Reviews roundup – Iron Butterfly vs. Dirty Lions vs. Adventure

Reviews roundup – Iron Butterfly vs. Dirty Lions vs. Adventure

IRON BUTTERFLY
Live At The Galaxy 1967
Cleopatra

Of course, you all own a copy of the 1970 “Iron Butterfly Live” album. It was an American Top 20 hit, and with a whole side (ask your Grandad) devoted to ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’, how could it be anything else.  It took forty one years for a second live album to appear in the shape of “Fillmore East 1968”, but a mere three years later and here’s “Live At The Galaxy 1967”.

The first one was near perfect, the second one was a fascinating view into their weird fusion world and this third one is, well, the third one.  See, the tapes have been floating around for decades now, and I can only assume they never made it onto record, because the vocals are nigh on indecipherable.  Which is a shame, because the music is fantastic.

“Live At The Galaxy 1967” was recorded, natch, live at the Galaxy Club in Los Angeles, and predates the release of their debut “Heavy” album, so you’re hearing the working versions of songs which were laid down in the studio the same year. So you’re getting 6 of the 10 tracks from said album.  A couple of the tracks ended up on “Ball” in 1969, but it’s certainly interesting hearing how things started out.

It’s the “Heavy” lineup performing here, so it’s Doug Ingle on lead vocals and keyboards, guitarist Danny Weis, bassist Jerry Penrod, percussionist and singer Darryl DeLoach, and drummer Ron Bushy. The lineup didn’t last, with Weis, Penrod, and DeLoach leaving shortly after the release of “Heavy”, with the first two starting up the equally splendid Rhinoceros.

It’s an interesting period piece and real groovers will be delighted to know that it’s also available on 180 gram vinyl.

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DIRTY LIONS
Raw
self released

With a name and title like that you’d be expecting some sleaze rock or glam metal, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Because what you’re getting from renowned flamenco dancer / vocalist Michelle Jimenez Alder, along with Mark “Dusty” Wright and Garry “Jim” Bowler and Laurie Dalziel (the Medicine Hat Rhythm Section) is something that they’re branding “Sonic Esperanto” or “Dirty Jazz”.

Which makes no sense, but it’s an interesting release, nonetheless.  It’s kind of a jazz fusion world pop kind of thing, where they seem to have taken every musical influence possible and thrown into the kitchen sink.  Something that has its charms, but only when it encounters an actual tune on the way.  So say hello to ‘Rollercoaster’ and ‘Shoot Me Down’, the two best tracks by far.

Musically, the band are very good, whether they’re dabbling in roots, jazz or even some Middle Eastern flourishes, but it needs someone with more patience than me to really love what they’re doing.  Full marks for trying something different, though.

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ADVENTURE
Caught In The Web
Progress

Aha!  It’s prog time.  And I do like my prog old-fashioned, so who better than the Jethro Tull / Uriah Heep fans that are Adventure.

In probably the least surprising news ever, Adventure are a Scandinavian prog band, with Norwegian mainmen Terje Flessen (guitars/bass) and Odd Roar Blakken (keyboards/acoustic guitar) heading up the band.  And they’re very good.  Their thing is melodic, symphonic prog, and along with guest vocalist and musicians, they’re put together an extremely enjoyable release.

Unlike some others, they don’t stretch songs out beyond their natural lifespan, so with the exception of the two part title track, songs such as ‘Fast Train’ and ‘Watching The Glow’ are arranged, presented and performed with style and panache.  Highly recommended for fans of seventies melodic prog.

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