Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 06/01/2004
This nine-track, 48-minute CD presents material from three
BBC sessions, two by
Isotope (in which
Gary Boyle played guitar), the other by
Boyle solo. The
Isotope sessions were recorded in October 1973 and March 1974, featuring songs from their debut self-titled album (including two versions of one of them,
"Upward Curve"). The liner notes make much of comparisons between
Isotope and
Mahavishnu Orchestra at the time, though actually this instrumental
fusion, more
jazz than
rock, sounds at least as much like early- to mid-'70s
Soft Machine (with whom
Gary Boyle had guested on a two-hour German TV special in 1973). It's busy
fusion heavy on the guitar-organ interplay, influenced by the early
Miles Davis fusion records as well as those of
Soft Machine and
Mahavishnu.
Isotope don't sound as distinguished as any of those points of reference on this disc, but they do have a somewhat lighter and wittier touch than many of the bands that hurtled down this particular path. The final three songs come from a 1977 solo
Boyle session, all from his debut solo album,
The Dancer, and these get a little funkier and slicker, with future
Yes man
Geoff Downes on keyboards. An interview with
Boyle discussing his '70s work is included in the liner notes.
~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
;)
Cart 0 items
Listen
