Embryo
Opal

"[...] That german hippy group (Embryo) where Mal (Waldron) use to play; they are doing interesting things. You know man? They are creative, good musicians, just playing good shit."
Miles Davis, Barcelona 1975.

This "ironic" phrase by Miles Davis perfectly encapsulates the essence of Embryo.

Opal (1970), their debut work, is a piece of infinite splendor and characterized by its myriad influences.

Contaminations, of course, Mediterranean moods, Middle Eastern, ethnic, skillfully blended into a primarily jazz matrix with psychedelic overtones as well as moderately cosmic. Paradigmatic in this sense is the last track "People From Out The Space" (the title itself already "cosmic"). The track, a kaleidoscopic and roaring sonic amalgam, boasts "rarefied" atmospheres, expanded and enriched by superb wind arabesques, tribal percussion, psychedelic forays all under the banner of a wild, uncontainable free.

Everywhere the atmospheres are "scorching", the sound enveloping, warm, folk.

The winds take the lead (Edgar Hoffmann), the saxophone especially in this first work dominates almost all of the tracks, imprinting them with an enveloping, liquid, extravagant atmosphere. The rhythmic foundation is of notable depth; powerful bass thrusts supported by an amphetamine drumming (Christian Burchard) and in some episodes brutal, fierce are the strong points of the album ("Revolution", "Glockenspiel", "You Don't Know What's Happening"). Interesting also are some of the fleeting interactions between winds and electric guitar ("Call").

Truly admirable and "filled" with a polychromatic exoticism are the sharp and acidic violin incursions ("Opal", "End Of Soul", "You Don't Know What's Happening") which render the sound of this majestic album even more hypnotic and evocative.

Opal, the first in a long series of wonderful albums that every music lover should, at least once, LISTEN to.

"[...] But above all other groups of the genre, Embryo will be able to give the history of jazz rock a new sound in continuous evolution, creative and never stranded in convenient fusion mannerism."
A. Aprile - L. Majer ("La musica progressiva europea")

How can one not agree?