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Rating: The unfortunate, premature mors of the esteemed drummer and band leader John Hiseman, occurring Anno Domini MMXVII, has almost certainly placed a lapidem over the august history of Colosseum. The band managed to patch the previous mors of saxophonist Dick Heckstall Smith, even replacing him with Hiseman's uxor, Mrs. Barbara Thompson. Now she too has passed away, a couple of years ago. And so… amen.
This album, excellent, dates back to Anno Domini MMIII and features the same sextet as always or almost, decidedly cohesive and on fire, as if their history hadn't actually progressed in fits and starts, unfortunately due to insufficient, indeed scandalous, commercial results compared to the value of these worthies.
What misfortune, one might say when listening, for example, in the eponymous track the rich vox of Chris Farlowe laid over a resonant guitar arpeggio, counterpointed here and there by harmonious double simultaneous sax, which occasionally peeks through even in the long tenor break. Which causes a stir also in the hypnotic "Hard Times Rising." And what pleasure in the audition of "Thief in the Night," a rock blues with a tota pulchra guitar, both in the fruitful arpeggio and in the solo parts. Not to mention "The Dark Times in the Sun," a blues ballad with funky inserts, brimming with melodiam punctuated by the old Farlowe himself. And finally, or rather ultimately, a highlight for the concluding "No Demons," a slow blues that seems predictable but instead possesses rich harmonic variations, over which Farlowe's singer voice frolics beatus et contentus.
The ancient traces of progressive are completely gone here, no longer the ancient times of the beginnings, when one was almost obliged to have them. Here there is jazz rock blues in song form, measured and skillful, from a handful of extraordinaires who have given much but could have given even more to good music, if only they had cacas denarium, per Jovem!
Hail Colosseum, loyal listeners salute you!
Tracklist
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