HAND UND FUSS

Side 1 1. "Mechelwind" (9:24) some American Southern rock-influenced themes and sounds with some very rock-like drumming, bass, and guitar playing. (Much of this song reminds me of American bands like THE OUTLAWS, DIXIE DREGS, early JEAN-LUC PONTY and perhaps Molly Hatchet and even a little bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd). Several impressively-sophisticated weaves back some nice rock-oriented solos. (18/20) 2. "Alabaster Keaton" (3:06) using variations on fairly familiar jazz melodies (from the flutes and acoustic guitar) the band presents a piece that sounds like some of the more folk-classical explorations of FOCUS. (8.875/10)

3. "Wrdlbrmfd" (5:33) a piece that has a more modern discordant edge to it (not unlike VAN DER GRAAF GENERATIOR while also preparing us for bands like SEVEN IMPALE). Once the initial weave has been beaten to death, the band shifts into a more relaxed though still-mathematical motif within which saxes, violin and guitar get to take some turns doing some soloing (but how boring for the rhythm section of bass, drums, and rhythm guitar). A good song but nothing to write home about. (8.75/10)

Side 2 4. "Elephen Elephants" (8:40) a little attempt at some JTULL both rhythmically and sound palette wise. This becomes especially evident when the flute and saxes become the lead instruments. There is also a bit of KCRIMSON feel to parts of this as well as a tastefully done (and well-recorded), extended, multi-part drum solo in the middle. When the band is allowed to rejoin it is through the heavily-effected ministrations of a picked electric guitar followed by some very pretty and enjoyable saxophone playing. Christoph Kreiger's echoed electric violin gets the next solo before the band uses a couple of sequences of slowly-ascending arpeggiated chords to close down the song. (17.5/20)

5. "Herbstzeitlos" (2:27) what opens like a mathematical exercise--and étude--ends up supplying enough grist for some melody making over the top. It's actually a decent little song! (9/10)

6. "Ad Absurdum" (5:06) this is a song that seems to indicate that the band needed to get a little Frank Zappa-like parody out of their system--here making fun of some of the musics used in American westerns or even some of the old Country & Western musics. The skills are obviously all here, I just don't find the humor of FZ-like parodies particularly entertaining (they're usually quite inane and dehumanizing). (8.75/10)

7. "Kamele On" (5:35) using a blues bass and drum rhythm track as foundation material, the guitarist band leader finally lets himself loose. The Allman Brothers-like guitar work is quite impressive; too bad the music supporting him from beneath gets a little stale. But then there is a switch at 3:30 into a new motif that is more mathematical but then they switch back to the first rhythm motif for an Spanish-Arabian take on the opening. I like it! (8.875/10) Total Time: 39:48

An album of diverse and highly creative and mature compositions that are not as guitar-centric as one might expect having a guitarist for their leader and main composer. As a matter of fact, I commend Muck on the way his compositions get the entire band involved. While this shows little or no tendencies toward following the rising tide of melodic Smooth Jazz, there is a rockishness that seems to be pulling them away from the true J-R Fusion movement.

B/four stars; an excellent album to add to any prog lover with a proclivity for creative "Third Wave," pre-Smooth/Easy Listening jazz-rock fusion.

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