TOGETHER

If someone asked you 'do you fancy a heavy prog debut album on Brain from 1972', you would snatch their arm off. I was unlucky and didn't get a free arm with my copy (Record Fair Wigan early 80's) but I certainly got a bargain! I don't have the follow up, but the 3 that came after, and this is by far the best.

For those 'new' to a band we always have to mention comparisons. They are certainly more Heep than Purple ....with a dash of Gravy Train...and more Frumpy than Birth Control (to use 2 German examples). It is now a sound we would consider 'generic' but way back in the day this was 'as heavy as...' and a cross legged head nodder (I really can't do the lotus anymore but in my head am there...). The opener, Daytime, sets the template and while you can mix and match any of the above mentioned influences there is a bit of Grand Funk in the sound too. The heavy Hammond ...and the producer/band have the sound captured to perfection...swirls and the guitar man keeps it precise, although I suspect he was 'limited'. Matters not what language the lyrics are in as the singing is not the strong point but not bad enough to upset the groove. Wind picks up the pace and utilises everything in their armoury again. Unfortunately the semi ballad Try To Find follows and this is where you do need a decent singer. It does pick up (even a bit of Steppenwolf re The Pusher riff and organ sound ) and escapes the Euro pop route it nearly went down. Spain could have been found on a Babe Ruth album. You can take that either way depending on where/how you rate Babe Ruth. It doesn't quite know what it is and straddles a fine line between prog and again going down an early 70's Euro pop cul de sac. Luckily the mix has the Hammond high and the vocals low and we get a Purple-esque passage where the keysman can go all Lord Emerson and the heads nod in approval and the space rock guitar adds err atmosphere and a passing brush with Nektar. It becomes the standout track due to this middle keys/guitar jam and the vox being absent! And although a bolero beat became cliche, they get away with it. Yep the vox come back...not dissimilar to Black Widow now I come to think about it...but perhaps a bit stronger/more confident than previous. Together, the short track, is a simple arpeggio and sustained keys standard for the time. It is what it is. One of several 'laws' back in the early 70's re rock albums was having a track called Hangman or similar. I always cut some slack for 'second language' bands but even so... It is a straightforward much used three chord riff but done well with some light n shade and again top marks for perhaps some of the best Hammond sound ever captured on disc of this period. It chugs off into a solid 4/4 (again a progression we have heard a thousand times before) but it works with the echo laden guitar and the momentum gathers pace till they let the err rope out to its full extent and actually is a great album (and show?) closer although they felt obliged to return to the earlier theme...when judicious use of a fade out might have left us wanting even more. I guess Jane will always be 'second division' but this is a fine debut and this is the place to go if you fancy checkin em out.