Record Reviews

ISOTOPE ~ GOLDEN SECTION CUNEIFORM 273 (Barcode: 045775027326) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2008 Relatively little known and surely deserving more recognition, the British Jazz-Rock Fusion band IsotopeFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, recorded just 3 albums between 1974 and 1976, and these were soon out of general circulation. The only live recordings by the band available so far were the BBC sessions on HuxFind albums on this label Records, and therefore this collection of live material is a most welcome addition to the band´s recorded legacy. Recorded between 1974 and 1975, the material captures the second incarnation of the band, which included Boyle on guitar, Laurence ScottFind albums by this artist on keyboards, ex-Soft MachineFind albums by this artist bassist / composer Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Aureo de SouzaFind albums by this artist was also a member of the band for several months, and the full quintet appears here for the first time on record. The three dates include a Radio Bremen performance (the Radio Bremen is a superb source of material for 1970s British music, second only to the BBC), the only US tour Isotope made in 1975 and an earlier UK recording from 1974. The music includes some of the material recorded on the 2nd Isotope album "IllusionFind albums with this title" and other pieces previously unheard, composed mostly by Boyle and Hopper. For Isotope fans this is an absolute delight, but any fun of the 1970s British Jazz-Rock scene will find this material indispensible.

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ISOTOPE ~ ILLUSION ESOTERIC 2273 (Barcode: 5013929737327) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 Released: 2011 After playing with Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist and many leading Jazz ensembles, guitarist / composer Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative and technically brilliant players on the British scene, eventually founded his own quartet, called IsotopeFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, Isotope was one of the finest early British Jazz-Rock ensembles, which played ambitious music and included some of the best players on the scene at the time. But as usual, playing fine music made it difficult to keep the group going for a long time, so after recording three excellent albums and sticking together for a few years, Isotope disappeared into oblivion. This was their 2nd album and the quartet included keyboardist Laurence ScottFind albums by this artist, great bassist Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist (Soft MachineFind albums by this artist) and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist (Hopper and Morris played with Boyle in Yamash`ta’s group). The music is brilliant from start to finish, slightly resembling Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but of course completely original. This is an absolute must to all early British Jazz-Rock connoisseurs!

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