The group's third album is another Yes-like affair, Herb Schildt's keyboards dominating the sound in the best sub-Rick Wakeman manner while Steve Tassler's drumming holds the band's sound together. Terry Luttrell can't quite hit Jon Anderson's high notes, but coupled with the backup singing by Tassler, bassist Gary Strater, and guitarists Matt Stewart and Steve Hagler, the Yes illusion is maintained, especially when Hagler's angular lead playing comes in, as on "Shadows of Song." "Change in Time" is the best of the Yes-style numbers here, a driving little tune with gorgeous choruses and soaring synthesizer breaks…
With a voice similar to Roy Harper and songs in the Folk Rock tradition of Nick Drake meets Simon & Garfunkel meets Al Stewart - it's a mystery as to why Marc Brierley's debut LP on the giant CBS Records did so little business in 1968? Maybe it was the concert-poster lettering of his name/title or Ron Hendersen's stunning oil painting on the cover that led people to believe it was some kind of "Odyssey & Oracle" Psych masterpiece when it was really a good old Folkie record? It sold zip and consequently it's booked at Ј400 in 2014 Price Guides - but often sells for much more on Auction sites. And on the strength of this fabulous Cherry Tree Expanded CD remaster (part of Cherry Red Records) - it's easy to see why collectors want it.
Finnish bassist Antti Lötjönen returns in February 2023 with his second Quintet East album on We Jazz Records. With Verneri Pohjola on trumpet, Mikko Innanen and Jussi Kannaste on saxes, and Joonas Riippa on drums, Quintet East is a hard-hitting ensemble of Helsinki scene A-listers. The new release sees the quintet work with Lötjönen’s inspired new music with remarkable spirit, spreading out on a quest for new sounds and ideas, and returning to base with a fresh batch of acoustic creative music, wild to the bone even when sounding completely in control.