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Zapotec: Alpha Centuri
By"American in Japan (Revisited)" is an early Dregsish piece with great violin and keys. Curtis' playing is more Jade Warrior than Dregsian on this cut. The song is a journey right back to nostalgic prog fusion. "Nameless Thing" reminded me of a cross between PFM's Jet Lag and the Dregs again but with a Mahavishnu Orch. mid-song jam.
"Dusk" had a laidback, live jam feel to it. It was a Wishbone Ash moment, (one guitar though). A piano, drums, and occasional bass were backup for Curtis' 2:57 noodling. Violin joins in for the outro. "Tribal" had a raw-edged, live feel as well. Curtis played reverby and with ample delay. I felt like I was sitting about third row back listening to this jam session. Guitar and violin did a lot of conversational solos. This tune was very Flying Island.
"Spirit Hollow" is Curtis doing the acoustic, Kottke/Tibbetts/NeilYoung thang sans percussion. A wonderful channel-to-channel violin wafts in for the outro. The 19:19 remainder of the disc is essentially two extended, space rockish/ jazz rock fusion jams. One 6:03 jam has a noticeable degree of master tape hiss with an abrupt ending. Recommended fusion.
Zapotec: Alpha Centuri (CD, 59:50); Psycho-Audible PA-0001
Reprinted with the permission of John Collinge and Progression Magazine .
Personnel
Album information
Title: Alpha Centuri | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Psycho-Audible
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