Search - Nucleus :: Hemispheres

A dynamite fusion album

E. Minkovitch | Montreal, Quebec | 10/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Early fusion never sounded better. This music came out hot on the heels of Miles Davis' Bitches' Brew, and it's clearly influenced by it, although it is much more focused and composition-oriented that the free-form, revolutionary Brew. The arrangements are transparent, and give plenty of room for individual improvisation. The saxes dominate the spotlight, and man, can that guy solo! Everyone keeps up the often frantic pace wonderfully, movin' the groove on to hazy fusion horizons. In the quieter interludes, the band descends into some unexplored, unknown, fusion depths. The music is a near perfect mix of jazz, R&B and rock. This is where the borderline between fusion and jazz-rock a la Soft-Machine and King Crimson is nearly erased."

Live Nucleus

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 02/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here we have a dozen live tracks, recorded in March 1970 and February 1971, cagily described as "live in Europe" (possibly because the venue would not license their release). Straight off the soundboard, the sound quality is everything one could hope for, with excellent fidelity in mono (first set) or stereo (second set) and only minimal polite applause between tracks.



The band is only 6 months old in the first set, touring to support their debut album and it shows in the long, jamming, not-particularly-gelled sound. It is the sound of six talented soloists following the barest of charts. John Marshall in particular stands out as a powerhouse drummer holding the explosive ensemble together as best he can.



By the second set, 11 months and two more albums later, they've grown into a cohesive working unit with less emphasis on showoff soloing and more on tight unison themes and mutual support.



The cover includes the standard Nucleus story by Nigel Cross and a few archival travelog photos, though unfortunately none of the band in performance. Humorously the roadside photos from their trip to the Newport Jazz Festival are listed under "Nucleus European Tour" (!)



This release makes a nice adjunct to the Cuneiform release "Live in Bremen" recorded three months later in the midst of the band's first (but by no means last) personnel changes."