12 March : Elastic Rock

Wikipedia [accessed today] tells me that Elastic Rock by Nucleus is a ‘pioneering work in [the] emerging genre of Jazz-Rock fusion.’ I have to say that this has me scratching my head, because the album, notwithstanding its title, sounds like jazz to me.

Again, notwithstanding the Wikipedia writer, the first thing that struck me was the extent to which Elastic Rock is in the shadow of Miles Davis, but not the Davis of In A Silent Way or Bitches Brew. My first listen to the title track put me in mind of Sketches of Spain, and for most of its running length Elastic Rock is an exercise in modal vamping with roots in Kind of Blue.

I don’t say that as criticism but more as context.

The musicianship is excellent throughout. My ear was particularly drawn to John Marshall’s drums, and Chris Spedding reveals a side of his playing that isn’t obvious if you only know him for his extensive session work, albeit that his blusier sensibilities are to the fore here.  The music itself, though, is curiously undemanding. On my first play through I was at track 5 before I realised, it had faded into the background. This is going to sound unfair, but 50 years on it sounds a bit like muzak, albeit classy muzak. Add some beats and you’d get a pretty serviceable chill-out album.

I liked Torrid Zone, which is still modal vamping but it’s funky modal vamping, and towards the end of the album the band goes out there a bit and are the better for it.

I like the album well enough,and if I owned it would no doubt play it in the office or in the house when reading, but I’m conscious that others are seriously knocked out by it. Fair enough; as I’ve said before, your mileage my vary. Listen for yourself on Spotify, or on YouTube (below)