BRAND X — Unorthodox Behaviour (1976-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Phil Collins' seemingly endless well of energy afforded him two careers: one as the drummer/vocalist in Genesis, and a second as a prolific session musician. It was in this second scenario that Collins hooked up with Percy Jones, John Goodsall, and Robin Lumley during sessions for Brian Eno, Eddie Howell, and Jack Lancaster. The quartet soon formed Brand X, a fusion jazz band that matched the prodigious rhythms of Collins and fretless bassist Jones with the atmospheric melodies of Goodsall and Lumley. Unorthodox Behaviour sets the stage for what would follow: music that plies the same sonic territory as Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the like, punctuated by the distinctive styles of individual members. The songs, though credited to the band, reveal two factions at work, with Jones and Collins teaming for percussive sections and Goodsall and Lumley handling the lyrical passages. When Jones and Collins take the lead, as on the opening "Nuclear Burn" and sections of "Unorthodox Behaviour" and "Running on Three," the music takes a frenetic, mathematical tack. Goodsall and Lumley generally provide the mood, the dominant trait on "Euthanasia Waltz" and "Touch Wood." Middle ground is found on the funky "Born Ugly" and "Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria," true fusions of rock and jazz. Unorthodox Behaviour samples a variety of styles: from melodic to energetic, ethereal to mathematical. Without a standout soloist like John McLaughlin or Wayne Shorter, Brand X does run the risk of sounding like a generic fusion jazz outfit, but their compositional skills pick up the slack nicely. Those interested in the band may do well to start with this album, although their next three records are just as good in terms of quality. Dave Connolly  

Tracklist :

1. Nuclear Burn (6:20) 

2. Euthanasia Waltz (5:39) 

3. Born Ugly (8:13) 

4. Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria (4:26) 

5. Unorthodox Behaviour (8:25) 

6. Running on Three (4:37) 

7. Touch Wood (3:03) 

Total Time: 40:43

Personnel :

John Goodsall – acoustic and electric guitars

Robin Lumley – keyboards, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Moog synthesizer

Percy Jones – Fender fretless Jazz Bass, marimba (5), Acoustic Bass (7)

Phil Collins – Drums, vibes (2), Lead Vocal (1)

Additional personnel

Jack Lancaster – Soprano Saxophone

BRAND X — Livestock (1977-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Livestock is a live album by British jazz fusion group Brand X released in 1977. The album has five tracks. It is the first album on which Kenwood Dennard appears as a replacement drummer for Phil Collins on two of the five tracks.

Lest the momentum of Moroccan Roll and its relative chart success go to waste, Brand X released a stopgap solution with Livestock, featuring three recent live tracks and two stockpiled studio tracks that actually predate the Moroccan Roll sessions by two months. As might be expected, it's not their most enduring work, although the inclusion of three new originals and the clean recording obtained from the Hammersmith Odeon and Marquee Club performances produce respectable results. Two of the three live tracks feature drummer Kenwood Dennard, who lends his superlative skins to the smooth fusion of "Nightmare Patrol" and a frenzied reading of the popular "Malaga Virgen." (Genesis had finished their tour that same year, so you can't begrudge Phil Collins the holiday.) Collins' lone live appearance occurs on the two-part "Isis Mourning," which begins as an atmospheric piece punctuated by Pert's percussion and Percy's popping bass before stabilizing in the second part under Collins' steady rhythm. The two studio tracks are "-Ish," a hazy and occasionally funky jam that initially borrows the bassline better known from "Malaga Virgen," and an alternate version of "Euthanasia Waltz" that skips lightly over familiar terrain. The drum section remained in flux for their next album, as Collins took a brief hiatus from the band and Dennard continued to build his jazz resume on albums by Jaco Pastorius, Larry Coryell, Miles Davis, and Sting. While Livestock is arguably the least essential of their first seven albums, fans shouldn't be discouraged from picking this one up. Dave Connolly

Tracklist:

1.    Nightmare Patrol 8:04 

2.    -Ish 8:34
3.    Euthanasia Waltz 5:27
4.    Isis Mourning Part One 5:37
5.    Isis Mourning Part Two 4:46
6.    Malaga Virgen    9:08
Personnel :
John Goodsall – Electric Guitar
Robin Lumley – Keyboards
Percy Jones – Bass Guitar
Phil Collins – Drums (tracks 2, 3 & 4)
Kenwood Dennard – Drums (track 1, 5)
Morris Pert – Percussion

BRAND X — Moroccan Roll (1977-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | Rock Company '77 Series | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Morrocan Roll is not a step toward the rock & roll side of the fusion equation, but rather an experiment with Eastern sounds and softer textures that trades in the thunderstorms of their debut for rhythmically rich siroccos. Expanded to a quintet with the addition of percussionist Morris Pert, Brand X balances their arrangements with more equanimity, resulting in a subdued sound that is mesmerizing rather than arresting. The songs are written by individual members (their debut credited the band), but this doesn't yield the results you might expect: while Percy Jones' "Orbits" is essentially a showcase for the fretless bass, Lumley's "Disco Suicide" shares more with Frank Zappa than the artist's typically dreamy tones, and it's Phil Collins' "Why Should I Lend You Mine" that sounds most like the work of Lumley. The better compositions come from John Goodsall, including the opening "Sun in the Night" (featuring sitar and a smattering of vocals from Collins), the parched-sounding "Hate Zone," and the album-ending "Macrocosm." Jones' "Malaga Virgen" is another highlight, led by the artist's popping bass, delivered with a unique mix of restraint and explosive energy. Morrocan Roll is notable for a heightened sense of humor, from lighthearted liner notes to its everything but the kitchen sink ending. If the music is more spiritually informed than their flashy debut, the contemplative listener will find this brand of subdued fusion jazz equally rewarding. Dave Connolly

Tracklist :

1. Sun In The Night (4:25) 

2. Why Should I Lend You Mine (11:16) 

3. ...Maybe I'll Lend You Mine After All (2:10) 

4. Hate Zone (4:41) 

5. Collapsar (1:35) 

6. Disco Suicide (7:55) 

7. Orbits (1:38) 

8. Malaga Virgin (8:28) 

9. Macrocosm (7:24) 

Total Time: 49:32Line-up / Musicians 

- John Goodsall - Guitar 

- Percy Jones - Bass 

- Robin Lumley - Keyboards 

- Phil Collins - Drums 

- Morris Pert - Percussion

BRAND X — Masques (1978-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Without the drumming of Phil Collins, who does appear on some of Brand X's albums, Masques still maintains a snug, jazzy-prog milieu and comes off clean and tight. Each song has a different beat, speed, and tempo with a satisfying assortment of keyboards and percussion instruments to keep the entire album afloat. Resounding xylophone and chimes outline the music on the seven tracks, with "Earth Dance" and "The Poke" coming up a little bit stronger than the rest. Most notably is the superb musical interplay of all the instruments used, and the way in which they enhance and benefit one another. The progressive rock sound does evolve by way of lengthy guitar passages from John Goodsall and accelerated keyboard fingering from Morris Pert, adding spice and vivaciousness while popping up when least expected. Masques is a firm studio album, and will keep listeners fascinated with the band. Mike DeGagne

Tracklist :

1. The Poke (5:06) 

2. Masques (3:17) 

3. Black Moon (4:48) 

4. Deadly Nightshade (10:54) 

5. Earthdance (6:10) 

6. Access to Data (8:04) 

7. The Ghost of Mayfield Lodge (10:08) 

Total Time: 48:27

Line-up / Musician 

- John Goodsall - Guitar 

- Percy Jones - Bass 

- Peter Robinson - Keyboards 

- Morris Pert - Percussion 

- Chuck Bergi - Drums

BRAND X — Product (1979-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Brand X's most eclectic album to date, Product is perhaps most notable for its attempts at a pop crossover in the Phil Collins-sung "Don't Make Waves" and "Soho." The range of styles presented here -- hard and soft fusion, pop, progressive rock -- results from the now-interchangeable nature of the Brand X lineup, which, in addition to the returning Collins and Robin Lumley, is expanded to include bassist John Giblin and drummer Mike Clarke (Chuck Burgi having left after Masques). While the pop songs have a tart, new wave sound to them that is oddly ingratiating, they're likely to leave longtime fans scratching their heads. (Genesis fans may hear in "Soho" the musical inspiration for "Illegal Alien," and in Percy Jones' "Dance of the Illegal Aliens" its titular inspiration.) Despite the presence of the original quartet -- Collins, Goodsall, Lumley, Jones -- the four don't appear together on Product, although Goodsall is present for all but one song (the lone pairing of fretless bassists Percy Jones and John Giblin on "Wal to Wal"). Many of this album's tracks have found a place in the band's career retrospectives, including the airy fusion of "Dance of the Illegal Aliens" and the engaging "Algon." While Mike Clarke's impact on the music often goes unnoticed, John Giblin adds a new dimension to the band's sound with two soft, evocative songs: "Rhesus Perplexus" (in which Goodsall's acoustic guitar crosses into Pat Metheny territory) and "April." The remaining tracks, "Not Good Enough -- See Me!" and "...And So to F...," are pleasant instrumentals with a more prominent role for the percussion; Collins thought enough of the latter to include a live version of it on a couple of 12" singles from his subsequent solo career. By nearly doubling the band's size, Product is able to indulge in an interesting game of musical chairs that occasionally overshadows the music itself. The band clearly has talent to spare, but can't seem to agree where to strike. Dave Connolly

Tracklist :

1. Don't Make Waves (Goodsall) – 5:31

2. Dance of the Illegal Aliens (Jones) – 7:49

3. Soho (Goodsall, Collins) – 3:40

4. Not Good Enough-See Me! (Jones, Robinson) – 7:29

5. Algon (Where an Ordinary Cup of Drinking Chocolate Costs £8,000,000,000) (Lumley) – 6:08

6. Rhesus Perplexus (Giblin) – 4:00

7. Wal to Wal (Jones, Giblin) – 3:14

8. ...And So to F... (Collins) – 6:28

9. April (Giblin) – 2:08

Personnel :

except on "Dance of the Illegal Aliens"; "Wal to Wal"; "Not Good Enough - See Me!"

Keyboards, Sounds [Gunfire, Chainsaw] – Robin Lumley

Guitar – John Goodsall

Bass – John Giblin

Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Phil Collins on "Dance of the Illegal Aliens"; "Not Good Enough - See Me!"

Keyboards, Sounds [Gunfire], Vocals – Peter Robinson

Guitar, Vocals – John Goodsall

Bass – Percy Jones

Drums – Mike Clark

Percussion – Morris Pert on "Wal to Wal"

Bass – John Giblin

Bass – Percy Jones

Drums, Drum Machine – Phil Collins

BRAND X — Do They Hurt? (1980-2014) RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Brand X is guilty of going through the motions on Do They Hurt? At this juncture in Brand X's career, John Goodsall and Percy Jones are the principal forces, with Phil Collins, Morris Pert, and Robin Lumley reduced to a couple of cameos. Peter Robinson, who adopts Lumley's role of providing dreamy keyboards, and drummer Mike Clarke pick up the slack well enough, though John Giblin appears only on one track (the solid if predictably Goodsallian "Voidarama"). The album's strongest track is Goodsall's "Cambodia," which features his mesmerizing arpeggios and heroic guitar leads in a solid progressive rock instrumental. Little else on Do They Hurt? sounds better than outtakes from previous efforts, however. "Noddy Goes to Sweden" and "Triumphant Limp" are under-inspired efforts from Percy Jones; "Fragile!" (cowritten by Jones and Robinson) lacks the marimba-laden magic that made "Disco Suicide" so interesting. The album's most intriguing, and in many ways frustrating, track is "Act of Will," another attempt at a pop crossover from Goodsall that squanders a good melody by employing heavily treated (and barely intelligible) vocals from the guitarist. The record's final song, "D.M.Z.," is little more than a case of noodling around in a familiar environment. Over the years, Goodsall and Jones have developed unique compositional styles -- one listen will reveal who wrote what. But it's all been done better on earlier albums; without the eclectic approach of Product, Do They Hurt? reveals itself to be little more than a retread of earlier ideas. Of minor interest, Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin provides mildly amusing liner notes. Dave Connolly 

Tracklist :

1. Noddy Goes To Sweden (4:30) 

2. Voidarama (4:25) 

3. Act of Will (4:44) 

4. Fragile! (5:26) 

5. Cambodia (4:30) 

6. Triumphant Limp (7:28) 

7. D.M.Z. (8:37)

Total Time: 39:40

Line-up / Musicians

Percy Jones - Bass on (1,3,4,5,7), Vocals on (1) 

Peter Robinson - Keyboards, tam-tam on (5,6) 

Michael Clarke / Dums on (1,3,4,5,7) 

John Goodsall / Guitar on (2,3,5,6,7), Vocals on (3) 

John Giblin / Bass on (2,6) 

Phil Collins / Drums on (2,6) 

Robin Lumley / Keyboards on (2,6)