BARRACUDA

QJ's second album more or less continues on the sound built-up with their debut, even taking the loss of Mark Warner (to Cat Stevens's group) without that much notice. Their light jazzy rock bordering on the Canterbury was never that demented or incredibly attention-grabbing. On more than one occasion, I was brought to think of Steely Dan's rather funky jazz-laced almost-MOR rock as the closest musical cousin. This may not be that attractive a description, but if you bear along with me a few minutes (and a few dozen listens of the album), you will find also some Happy The Man and maybe also the second part of Camel's career (with Caravan members).

One can hear all the class of keyboard man Rupert Hine as well as (ex-Caravan) John G Perry's funky bass lines, and if no tracks really stands out, none are weak bar the slightly less even Europe On A Dollar A Day.

Worthy of notice is Simon Jeffes's Penguin Café String Ensemble, but they stay very wise (and well clear of the RIO of their own albums) and blend in quite nicely with the overall soft and genteel mood of the album on the title track for example. The Tower Of Lowther horn section also intervenes but do not add that much, either. What I find is lacking in this album is the more aggressive feel and wished that Manzanera had guested on a few tracks.

Not usually a fan of Voiceprint Records, I must say that this re-issue of a minor work is almost flawless, although the bonus tracks are completely forgettable and the sound a bit flat, but since I have never heard the original vinyls... not that I was missing that much for the last three decades with QJ.