonder, a track that offers a soft but really stirring jazz progression on picked violin with gorgeous spacey soloing. Rick Laird contributed with Stepping Stones, a more relaxed and dreamy track, at least till it builds up tension along the way. These individual contributions make the album more diverse but certainly not less consistent. Each track is equally inspired and essential.

This album is without doubt the creative endpoint of the original MO line-up and everyone who loved the 2 first studio albums shouldn't hesitate a second. My MO favourite.