DIRECT HITS

When NUCLUES left the Vertigo label after the studio album "Alley Cat" , Vertigo decided to release a retrospective album giving us one track from each of their first seven albums. A taste of the band as it were from over those years. So not really a greatest hits album at all but an overview of this legendary band. I should mention that the only way to get "Direct Hits" or "Alley Cat" new, is to get them together as a double cd package.

"Song For The Bearded Lady" is classic NUCLEUS from the "We'll Talk About It Later" album. This is all so intense until before 2 minutes when it calms down. It kicks back in after 6 minutes to the end. Not worthy ! "Crude Blues Pt. 1 & 2" is from "Elastic Rock" and it opens with Karl Jenkins on the aboe with gentle guitar helping out before it kicks in at part 2. Marshall leads on the drums before a full sound joins in fast.The horns (Carr & Smith) sound great on this one. "Suspension" is from "Belladonna" and features Alan Holdsworth on guitar while Babbington plays bass. Brian Smith opens with bamboo flute as electric piano joins in then bass. A beat and flugelhorn (Carr) follows.This is a relaxing and interesting ride.

"Torso" is from "Solar Plexus".This is uptempo and intricate with percussion and horns over top. So good. "Bull Dance" is from "Labyrinth".The bass and percussion create a great sounding rhythm as the horns join in.Vocal meldoies come and go. Fantasic sound here. We get a bass clarinet solo and a trumpet solo on this one. "Taste Of Sarsaparilla" is a short pastoral piece from "Under The Sun".

"Roots" is the title tracks from the "Roots" album.This is uptempo with some great sounding drum and horn work. It calms right down before 2 minutes then kicks back in with drums, bass and electric piano. Horns follow. "Untitled Track" isn't mentioned at all in the liner notes but i'm going to try to find out where it's from because it sounds incredible and has to be from one of their studio albums. A beat with electric piano and bass as the horns join in.They create a cool mood here.This is laid back with atmosphere. It does pick up at times. Just a killer track. 4 stars from this fanboy.