FIRE, WATER, EARTH & AIR

Jane was basically a psychedelic hard rock band that enjoyed jamming and just generally having fun. This was evident on the first couple of albums that, despite their release date, were really products of the previous decade. After the failed power blues trio experiment with "Jane 3" and a supposedly partial return to form with "Lady" (which I have not heard), they decided to explore Floydian soundscapes and cosmic/progressive rock in general. After all, it was 1976 and prog had stood the test of time and was in it for the long haul, right? That's another story.

Even though the tracks are longer than ever, Jane is more restrained here than on "Here we Are" and especially than "Together". They go more for mood setting and buildups, in their typical somewhat clunky fashion, and in it works extremely well on parts of the opening suite as well as "Earth(Angel)". Even their visitation upon Ravel's Bolero is worth a few yuk yuks on "The End". Yes, they do rock out, but it's generally more listenable than previously.

If you want something equally or more proggy and much more refined, go with the follow up "Between Heaven and Hell", but "Fire Water Earth and Air", does have all the basic elements in its primordial soup.