INTERLIFE

English guitarist, born in 1947 in Fulham.He spent much of his early career as supporting guitarist for Roy Harper, Al Stewart and The Strawbs among others as well as a member of Psych Rockers Velvet Opera, before forming the Psychedelic/Folk Rock group Paul Brett's Sage in 1970.After three albums Brett decided to focus on 12-string guitar and move on to a solo career.His acoustic suite ''Earthlife'' from 1977 was much in the vein of ANTHONY PHILLIPS' acoustic albums, before Brett made an attempt to Soft Progressive Rock with the RCA-released album ''Interlife'' in 1978 (for both the UK and US market but with a different cover).Among his guest musicians were The Strawbs' drummer Rod Coombes and King Crimson's Mel Collins on brass instruments.

The album is highlighted by the 16-min. sidelong eponymous track, an attempt by Brett to mix acoustic soundscapes with his 12-string guitar with soft electric passages.Resemblances with ANTHONY PHILLPS' and GORDON GILTRAP's works are more than strong.His guitar touch on the electric parts has a light STEVE HACKETT leaning, while his 12-string guitar passages are very dreamy and folky-sounding.All his work is supported by the calm background synths of Derek Austin and, at moments, by Collins' melodic sax work, covering the spectrums of Folk Rock and Prog.This particular style continues on ''Celebration'' and ''Segregation'', a good alternation of acoustic and electric instrumentals with ethereal keyboards and smooth brass sections.''Isolation'' is another instrumental, this time entirely based on Brett's 12-string guitars, very mellow and slightly boring for my tastes.The closing ''Into life'' marks the more psychedelic side of Brett, a groovy Psych Rocker with very interesting guitar work, which also contains a funky piano/keyboard-based middle section.

If you like the works of STEVE HACKETT, ANTHONY PHILLIPS or GORDON GILTRAP, Paul Brett's ''Interlife'' definitely deserves a chance.Cool guitar instrumentals with decent arrangements, played with passion and emotion.Recommended.