Colosseum - Daughter of Time (1970) (@256)
(Review from progarchives.com)
Colosseum were one of the earliest progressive bands, but also in many ways were pioneers of the emerging 'jazz rock/fusion' style. Although hardly the first band to attempt such a fusion, Colosseum were one of the most popular acts at the time, and tended to make jazz accessible to the rock masses as their compositions were often tighter than many working within the jazz rock realm at this point.
This album saw Chris Farlowe, veteran blues singer, join the band. Whilst on the surface this doesn't seem to be a natural fusion, in fact Farlowe was doubtless already familiar with the members as he'd played in the same R & B circuit of the 60s; indeed Dave Greenslade had been in Farlowe's band for a time. Much respected guitarist Clem Clempson of Bakerloo also replaced the vocalist/guitarist James Litherland, and Mark Clarke replaced Tony Reeves. The resulting album, 'Daughter Of Time', saw a heavier accent on rock than previous efforts, but is still an utterly superb album; Farlowe's vocals are remarkably good here, and he fitted in far better with Colosseum than he did in Atomic Rooster.
'Three Score and Ten, Amen' is one of the most dramatic openers to any prog album. It's introduced by some staggeringly declarative vocal choirs, crunching guitars and powerful percussion, before Farlowe's uptempo vocals and Clarke's bass add a touch of funk to proceedings. Farlowe then gets more melodramatic, bellowing out the chorus, that introduces a funk rock section with powerful guitar work and a more pensive narrated section, leading to a gloriously overblown climax with squealing vocals from Farlowe.
'Time Lament' is a more typical piece, beginning with an intricate jazz section with saxophone and percussion to the fore, plus some neat orchestrations. 'Take Me Back To Doomsday' has a Chicago like vibe, thanks to a neat keyboard and bass heavy intro, with some wonderfully florid piano lines by Dave Greenslade, before the main melody kicks in. The riff is quite beefy and heavy, with powerful guitar riffing and bass playing to the fore, and some superb sax solos. 'Daughter Of Time' is a very dramatic piece, with superb keyboard work and saxophone to the fore, yet the drumming of Jon Hiseman and a furiously melodramatic vocal from Chris Farlowe steal the show on this superb track.
'Theme From An Imaginary Western' is a Jack Bruce/Pete Brown song that has been recorded many times, yet this is Colosseum's take on it. 'Bring Out Your Dead' is a superb instrumental, with some flawless organ work from Dave Greenslade that melanges wonderfully well with the percussion and sax work from Dick Heckstall Smith, making for a thrilling listen. 'Downhill and Shadows' is a mournful, bluesy lament that sounds akin to something from Bakerloo's one and only album, due to the powerhouse guitar work of Clem Clempson, yet a commanding vocal from Chris Farlowe means it scores higher.
This edition of the album includes a bonus live recording of 'The Time Machine' and as such sounds slightly out of place here. It's a drum solo, a fact that may turn many off, but Jon Hiseman was always one of the greatest drummers within the whole of the rock world, and is as such never boring and always thrilling to listen to.
'Daughter Of Time' is an album often considered to be the weaker of Colosseum's albums, but it's every bit as good as those were, if a bit different -- the band was brimming with great ideas and musical innovation.
Line-up :
- Jon Hiseman / drums
- Dick-Heckstall-Smith / saxes
- Dave Greenslade / organ, piano, vibes
- Clem Clempson / guitar, vocals
- Mark Clarke / bass
- Chris Farlowe / vocals
with
- Barbara Thompson / flute, saxes
- Louis Cennamo / bass
Track List :
01. Three Score And Ten, Amen - 5:38
02. Time Lament - 6:13
03. Take Me Back To Doomsday - 4:25
04. The Daughter Of Time - 3:33
05. Theme For An Imaginary Western - 4:07
06. Bring Out Your Dead - 4:20
07. Downhill And Shadows - 6:13
08. The Time Machine (Bonus Live At The Royal Albert Hall) - 8:11
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