GLORY OF THE INNER FORCE

I didn't decide to review this because I thought 'I bet this hasn't got many and I can show off my collection and knowledge' but just because I picked it out to spin this afternoon. I was very surprised to see how many ratings and reviews it has, but that's good yes?

Anyhow, am speculating, but my copy is on Atco so we have to assume the American market thought what we have here might create a splash. I don't know how popular the obvious touchstone of Focus were over there at the time but I do know PFM were creating waves. I also don't know how much of a 'prog' scene there was in the States in the mid 70's....Fire Ballets Night On Bald Mountain was indeed a '75 release but the only other I know in the same ballpark as this album....Cathedrals Stained Glass Stories was '78. It is stretching a point to mention Kansas as a comparison.

Back to Europe. I actually don't hear much Focus in this but several Italian prog bands, especially those with a jazz/rock leaning and I also hear Floyd esque quieter sustained keys chords with understated guitar over that in a few passages. Even Budgie...yup...and their track Parents in Finches Pisces. I might chuck in some Babe Ruth too. If I have a problem (I don't really, I am a big fan of this album) it is that some of these 4 extended tracks sound as if they fall into the 'hey I have this bit and you have that bit and he has his bit so lets put them all in the same key, work on a few bridges (funnily enough in A Bridge To Alice) and call it one song' trap. Also, as it isn't...even though akin to...jazz/rock fusion...there are times when a vocal passage would have cleansed the pallet.

There is light and shade though and definite attack and bombast as all 4 are outstanding musicians but you do sense in the 'shade' passages ie the quiet bits they just can't wait to be let off the leash again rather than invest some of themselves in the subtler moments.

To conclude, this was a speculative buy from a long long gone record warehouse in Manchester...of which I may mention in other reviews ...way way back when you had to discover 'new to you' music that way. Many turned out to be keepers. this especially.

Again it would be a very very 4.25 but as I can't in all honesty give it a 5 then my rating slightly lowers the average even when I think it is above it as it stands (4.13). A flaw PA?