Here's a band that I'm sure VERY few of you have heard of. If you have heard of them, then I salute you (although you probably came to know about them by way of Mr. Golembeski). The band is If, and I bring to you their fifth album today, Waterfall.If is a British band. The U.K. and the U.S. have a fun little relationship where one country will pioneer a genre of music, and the other will respond with a few bands of their own. Although progressive rock led the way, jazz rock was really made into its own category here in the United States. Bands like Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears ripped up the scene, selling records like crazy. Meanwhile, there were equally talented bands from Great Britain making their own records. While they didn't sell quite the way that their American cousins did, the quality was just as good. The best example is the album I bring to you today.
If is a great band, and has a lot of the same charm that BST and Chicago do. This album is a perfect example:
The first track, "Waterfall," sets the scene perfectly with a lot of flute/instrumental work that will remind anyone of Jethro Tull and Focus. This is broken up nicely by a few delightful verses and refrains. The groove really sets in when it gets to "The Light Still Shines" (The second track). The loose vocal rhythm is a nice contrast to the solid-as-a-rock backing. I like the lyrics too: "Tomorrow is never denied / The light still shines if you hide your eyes." This track has plenty of sax-y solos, too. "Sector 17" is a neat little instrumental/experimental/let-loose track that you should give a listen to. "Paint Your Pictures" will trick you. It starts out like a ballad, and you think that the drums will kick in with a slow beat. However, what you get is a break-out (I'm really using a lot of hyphens aren't I?) section that goes straight into a tight little groove. The middle section is a shredder of a guitar solo that makes me think of the late, great Terry Kath.
The last couple of tracks are pretty cool, too. "Cast No Shadows" and "Throw Myself to the Wind" are a proggy romp and a jazzy gospel, respectively.
If you love the American bands that inspired this U.K. group, you should not hesitate for one second to listen to these guys. I love it, and so will you! Listen to it with your lover on Valentines Day. ;)
Sadly, I cannot find a site that streams this album online. I did find one site, though that you can download a plugin to play it:
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,106122,00.html
Seriously, though, if you love the American bands I mentioned, you should really own this album. I'm sure you can find it cheap!
I definitely appreciate this album greatly. "Cast No Shadows" is probably my favorite track on the album, but then again it's hard to listen to this album without listening to it all the way through (every proggy band has that effect on me), so maybe the album as a whole is my favorite track...whatever.
ReplyDeleteIf is a band of many great independent musical integrities, and that's probably my favorite part about them. Sure, they pioneered Chicago and BST, but they still have their own strange and defining sound that puts them on a pedestal of their own.
Oh, and maybe it's because I'm a saxophone guy, but I could listen to Dick Morrissey solo over "Sector 17" for hours.
I very much agree that they have a unique sound to them that I love. I only included all those references to American bands because I don't think the average person reading this would be motivated enough to go looking for the album unless they knew it was like something they knew. Also, to stop myself sounding like "that guy" who's into all the music that no-one knows about.
ReplyDeletePersonally, "The Light Still Shines" is my favorite:)
What did I say about the box, Jack?
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly these guys are out of that Canterbury scene. You know, closet homosexuals who do a lot of cocaine; THAT Canterbury scene...
Hooray meta-reference!
... you sure you don't want a lime? I can always get you a lime...