ECLIPSE

If you like to follow the musical evolvement of this band, you should place this album behind "Last Autumn's Dream" in their discography, as it was recorded originally after that release. I'm more fond of the material this band did before year 1974, when they moved to Island label and started to do long instrumental suites (though they are quite nice too). I had heard some of these songs from the "Reflections" compilation, which is now quite futile album as this album is posthumously completely released.

The record opens hazily with "English Morning", which is a very good classic psych folk performance. I really appreciate like the delicate manner how these guys manage to paint feelings with their instruments, being a true album highlight. "Sanga" is then a happy instrumental number with some African drumming, fuzzy guitars and jazzy flutes. "Too Many Heroes" is a decent bluesy rock song, and "Song for A Soldier" is psychedelic some sort of anti-war song, quite interesting and different. There are some personal rhythm patterns done with bells on it, and they are contrasted with very raw rock parts. "Maenga Sketch" has more cool surrealistic sound walls on its beginning, from where a long jam sequence emerges. This too is fun to listen, but there's bit pointless playing going on also I fear, and the jams on "Released" worked much better in my opinion. I also must admit that "Holy Roller" was not a very good track. Luckily the final long song "House of Dreams" is again very good, slow and hypnotic classic Jade Warrior performance.

There are lots of nice elements and good playing to be heard on this album, but it's not as good as the other early 1970's recordings I believe. This album is mostly for the fans of the band, but not possibly poor introduction to the sound of this group either.