BRUFORD: GRADUALLY GOING TORNADO

I think that many Bruford fans were put off with Jeff Berlin's vocal additions to half of the album's material. Reviewers have less given Jeff Berlin the credit for what he did at the time, which is an attempt to emulate Jack Bruce's (Jeff's idol) singing style on late Cream albums (check out 'As You Said' on Wheels of Fire) or early Tony Williams' Lifetime albums. It's rather atonality, and what some may say as the stupid lyrics, may need a few spins before it eventually grows on you on a lighter level - it's plainly the fun that has been so lacking in prog music.

What the album succeeds in, following what Bill achieved on One of a Kind, is the achievement of the greater sum of its parts - notably the restrained way the drums are blended into the compositions. Now this is something that most proggers have problems in dealing with - they forget that 'restraint' is a rare gem in the whole progressive music scene - and Bruford, thankfully, has embarked throughout his career to achieve restraint.

The Unknown John Clark does a good job. He skillfully orchestrates mini-bits in pieces like Gothic 17 or Q.E.D. No problem with Holdsworth's departure.

Gradually Going Tornado, though viewed as a disappointment of the Bruford period - is nonetheless a precursor to his subsequent ways of playing and composing. For the first instrumental break on 'Age of Information' alone would I recommend this album.