BURNIN' RED IVANHOE

I wouldn't go that far to call BRI's second release a definite masterpiece in progressive music but certainly it should be considered as one of the top albums from 1970 and one of the best ones in proto prog generally. They recorded this disc in London and thus have been of the first Danish bands who managed to publish something in Prog's home country. Songs on here are showing basically a nice almost Canterburian kind of looseness combined with a distinct bluesrock orientation. At times the atmosphere brings Caravan to one's mind though BRI are having here with Karsten Vogel and Kim Menzer two musicians playing brass and wind instruments (sax, flute, trombone and mouthorgan).

First side of the original vinyl is offering with "Across The Windowsill" a quite breezy piece dominated by sax and organ with bluesy vocals that remind to Van Morrison. "Canaltrip" basically consists of an extended rather soft sax solo accompanied by percussion and acoustic guitar. "Rotating Irons" is more a sluggish bluesrock track dominated by electric guitar and backed up by organ and great mouthorgan play. To me it sounds a bit like a variation of "Season Of The Witch" by The Zombies but I might be wrong.

Second side starts with the all instrumental jazz rock track "Gong Gong, The Elephant Song" with alternating solos by trombone, sax and mouthorgan. "Near The Sea" is a ballad with great flute play and the final "Secret Oyster Service", obviously a sort of tribute to their country fellowmen is an excellent jazz rock one with dual saxophone coming close to free-form jazz at times. This one is without any doubts the highlight on here.

BRI's second album is certainly their best and most coherent one offering an awesome blend of blues and jazz rock. Highly recommended to any fan of early 70's Prog!