Spaced Out - Eponymus II

1. Sever The Seven
2. The Lost Train
3. Infinite Ammo
4. For The Trees Too
5. Trophallaxie
6. Sever The Seven - Revisited
7. The Alarm
8. Glassosphere - Part II
9. Jamosphere

Album Cover:

Total Playing Time:  53:25 m:s

Review date: 10/08/2001

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Whilst it would be easy for me to say that this is merely more of the same, as it turns out I seem to be more receptive to this offering. Spaced Out play Jazz Fusion instrumentals, which is a form of music where I generally find the concept appealing enough, but my enthusiasm fades when I listen to the actual music.

As before Spaced Out have produced a set of Jazz Fusion instrumental on which the musicianship is excellent. What is more under scrutiny is the ability to write memorable tunes. In fact, tunes may not be the correct phrase - pieces of music or even soundscapes is a better description. Being a non-musician, I can be amazed by the actual musicianship for a short while (about 30 seconds), then I want the album to entertain me.

On listening to first track, "Sever The Seven", you will indeed be amazed by the skill on display and it is a veritable Jazz Fusion feast, with just about every trick in the book thrown in. "The Lost Train" has a King Crimson like start and indeed throughout strikes me as a mixture of KC doing a Jazz Fusion tune. On "For Infinite Ammo" the Jazz bits get toned down and the Hammond Organ comes out giving the music a Deep Purple feel - I'm reminded of Deep Purple's rendition of "Space Truckin" on "Live In Japan".

"For The Trees Too" is more Jazz Fusion doodlings that adopt a mode laid back late night feel in the middle. Apart from some gentle sci-fi string synth on the opening of "Trophallixie", the Jazz Fusion theme continues on the next batch of tunes.

On "The Alarm" there are a few other things going on but this is basically a drum solo with a few space invaders thrown in for good measure. I personally welcome this, but true Fusion-heads may think otherwise.

"The Glassosphere - part II" is a continuation from the previous album. It contains some hypnotic King Crimson style fretless bass work and plays on repeated sequences quite a bit. The album closes with "Jamosphere" which is another long Jazz Fusion feast.

Maybe the previous album laid down the ground work, but I was slightly more receptive to this album. Spaced Out and Jazz Fusion fans will love it, but the rest of us may well be content with having one Spaced Out album in our collection. In that case, this one just pips the debut as the one to have.