PROFILE

Two of his Focus bandmates, Bert Ruiter on bass and Pierre van der Linden on drums appear with him on side one for a twenty minute electric guitar blowout entitled Fresh Air which could pass as a Focus track with Thijs van Leer absent. The piece is introduced with some haunting Fender Rhodes keyboard passages ( played by Akkerman himself) and then builds itself into an all out frenzied guitar exploration featuring a multitude of effects which lasts for the next twenty minutes. Although divided into seven sections it sounds half improvised and half pre-composed. It gets a little muddled at times but is nonetheless very dynamic and is held together very well by the Ruiter/van der Linden rythmn section. If you`re a fan of Akkerman`s prodigal guitar work with Focus this piece alone will make the purchase worthwhile.

On side two Akkerman traces his classical roots on four unaccompanied lute pieces as well as his blues roots on a couple of bluesy numbers. A Focus- like ballad is also included which has classical leanings entitled Maybe Just a dream.

A formidable study of the modern electric guitar in 1972 which offers a contrast with it`s forerunner, the lute, in the hands of one of the most capable modern virtuosos.Focus fans and guitar heads will love this second solo outing from Jan Akkerman. Add ½ star.

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