BRUFORD: GRADUALLY GOING TORNADO

The third release of the Bruford jazz-fusion project sees the absence of departed guitarist (extraordinaire) Allan Holdsworth--which meant a drastic lowering of expectations for all prog fans.

1. "Age Of Information" (4:41) rather pop-oriented prog with some of Bill, Jeff, and Dave's most straightforward instrumental play I've ever heard. Jeff Berlin as a lead vocalist leaves much to be desired and the guitar play of newcomer John Clark is barely recognizable. Luckily, the instrumentalists start to "color outside the lines" a bit in the song's second half, but those vocals are really a downer. (I'd MUCH rather have the much-maligned Annie Peacock on the mic.) (8.7/10)

2. "Gothic 17" (5:07) Guitar! Impressive in a Holdsworth-like way--and Jeff Berlin's funky bass is prominent--while his vocal is definitely being molded into a John Wetton/UK-like delivery form. Bill and Dave are good but never demanding our attention, but John Clark does a super job! (8.75/10)

3. "Joe Frazier" (4:41) now this is the Bruford we've come to know and love! (I'd heard this song before on the Master Strokes 1978-1985 album.) Bass and keys entwined in a demanding race against doubling Bill's time. John Clark's wailing Allan Holdsworth-sounding guitar enters in a solo capacity in the second minute followed by a pretty impressive bass solo from Jeff. Clark retorts with his own guitar pyrotechniques before yielding to Dave Stewart for a bit as Jeff's bass continues to wow and astonish throughout. Bill is just solid, driving, keeping fairly straight time throughout. More Dave Stewart but man is Jeff impressive! (9/10)

4. "Q.E.D." (7:46) a keyboard oriented instrumental showcasing Dave Stewart's Herbie Hancock/Joe Zawinal chops. Matter of fact, the song overall has a very distinctive WEATHER REPORT "Birdland" sound and feel. Though this is Dave's showpiece, there are some nice John Clark moments as well. It is, however, kind of sad to me to hear the band imitating other bands since I've grown so accustomed to Bill always paving the way with absolutely new and fresh creations. The well must be running dry. (13.125/15)

5. "The Sliding Floor" (4:58) a return to the vocal mic for Jeff over some pretty descent mostly-original music. All of the instrumental performers (and performances) are of quite a high level on this one (which helps me get through the challenge of "enjoying" Jeff's vocals). (8.75/10) 6. "Palewell Park" (3:57) a beautiful song duet based around some serene Dave Stewart piano work and embellished by Jeff Berlin's extraordinary bass play. (8.875/10)

7. "Plans For J.D." (3:50) If I try to forget that this is the jazz-rock fusion combo known as "Bruford" I could maybe appreciate these songs for their pop-orientations. They could be Squeeze, 10CC, ABC, XTC, ELP, or even The Manhattan Transfer. Still, this is by far Jeff's best vocal on the album. (8.66667/10)

8. "Land's End" (10:20) Bill's attempt to bring some UK and/or National Health back into the Bruford sound. The incredible, song-changing presence (and effect) of two-thirds of The Northettes doesn't hurt! John Clark's guitar soars and delights despite his conforming to the sounds expected of the "Allan Holdsworth replacement." The pace picks up with a motif change at the end of the third minute but then slows down and empties out at the end of the fourth--to make way for a pensive Dave Stewart piano solo. The rest of the band rejoins at 4:56 to present more "vintage" UK/Bruford-like music featuring some great, upbeat Jeff Berlin bass play and solid (and iconic) Bill Bruford drumming. Keys and electric guitar perform their own little magic throughout the seventh and eighth minutes (especially John Clark) before The Northettes and Bill mark a transition at 7:45. The new motif has organ and piano, hand claps, steady, coordinated bass and guitar chord play while Bill drives it forward. At the nine-minute mark a Bruford drum bridge brings the band round for a reprise of the opening theme and palette (with The Northettes in cahoots). I wish Amanda and Barbara could have had a little more room for improvisation, but I'll always take them in any form and dosage that I can! A solid prog epic sans vocals. (18/20)

Total time 45:20

I had not actually ever heard, much less acquired, this album until today (November 25, 2023). Though I still hear the stellar (perhaps unsurpassed) talents of each of the four instrumentalists working on this album, there is a disappointment factor emanating from the vocals as well as from the "borrowed" themes and sounds employed by the band for some of the songs (something they'd never really conceded to doing before).

B/four stars; a surprisingly not bad contribution to the music scene for 1980; definitely an album that most prog lover's will find much to enjoy.