MACROCOSM: INTRODUCING... BRAND X

Brand X is a British progressive rock band that was founded in London in 1975. Brand X was a British jazz rock fusion outfit formed by Genesis drummer Phil Collins and Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall as a side project from their regular groups. Their initial line up also included keyboardist Robin Lumley and bassist Percy Jones. All over the years Brand X released some of the best works that belong to the jazz rock/fusion style. Brand X is considered one of best British representatives of jazz/fusion style and they're also considered one of the best acts on that style in the world.

"Macrocosm: Introducing?Brand X" is a compilation album with fourteen tracks that was released in 2003. It comprises tracks that belong to six albums of the band. So, from "Unorthodox Behaviour" we have "Nuclear Burn", "Euthanasia Waltz" and "Touch Wood". From "Moroccan Roll" we have "Hate Zone", "Sun In The Night", "...Maybe I'll Lend You Mine After All" and "Macrocosm". From "Masques" we have "Black Moon". From "Product" we have "Don't Make Waves", "Algon (Where An Ordinary Cup Of Drinking Chocolate Costs £8.000.000.000)" and "...And So To F...". From "Do They Hurt?" we have "Voidarama". From "Livestock" we have "Isis Mourning, Pts 1-2".

"Hate Zone" begins with a solo by Collins that kicks it for several seconds. Jones then joins in on the euphoric piece, followed by the rest of the band. This is a very hard grooving track that clearly moves towards the jazz rock style. "Sun In The Night" is a laid back piece, one of the few pieces of the band that has words. It's a very rewarding track with some pleasant sitar work and great spacey vocals from Collins. The intensity grows as the song progresses. This is a peculiar, but yet fascinating piece of music. "Nuclear Burn" is a great track where Collins and Jones erupt in unison. Phil and Lumley enter to introduce us to the song and Goodsall who, together with Lumley, exudes a wonderful solo. The 70's jazz fusion flavour is perfectly audible here. "Euthanasia Waltz" is a calm track. It follows the repertoire with a melodious and dynamic piece that finds Goodsall playing captivatingly and where the acoustic guitar is the dominant instrument here. Collins and Jones' cuts are stunningly precise. "Don't Make Waves" is a pretty bland pop/rock song that spreads a certain Genesis' atmosphere, especially through vocals and drums. They never sounded so like Genesis as on this song. It sounds like prog/pop/jazz rock. So, it wasn't a surprise that it was also released as a single. "...Maybe I'll Lend You Mine After All" is a brief piece, a slow track, a logical continuation of the previous track of "Moroccan Roll", "Why Should I Lend You Mine". It could well be the coda of that previous first track. It's a pity that both parts weren't chosen to be part of this compilation. Both give the real atmosphere to the piece. "Algon (Where An Ordinary Cup Of Drinking Chocolate Costs £8.000.000.000)" represents Brand X's fusion rock at its best. It's complex and eerily percussive, never forgetting the melodic line. It's not a Brand X's masterpiece but this is nice stuff. "Black Moon" is a rather generic and delicate piece with a very catchy mid paced tune. It's a foray into the smooth jazz that stands out with its massive relaxing energy. I think this is a lovely piece, a great find for any Latin jazz lover, really. "Isis Mourning, Pts 1-2" is a slow blues piece. It begins with relaxed drums and percussions, gently accompanied by the keyboards. The guitar joins them in the same laid back fashion while the bass holds everything together. It sounds incredible with the space they allow, room to breathe as it were. "...And So To F..." is a great song very well played, certainly one of the most rounded pieces from Brand X. The band plays it as if from a single mould. The piece experiences an almost unbearable climax and it's one of the perfect live favourites of the band. "Touch Wood" opens with intricate guitar as the piano comes in. It's a piece with a great delicacy where Lancaster's nuances with his soprano sax the Goodsall's acoustic guitar and the Lumley's keyboards, which fill us with warmth, especially at the end of it. "Voidarama" is a very guitar-oriented track. It begins with a nice and catchy relaxed melody. In the middle section Goodsall dares to play somewhat more complex parts. This track is a reminiscent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra style. "Macrocosm" is an energetic jazz rock piece, a celebration of the jazz/fusion, being intricate and uplifting and a showcase for the individual skills of all musicians. It shows why Brand X has been one of the jazz fusion bands with relevance for so many years.

Conclusion: "Macrocosm: Introducing?Brand X" is a 14-track budget-priced compilation of Brand X that covers their career between 1976 and 1980. It's a compilation album with a very decent appetite whetter, featuring three tracks from "Unorthodox Behaviour", four tracks from "Moroccan Roll", two tracks from "Livestock", one track from "Masques", three tracks from "Product" and one track from "Do They Hurt?". So, we can say this is a very good compilation album of Brand X that is very well representative of the band's career. However and despite what I said before, fans gain nothing by having this compilation album if they've already these original works from the band, except another sexually suggestive sleeve image by Hipgnosis. But we can't say the same for the newbies because this is a great intro to them.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)