BRUFORD: GRADUALLY GOING TORNADO

This disc does have its share of gems like "Lands End" (with a quote from National Health's "Bryden 2-Step for Amphibians" at the end), "v-QED" and the beautiful "Palewell Park". The rest though does not fare as well.

Here, Bruford's drumming sounds unnecessarily uptight and straitjacketed. Plus, bassist Jeff Berlin, while being blessed (and in some ways cursed) with a truckload of technique, is rather overbearing in the mix. Of course, Berlin's ego gets the better of him here (as it did in many situations) especially when he tries singing, a VERY BAD IDEA!! The angst-ridden post Crimson-ish musings like "Gothic 17", "Age of Information" "Sliding Floor" and the too straight-rock-for-its-own-good "Plans for JD" just make the folly all the more obvious. ARRRRRRGH! "Joe Frazier" seems more a technique showcase for the BIT/Berklee crowd than it does a song per se as Jeff rips up the fretboard. Personally, this kind of stuff got old for me years ago.

The Unknown John Clark (Allan Holdsworth's replacement, or more accurately, clone) just seemed gratuitous. OK, so he can sound like Holdsy, SO WHAT???? He added nothing of his own to the proceedings. I personally would've preferred someone with a very different approach and sound altogether or maybe a different instrument altogether. The "Holdsworth by Numbers" thing gets old real fast!

However, Dave Stewart's edgy and colorful keyboards provide many of the best moments in the midst of the more questionable moments.

For completeists only.

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