STRANGE NEW FLESH

This debut album is far more varied than the two subsequent Colosseum II albums with several vocal numbers. The band allows themselves to be more subtle and mellow here on some tracks giving the more loaded parts much better effect - you don't have to play to your fullest ability all the time to make good music! The influences are not just Jazz here, there are several nice funky and more soulful moments. The vocals are soulful too and quite good, though perhaps an acquired taste. Don Airey is great on the keyboards and Gary Moore shines on guitar. The leader of the band is Jon Hiseman, the super drummer.

The funky riff in Gemeni And Leo is identical to the I Can't Feel Nothing tracks from Captain Beyond's self- titled album. Coincidence? Probably.

There is no doubt about this one being the strongest Colosseum (II) album for me. And the only one I feel that you really need to have.

Recommended!