Search - Jan Akkerman :: Profile

Scary, but exhilarating

Rob Ainsley | London | 01/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Side 2 is for fans only, but Side 1 is one of the most extraordinary tracks I've heard: the 20-minute improvisation of 'Fresh Air'. Manic, raw, unfettered, full of unexpected melodic and harmonic twists, and thankfully not "cleaned up" or "improved" by producers, it's an exhilaratingly scary type of music from a forgotten era. For those who find Akkerman's guitar work on the excellent Focus albums not quite exploratory or challenging enough, this is just the thing. And it's not all wild - the anguished, heartfelt lyricism of 'Blue Notes for Listening' definitely stands up to the best of Akkerman or Focus. One of my all-time top 20 albums."

I agree, it's good!

Daniel P. Rimsa | Navarre, FL United States | 05/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you like the good Focus recordings, you will like this. It is like Focus 3 but much wilder guitar on the rocking pieces and refined Baroque lute pieces also. We played this once for an older friend and he said it reminded him of Bolivian Indian music, only slower. I thought he was joking until I heard proper Bolivian music. It's manical yet innovative. I am awaiting the arrival of a CD as I listen to a 25 year old record I dug out of the collexion. A good clean copy will make a good record better."

I'd give it an extra star

R. O'Brien | Anchorage, Alaska | 01/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Too bad the limit is 5 stars. This is the album which convinced multitudes that Jan was the World's Greatest Guitarist in the early 70's. Only previously available in degraded recorded quality on the Talent's Profile double-CD, this features Fresh Air a progressive fusion rock magnum opus, as well as the minor gem Blue Boy. Jan noodles on the lute for much of the rest, exhibiting his strictly music-based ambitions. The sound quality is impressive. This CD sounds magnificent on a great stereo system!"