Nucleus - Elastic Rock (Vertigo 1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

A beautifully judged and played jazz-rock album, 'Elastic Rock' marked the beginning of a series of intricate and experimental fusion albums for the group's leader, trumpet-player Ian Carr. As did Soft Machine, Nucleus developed from a jazz-orientated outfit into a more progressive, fusion-based collective (in later years the group would come to be known as 'Ian Carr & Nucleus) with later albums, such as 1976's 'Alley Cat', adding electronics to the already eclectic brew. However, their debut, which was released in 1970, remains a dense and smoky jazz album at heart, with an almost exotically bucolic sound at it's core. Opener '1916' is reminiscent of 'Kind Of Blue' era Miles Davis, as is the gorgeous acoustica of 'Twisted Track', whilst the eponymous title-track explores prog-style instrumental weirdness a la King Crimson's Bob Fripp. The albums stand-out piece, 'Torrid Zone', is a highly-charged and emotive composition, featuring a collection of ultra-talented musicians charging through reams of jazz-fusion and running the gamut from cool & funky to hot & furious and back again via quieter, mellower inflections. 'Elastic Rock' is, with the possible exception of their sophomore-effort 'We'll Talk About It Later', Ian Carr and co's most complete long-player. The album combines many disparate elements, some more akin to Jazz than others, but never repeats itself or dwells too long in any one mood or section. Each piece is carefully constructed and expertly composed, with acoustic and electric guitars, heavy basses, trumpets, saxophones, drums and keyboards all swinging to the same improvisational/experimental beat. The original album is now a highly sought-after collectable.

Tracklisting:

A1. 1916

A2. Elastic Rock

A3. Striation

A4. Taranaki

A5. Twisted Track

A6. Crude Blues Part One

A7. Crude Blues Part Two

A8. 1916 (Battle of Boogaloo)

B1. Torrid Zone

B2. Stonescape

B3. Earth Mother

B4. Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think…

B5. Persephones Jive

Nucleus:
Ian Carr - Trumpet/flugelhorn
Karl Jenkins - Baritone/oboe/piano/Hohner electra piano
Brian Smith - Tenor/soprano/flute
Chris Spedding - Guitar
Jeff Clyne - Bass/electric bass
John Marshall - Drums/percussion

Recorded at Trident Studios, London 12/13/16/21st January 1970
Produced by Pete King for Ronnie Scott Directions Ltd.