Crash

Ottorino Respighi is most celebrated for his vividly colourful symphonic poems, and above all the brilliantly orchestrated trilogy celebrating the landmarks and history of Rome: The Fountains of Rome, The Pines of Rome and Roman Festivals. Impressioni brasiliane, another triptych in a similar vein – although on a smaller scale – communicates Respighi’s impressions from the summer of 1927, which he spent in Rio de Janeiro. The composer was fascinated by the popular music of Brazil, but also by the nature (the rain forests in the Rio area inspired the first part of the triptych, Notte Tropicale), animal life (a visit to the famous Butantan collection of poisonous snakes and spiders gave him material for the sinuous second part) and, naturally, the carnival, with Canzone e Danza painting a picture of riotous and colourful street festivities.

After "Breakthrough" (1986), Pierre Moerlen's Gong mostly returned to the jazz-rock fusion sound that made them so enjoyable in the late '70s and early '80s on "Second Wind". Benoit Moerlen, who had departed after "Downwind" (1979), is back for this album, with stalwarts Pierre Moerlen and bassist Hansford Rowe forming the stable core of the band. Ake Zeiden, who had joined for "Breakthrough" adds some fine guitar work to this album and talented keyboardist Frank Fischer is a welcome addition.

Yep, after listening to and writing the article about "After 5 Crash", I just had to get Toshiki Kadomatsu's（角松敏生）4th album, "After 5 Clash" from April 1984. I mean, just on the cover alone with that red pump and the inviting nightscape, I would have been sorely tempted (I didn't even see Kadomatsu in the lower-right corner there) to get it, but "After 5 Crash" was the tipping point for me. Just going through the album today (all of the tracks were written and composed by Kadomatsu), I had this impression. Some months ago in another article, I mentioned that Quincy Jones' classic "The Dude" was the Michael Jackson album that Michael Jackson didn't do. Well, after listening to "After 5 Crash", I could say something similar.