Sean Trane
With this album, Nucleus was reaching the end of its second golden era (started with Roots but really with Under The Sun), but the departure of bassist Sutton left a void on the band and certainly so to drummer Roger Sellers. I am one who thinks he was the prime reason for nucleus connecting so well for the four succeeding albums, but his replacement - A finish man with an unpronouciating name but re-naming himself as Billy Kristian - probably lacked time to connect properly with Sellers. Other mainstays are Carr (of course) and Castle (holding the KB for a while now), while Brian Smith makes a noticeable return. This album is a live set and an excellent introduction to progheads who have problems with jazz sounds. This is a very rock-based jam band (Allman Bros and Grateful Dead style) but with jazz instruments.
Only four tracks but all of good fabrication, Gestalt being up-tempo and clearly in line with the album directions. Mysteries is obviously given to the new bassist to make himself at home than his "solo" gives into a good duo with Drummer Sellers, while the frontmen are busy taking out advantage of these solid rhythms. After a rather short Heyday (which were about to end), the cornerstone of the album being the 16 min+ title track, with its fascinating twists and rhythms and lengthy improvs but without any exaggerations or self-indulgences.
Not their best but not that far away from it either, this can be a good intro (as I stated above) , but it is also better to discover the band chronologically!