COLOSSEUM II - Strange New Flesh (2005) 2CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Colosseum II was a British band formed in 1975 by the former Colosseum drummer and leader, Jon Hiseman, following the 1974 demise of his band Tempest. Hiseman announced his plan to form the band eventually named Colosseum II in November 1974, but only Gary Moore was named as a member. Rehearsals were due to begin on January 1, 1975, but a permanent unit was not finalised until May 1975. Among musicians who almost made the group were Graham Bell, Duncan Mackay and Mark Clarke. The line-up was completed by Don Airey, Neil Murray and Mike Starrs.

The band was oriented toward jazz fusion, much of which was driven by the guitar work of Moore, leading to a much heavier sound than the original Colosseum band. After disappointing sales of the first album, Murray and Starrs were unceremoniously sacked by the band's record label (Bronze) in July 1976.

The band continued with a new record label and a new bass player (John Mole), and recorded two further largely instrumental (and still commercially unsuccessful) albums. They also performed on Variations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, which also featured Julian Lloyd Webber on cello, Rod Argent on keyboards and Hiseman's wife, Barbara Thompson, on flute and sax. This album reached number 2 on the UK charts.

In August 1978, Moore left to rejoin Thin Lizzy for a fourth spell, and Airey's brother Keith Airey replaced him on guitar. Plans for a fourth album fell through when Don Airey decided to join Rainbow in December 1976 

Several years after the original art rock supergroup Colosseum disbanded, drummer Jon Hiseman formed Colosseum II, a more jazz fusion-oriented outfit featuring guitarist Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy) and keyboardist Don Airey. Their eclectic debut, Strange New Flesh, shows some impressive chops from all involved, with an emphasis on Moore's soulful guitar leads. Vocalist Mike Starr, while not an immensely engaging singer, does a nice job keeping up with Hiseman and bass player Neil Murray. Highlights include the technically showy but blissfully irreverent ode to Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of the Moog," a nice version of Joni Mitchell's "Down to You," and the funky "Gemini and Leo."  by James Christopher Monger

Tracklist:

1-1 Dark Side Of The Moog 6:22

Written-By – Airey, Moore

1-2 Down To You 9:10

Written-By – Mitchell

Written-By [Instrumental Section], Arranged By – Don Airey

1-3 Gemini And Leo 4:51

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

1-4 Secret Places 4:01

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

1-5 On Second Thoughts 7:29

Written-By – Moore

1-6 Winds 10:25

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

Bonus Tracks

1-7 Castles (Version 1) 11:09

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

1-8 Gary's Lament 7:00

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

1-9 Walking In The Park 7:05

Written-By – Bond

2-1 Night Creeper 3:46

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-2 The Awakening 11:43

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-3 Siren Song 6:55

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-4 Castles «Version 2» 5:00

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-5 Scorch 4:39

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-6 Rivers 4:27

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-7 Interplanetary Slut 5:32

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-8 Dark Side Of The Moog «Live» 9:00

Written-By – Airey, Moore

2-9 Siren Song «Live» 12:13

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

2-10 The Awakening «Live» 15:46

Written-By – Moore, Hiseman

Credits:

Bass – John Mole (tracks: 2-1 to 2-10)

Bass Guitar – Neil Murray

Drums [Rogers Drums], Percussion [Paiste Cymbals], Gong, Timpani – Jon Hiseman

Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Grand Piano [Steinway], Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey, Mini-moog, Arp Solina], Organ [Hammond], Clavinet – Don Airey

Guitar [Guitars], Vocals – Gary Moore

Vocals – Mike Starrs

COLOSSEUM II - Strange New Flesh 

(2005) Castle Music / 2CD Reissue, Remastered, Expanded Edition  

APE (image+.cue), lossless

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