STREETNOISE

From my first chidlhood glimpse of Steadman's groovily gruesome cover art I knew I was going to adore this album and nowhere did it disappoint. Here the ideals of the 60s were given a 240V jolt of the funk. This is no flower-waving bliss out - all the rage, fear, disappointment, paranoia and hope of the age are encapsulated in some really excellent jazz-rock. Ambrose & Thacker lay a solid foundation over which Driscoll's vocals swoop and soar while Auger's Hammond hollers and screams in a manner matched only by Hendrix. Richie Haven's "Indian Rope Man" gets a spooked, fusion re-vamp with a scorching Hammond solo, The Doors "Light My Fire" is as slinky and sensual as the lyrics infer - not weighed down by the turgid machismo of the original - and the album climaxes in a rollicking version of the great Laura Nyro's "Save the Country". Of the band's contributions "Ellis Island" is lovely and Jollz "Czechoslovakia" is haunted and heartfelt. There's only one thing to do when this album finishes - play the thing again. Louder. And then play the BA & The Trininty masterpiece "Befour". I'm not sure that "Streetnoise" counts as Prog but it is a true classic of the 60s whose message resonates into the present day.