Go 1977 Go Too

Genre: Progressive Rock
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:42:17
Size: 96,77 MB



review by Dave Thompson

With the departure of Steve Winwood from the Go collective, Stomu Yamashta seized the opportunity to radically shift the group's sound and direction. A coterie of vocalists and backing singers, led by Jess Roden and Linda Lewis, were brought in, along with former Headhunter Paul Jackson and the extraordinary orchestra of Martyn Ford. Go Too, Go's resultant album and their grand finale, was a curtain-closer of magnificent proportions.

A majestic set where organic soundscapes merge with soulful funk fusion, the entire album is glossed with a superb cinematic sound that earned arranger Paul Buckmaster and co-producers Dennis MacKay and Yamashtu deserved acclaim. The set is bookended by the instrumentals "Prelude" and "Ecliptic," the former a space-age extravaganza of sounds and cracking thunder, the latter echoing of the deep, mimicking whale song, but with hints of a storm rumbling above, looping back to the album's opening. The deeply romantic "Mysteries of Love" and introspective "Beauty" are also twinned numbers, wed by their cinematic sweep, Al di Meola's haunting guitar solos, and gorgeous, emotive vocals. The rest of the set is given over to funk in all its glory and possibilities, from the "Shaft"-ish soul of "Madness" to the hip-swaying funk-pop-soul delight of "Seen You Before," which effortlessly melts into jazz-funk fusion and features another stunning di Meola solo. That number's poppy edge is mirrored by the orchestral pop that fires up the simmering funk of "You and Me," while the prominent and complex rhythm of "Wheels of Fortune" sidles straight up to jazz. But even these funk fusion songs are laced with more organic elements -- the whale song that opens "You and Me," the calling sea gulls that close "Fortune," and the sweeping waves breaking over the last minute of "Madness" included.

These natural and elegant touches help weave the album's highly diverse elements tightly together, giving the set cohesion and each track a sense of a grander scheme, one that joins East to West, space rock to classical music, and fusion to rock in its broadest sense. A sensational album, which continues to impress to this day.



Tracklist:

01 - Prelude 03:04

02 - Seen You Before 06:16


03 - Madness 05:59

04 - Mysteries Of Love 06:47

05 - Wheels Of Fortune 05:36

06 - Beauty 05:11

07 - You And Me 06:59

08 - Ecliptic 02:25





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Go 1976 Go...Live From Paris

Genre: Progressive Rock
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 01:03:45
Size: 145,77 MB



review by Lindsay Planer

The primary difference when comparing this live performance and the rendering simply titled Go is that Go Live From Paris presents the proceedings (as they exist) in a properly linear fashion, as correlated to the Eastern mythology that informed the extended two-part suite. This is in direct contrast to Go, which assembled the contents out of sequence. The stage show was recorded at the Palais Des Sports in Paris, France on June 12, 1976 and the recital setting allows for considerably longer and more exploratory interaction amongst Stomu Yamashta (percussion/piano), Steve Winwood (vocals/keyboards) and Michael Shrieve (drums). They are joined by legendary jazz axeman Al DiMeola (guitar) as well as Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel veteran Klaus Schulze (synthesizer) -- all of whom had contributed to Go. Filling out the band are Jerome Rimson (bass), Pat Thrall (guitar), Brother James (congas) and Karen Friedman (vocals).

In terms of sheer intensity, it is hard to beat DiMeola's searing leads and Winwood's blue-eyed soul on the driving "Ghost Machine," easily topping its former incarnation. "Surfspin" lands into the funky mid-tempo "Time Is Here" highlighted by Karen Friedman's expressive exchanges with Winwood, while Rimson punctuates the rhythm with some penetrating bass interjections. This is followed by the sole Winwood composition "Winner/Loser," which further exemplifies how the spontaneity of the concert yields results that best their predecessors. In fact, on the whole the material on Go sounds like a blueprint for the exceptional and inspired outing found here.

he second movement commences with fairly even renditions of the trifecta "Solitude," "Nature" and "Air Voice" -- which had previously been given the name "Air Over." "Crossing the Line" is an additional zenith, spotlighted by Winwood's emotive vocals and the untamed and otherwise incendiary frenzy of fretwork courtesy of DiMeola. Clocking in just shy of a quarter-hour, "Man of Leo" provides another opportunity for the players to loosen up and fuse their collective improvisations behind DiMeola's intense soloing and the similarly seminal instrumental offerings from Shrieve, Rimson -- who is at his most melodic -- and Freidman's haunting warbles.



Tracklist:

01 - Space Song 02:31

02 - Carnival 01:20

03 - Windspan 08:15

04 - Ghost Machine 03:49

05 - Surfspin 01:47

06 - Time Is Here 07:23

07 - Winner Loser 05:25


08 - Solitude 00:58

09 - Nature 04:31


10 - Air Voice 01:00

11 - Crossing The Line 07:50

12 - Man Of Leo 14:23

13 - Stellar 01:24

14 - Space Requiem 03:09





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Go 1976 Go

Genre: Progressive Rock
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:41:12
Size: 94,41 MB



review by Lindsay Planer

Go (1976) is a concept album in the truest sense of the term, fusing pop/rock with tinges of jazz and elements of classical all connected by a central motif of space travel. More specifically, according to Robin Denselow's liner essay, the theme deals with "change and polarity-fantasy and reality, death and re-birth, things changing to their opposites."

Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood and Michael Shrieve lead an impressive ensemble through soundscapes, unveiled in a variety of perspectives. Perhaps it is the international cast of performers that allows for such an unfettered consortium of ideas that brought together former Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith member Steve Winwood, as well as Santana co-founder Michael Shrieve and mid-'70s era Santana percussionist Yamashta -- the latter of whom were key benefactors to the criminally underrated Santana long-player Borboletta (1974). Ably assisting the festivities are Return to Forever's Al DiMeola (guitar), Klaus Schulze (synthesizer) whose contributions to Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel remain unequaled, and Winwood's one-time Traffic accomplice Rosko Gee (bass), who also had a fruitful run with Can.

Each side of the original LP contains a complete suite of interconnected and continuous music. The haunting and brooding "Crossing the Line" is reminiscent of prog-rockers Alan Parsons Project or pretentious Pink Floyd. Winwood's echo-laden vocals give him an almost palpable and uncomfortable quality, perfectly suited for the austere setting that is light years away from the likes of "Sea of Joy" or "Gimmie Some Lovin'," yet is remarkably akin to "No Time to Live" from Traffic's self-titled platter. Exceedingly soulful is the propellant "Ghost Machine," with DiMeola's fiery fretwork at its best. The funky "Time Is Here" gives Winwood a perfect outlet for his R&B roots, while "Winner/Loser" -- boasting the project's only lyrics penned by Winwood -- concludes with what is arguably the most accessible pop excursion. Robin Denselow's aforementioned essay goes into great detail regarding a rather involved story line aimed at further unifying the otherwise disparate pieces. While the plot won't be ruined here for potential consumers, if your non-musical interests include Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars and other Brainiac-related activities, the two song cycles that comprise Go will definitely be right up your alley.



Tracklist:

01 - Solitude 03:00

02 - Nature 02:35

03 - Air Over 02:28

04 - Crossing The Line 05:05

05 - Man Of Leo 01:57

06 - Stellar 02:25

07 - Space Theme 03:43

08 - Space Requiem 03:50

09 - Space Song 01:39

10 - Carnival 02:48

11 - Ghost Machine 02:09

12 - Surfspin 02:24

13 - Time Is Here 02:54

14 - Winner Loser 04:15





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