Happy New Year Everyone.

We start the New Year Album Club with a choice from Neil (Dalek Supreme) who, after a 'no show' by another member, has kindly stepped up to the plate with Bruford's 'One of a Kind'. As always please listen to the album in its entirety before you comment and/or vote.


Bruford - One of A Kind (1979)



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_of...Bruford_album)

I discovered this album many years ago - on vinyl - and bought it as one of 'my taking a chance' purchases and fell in love with its quirky mix of prog and jazz-fusion vibes. One of A Kind is mostly instrumental with the only vocal being speech at the beginning of Fainting in Coils, provided by Sam Alder as the narrator, Bill Bruford as the Mock Turtle and Anthea Norman Taylor as Alice.

The line up for this album is in my view fabulous with Bill Bruford on drums, Alan Holdsworth on guitar, Jeff Berlin on bass, and Dave Stewart on keyboards. Also on the album is Eddie Jobson on violin, and John Clark on guitar. The album was produced by Bill Bruford and it's a nice open and detailed recording with lovely acoustic and soundstage, with minimal compression.

In many ways this is a second UK album as Bill and Alan had just left UK to record this album and the vibe is very similar just missing John Wetton's bass and vocals.

I think its beautiful and haunting in places with magical interplay between instruments and at times interesting time changes/tuning and a slightly avant garde vibe. In saying that it’s still an album rich with melody so accessible if you like jaz- fusion and prog.

If you like this then previous album Feels Good To Me is also worth a listen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feels_Good_to_Me / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EryOENGi67M&t=1797s)

Stand out tracks: Sahara of Snow part 1 and 2, Fainting in Coils, Hell's Bells, One of A Kind.

During this time period there was some lovely material recorded in the prog/jazz-fusion genre, albums by UK, Brand X, Gong and Bruford.

I kind of expect a mixed reaction to this one as I know it wont be everyone's cup of tea.

This album, along with UK’s first album, have been long-term friends to me, over more years than I care to think about.

9 out of 10




Neil



Link to '1979 Rock Goes To College Concert' on YouTube:


Link to 'Feels Good to Me' on YouTube