I got this one after reading that it was one of Julian Copes favourite albums, basically to see what the fuss was all about. What a great move!! This is truly an under-reported master piece. It has everything that a great album ought to in my book ie.. blinding guitar playing, raw emotion, talent and commitment that shines through all out in the open thanks to the production.
Sonny Sharrock is a guitar player who has literally developed a style of playing jazz that is as far from the standard jazz playing as it is possible to get. His playing is too wild and free form to be called rock and yet it has a very distinct rock sound to it, to liken him to the John Coltrane of the guitar would probably be close to the mark. He is capable of firing out shards of angry buzzing notes as well as nailing down the most sublime melody.
Pharoah Sanders is his equivalent on the saxophone, a man possessed of skill and imagination, following Sonny or just cutting out on his own as the occasion arises.
Elvin Jones and Charnett Moffett are the rhythm section that keep everything nice and tight, yet being able to respond to and go with the explorations of the two lead men.
The album was recorded by Jason Corsaro, usually associated with rock, and Bill Laswell, the Dub/Rock/Jazz producer. So the rock approach married to the freedom of jazz improvisation has given birth to a mutant album that reaches places few others knew existed.
Unfortunately this was to be Sonny Sharrocks last album. Who knows where he would have gone next.
Get one now!
