(Maaf, tret ini saya update tgl 1 Juni 2010 dengan menambahkan album lainnya yaitu “Strange New Flesh” krena album ini dahzyat dan sayang kalau ndak di”include”kan …. Jadi, judul tretnya ya disingkat jadi Colosseum II ajah …)
JRENG!
Atas permintaan mas Yuddi, maka saya bikin tret Colosseum ini meski sudah dibahas panjang lebar di tret Menggapai Pelangi. Tapi tak apalah, namanya pun blog gemblunk…ngomongin Dio bisa nggladrah kemana-mana malah sampe ke Colosseum dan John Mayall pulak.
Saya sendiri kalau tidak ada kaset Yess jaman dulu ya ndak bakal kenal kelompok Colosseum II, bentukan dari Jon Hiseman (ex Colosseum yang bubar tahun 1971). Wah sejak denger kasetnya, saya kagum banget sama band satu ini karena musiknya rancak banget. Dari kaset ini saya kenal nama-nama seperti Gary Moore dan Don Airey (meskipun ini orang baru benar2 beken setelah gabung Deep Purple karena Jon Lord uzur).
Monggo dibahas band ini ….
Kasetnya masih mulus mas ...
Studio Album, released in 1977
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Put it this way (4:54)
2. All skin and bone (3:49)
3. Rivers (5:48)
4. The scorch (6:02)
5. Lament (4:38)
6. Desperado (5:58)
7. Am I (4:15)
8. Intergalactic strut (6:00)
Total Time: 41:24
Lyrics
Search COLOSSEUM II Electric Savage lyrics
Music tabs (tablatures)
Search COLOSSEUM II Electric Savage tabs
Line-up / Musicians
- Don Airey / keyboards, synthesizers
- Jon Hiseman / drums, tubular bells, Latin percussion, gongs
- John Mole / bass
- Gary Moore / vocals, guitars
Releases information
Lp. MCA Records MCA-2294 / Cd. One Way Records OWCD 22081 (1993)
Kenal Gary Moore dan Don Airey
Electric Savage had received little attention for me personally by the time it was released for relatively simplistic reason: it has no vocalist and not really rock. It’s totally wrong assumption as I finally found that prog does not necessarily mean having vocals. I only enjoyed this album in great details about four years later when I first identified that the musicians involved in this album were really talented. In fact after I knew and could fully enjoy this album, I chased the albums where the musicians involved in this band at their future activities. This included Don Airey whom later visited my country to performed a live concert with Deep Purple replacing Jon Lord – three or four years ago, I guess.
The opening track “Put it This Way” (4:54) has no compelling name but the music demonstrates the kind of caliber the musicians involved in the band. Gary Moore whom I knew more in the arena of rock and blues, unexpectedly plays pivotal part in the whole composition of this track as well as the whole album. “All Skin and Bone” (3:49) starts ambient with the exploration of gong – I guess it’s played by Jon Hiseman. The music features guitar solo with relatively steady rhythm section but with energetic and inventive drumwork by Hiseman. Really cool!
“Desperado” (5:58) delivers a music which blend fast speed jazz-rock fusion and abrupt music styles featuring great soloist: stunning electric guitar solo by Gary Moore and rapid fire finger punching keyboard by Don Airey. You can observe the virtuosity of drummer Jon Hiseman as well through this track. His work is not just augmenting the music flow and keeping the beats but it also includes giving the rich texture of the music. Definitely Desperado is one of the best tracks in progressive music vein! “Am I” (4:15) provides some sort of musical break from high speed music because the track starts with a slow tempo music featuring simple keyboard and guitar. The guitar enters the scene and brings the music into higher notes in a bit bluesy style. The electric guitar solo is really stunning – augmented with chopping chords of keyboard with jazzy rhythm style.
“Intergalactic Strut” (6:00) starts wonderfully with dazzling work by Hiseman on his drum set. It’s an energetic opening because his style is truly dynamic and energetic. When the full music containing guitar, keyboard and bass enter the music, this song offers relatively fast tempo jazz rock fusion stuff with interlude part featuring guitar solo in medium tempo. But the music then turns out to be complex and speedy when the keyboard takes role as soloist in fast tempo style. It’s a great tempo changes that combine diverse styles. It’s one of my favorite Colosseum tracks.
If you love jazz rock fusion music, this album is highly recommended! You will find the virtuosities of musicians involved as well as energetic music with excellent composition. Keep on proggin’ ..!
Peace on earth and mercy mild – GW
——————————————
“Strange New Flesh”
Studio Album, released in 1976
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Dark Side Of The Moog (6:17)
2. Down To You (9:05)
3. Gemini And Leo (4:48)
4. Secret Places (3:59)
5. On Second Thoughts (7:30)
6. Winds (10:23)
Total Time: 42:02
Track listing of Castle 2CD remaster (2005):
Disc 1: (67:16)
1. Dark Side Of The Moog (6:17)
2. Down To You (9:05)
3. Gemini And Leo (4:48)
4. Secret Places (3:59)
5. On Second Thoughts (7:30)
6. Winds (10:23)
7. Castles Version 1. (previously unreleased demo 1975)(11:09)
8. Gary’s Lament (previously unreleased demo 1975) (7:00)
9. Walking The Park (previously unreleased demo 1975) (7:05)
Disc 2: (79:01)
1. Night Creeper (previously unreleased demo 1976) (3:46)
2. The Awakening (previously unreleased demo 1976) (11:43)
3. Siren Song (previously unreleased demo 1976) (6:55)
4. Castles Version 2. (previously unreleased demo 1976) (5:00)
5. The Scorch (previously unreleased demo 1976) (4:39)
6. Rivers (previously unreleased demo 1976) (4:27)
7. Interplanetary Slut (previously unreleased demo 1976) (5:32)
8. Dark Side Of The Moog (BBC session, In Concert, June 1976) (9:00)
9. Siren Song (BBC session, In Concert, June 1976) (12:13)
10. The Awakening (BBC session, In Concert, June 1976) (15:46)
Total Time: 146:17
Lyrics
Search COLOSSEUM II Strange New Flesh lyrics
Music tabs (tablatures)
Search COLOSSEUM II Strange New Flesh tabs
Line-up / Musicians
- Don Airey / keyboards, synthesizers
- Jon Hiseman / drums, tympani, gongs
- Gary Moore / guitars, vocals
- Neil Murray / bass
- Mike Starrs / lead vocals
Releases information
LP Bronze Records ILPS 9356
CD OneWay Records OWCD 30647
2CD Castle Music CMQDD 1198 (2005)(Digitally remastered by The Town House)
This debut album of a newly reformed band was truly a progressive rock band to the corner! The music is a blend of jazz rock fusion in the vein of RETURN TO FOREVER (“Romantic Warrior” album, especially), GONG as well as classic rock music in the vein of JAMES GANG (“Bang”, “Straight Shooter” albums, especially) and also TRAPEZE – Glenn Hughes era (Medusa album, especially) or TOMY BOLIN (“Teaser” album, especially) or collaboration work of Carmine APPICE, BOGART and Jeff BECK, or FRUMPY. But of course there are plenty of prog elements of their own that cannot be compared with others. The vocal quality of MIKE STARRS is similar to GLENN HUGHES with a more jazzy style. I find that each track has a very unique music style so that I need to comment one by one.
The opening track “Dark side of the Moog” blew me at fist listening. It has a dazzling and powerful keyboard / moog works combined with stunning guitar fills by Gary MOORE. Honestly, it was this track that cause me to buy the CD due to our local classic rock radio station M97 aired “The Dark Side of The Moog” sometime in 2000. This track has a full of energy and frequent changing tempos. The first half of the track is an upbeat, fast tempo music that reminds me to AL DI MEOLA early works (“Racing with the Devil ..”?). When it reaches the middle of the track, suddenly the mmusic changes to a moderate tempo. Overall, I can sense bits of RETURN TO FOREVER and GONG. It’s a powerful and uplifting instrumental track. The solo keyboard is really fascinating – played in a high speed and combined with great electric guitar. This is the DON AIREY and GARY MORE collaboration – their instruments dominate the track.
“Down to you” is a mellow track with melodic guitar fills. The music is heavily influenced by a blend of classic rock, jazz and classical music. It has a dazzling keyboard in the vein of Chick Corea plus unique voice of Mike Starr. It’s definitely an enjoyable track.
The music then moves to an upbeat “Gemini and Leo” track – an interesting track whereby the music is heavily influenced by jazz, funky and rock; it reminds me to a song “Superstition” performed by Carmine Appice, Bogart & Jeff Beck; not in terms of similarities, but more on the nuances and energy. Even this track is much more energetic. MIKE STARR singing style in this track is really superb. For those of you who love classic rock, I assure you that you would definitely enjoy this track. The bass line by NEIL MURRAY is also excellent. At the concluding part of the track you will find an interesting short piece with a nice harmony. This track is killer!
“Secret places” is still performed in similar vein as previous track in relatively moderate tempo. I find the electric guitar solo is more in the vein of classic rock music but the singing style is in jazzy and funky style especially when it is accentuated by keyboard sounds. Overall, this track is composed in one tagline melody with moderate changing tempo.
“On second thoughts” intro almost reminds me to the intro of “Mean Mistreater” of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – a classic rock band of the 70′s. It has different melody though; in fact the music is totally different. It’s a mellow and nice track with soft electric guitar touch at the opening part. Again, MIKE STARR singing style is excellent – accompanied with keyboard based music . This track is relatively popular in my country as it sometimes was aired in local classic rock radio station, M97. The electric guitar solo during interlude is fascinating. This track reminds me to “This Time Around” by Deep Purple. They are not the same but they s hare similar “nuances”.
The concluding track “Winds” is really fabulous! This is really the final ecstasy of overall enjoyment pleasure listening to this album in its entirety. Opened with a fantastic solo drumming of Jon HISEMAN that reminds me to BILLY COBHAM (especially in the intro of “Stratus” where he collaborated with TOMY BOLIN) or STEVE GADD. Hey, I have been listening to the CD of this album eleven times before I write this review and I had no experience of getting bored even a little bit. And this track deserves high mark as it concludes overall presentation of the band in excellent manner. You name it, any instrument and vocal line performs excellently in this track. The bass line is so dynamic, accompanied with punching keyboard work and filled with electric guitar work plus .. dazzling drum works by Jon Hiseman. Mike Starrs voice is so powerful!!! Oh my friend .. I’m so speechless on how how should I comment about this wonderfully crafted track! BTW, I’m writing this review while listening to this track and it really moves up my emotion, positively! It’s a very energetic and soulful track!
Well, what should I say with this album – especially having reviewed track by track? It’s a masterpiece, my friend. Yeah .. it’s a masterpiece! I don’t mind to be blamed as being so naïve, but I TRULY believe that this album has been UNDER-RATED. It should have been considered as a LEGENDARY PROG ROCK album. The rationales are: it has very strong and tight composition, well structured melodies, optimum balance between melody and improvisation, great musicianship, excellent performance and .. excellent production. So, it’s a FULL FIVE STAR rating for this album. I assure you that if you listen to this album, you will definitely give at least four star. It’s impossible that you would rate less than 4 star, impossible! The band would not allow you to rate this album less than 4 star as they have produced a masterpiece album! Yes, I’m a neo prog lover and this kind of prog is actually not in my cup of tea. But, I have to be honest and fair that this album is wonderful! I can’t wait to review the other two albums: “Electric Savage” and “War Dance” that I have in my collection as well. Oh man .. life is so beautiful with this kind of great prog music as this band has produced.
