VISITOR

A rather "understated" album quite a bit of the time but man this one has my attention throughout. A four piece out of Denmark we basically get everyone from SECRET OYSTER but the bass player. Kenneth Knudsen on electric piano mostly(yay), Ole Streenberg on drums and Claus Bohling on guitar. The bass player had a Free Jazz background and would go on to play with TAYLOR'S FREE UNIVERSE. The guy is so impressive with that electric double bass especially. There is tambura on that second track. This album was recorded in 1973, the band being in the studio during the months of February, July and November but not released until 1975 after SECRET OYSTER released "Sea Son" in 1974 and a soundtrack in 1975.

How about that opener "Se Det" with the bass and electric piano that echoes. Sparse is the word. Cymbals at 1 1/2 minutes then beats as the tempo picks up and the electric piano solos over top. Nice. The electric piano is most upfront before 4 minutes. That is a top three along with the title track. Fast paced drumming to start and crazy bass before the guitar starts to make some noise, electric piano too. Not very melodic this one. The closer is my final top three called "Which Witch" and the longest at almost 9 minutes. It kicks in right away with electric piano, drums, bass and guitar. And the guitar is lighting it up. Some wah-wah too. The guitar leads the way here big time as the electric piano plays second fiddle. Bohling is on fire after 7 minutes then it settles as the electric piano leads.

I'm surprised at how many sparse tracks there are but I like them because of the instruments involved. Mind you a song like "Morning" is like getting up as it starts like the opener very sparse and slow but it picks up around 5 minutes in, then what a sound a minute later with that electric piano! Yes we've woken up. Tambura to end it. "Esrom" is an under 2 minute bass solo. "Don't Know" is the first uptempo tune from the get go. The guitar again is a light show but we get a calm with bass only at 3 minutes before it kicks back in. "Tied Waves" is the slowest of them all as the title suggests but it builds.

Such a strong album for me especially being such a big fan of SECRET OYSTER. I'm almost mesmerized by the space we are afforded by several of these songs. But again it's that "sound". All four guys can do no wrong. Closer to 4.5 stars.