Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Scope I (Dutch Band, Made in Germany, Rights registered in Holland, 1974)



Absolutely a masterpiece of fusion-- it just don't get more masterly than this.  A poor mono rip has been circulating for some time that really didn't do it justice, so I had to purchase the record; please upgrade your copies to this new one.  They of course did another album called Scope II but it wasn't quite as good as this powerhouse.  I hope everyone reading knows this band already.  Briefly what we have here is the best ideas from seminal fusionauts Mahavishnu and Soft Machine in a very listenable but inventive and interesting package without silly frills like overlong solos, like the Heavy Joker with Max Leth jun I posted a long time ago but much better.  Of particular interest is the gorgeous Fender Rhodes, minimoog, and organ playing of Rik Elings, who composed most of the music.  However the guitarist, Rens Nieuwland, is not exactly a shabby player in this outfit-- not at all!

For those who haven't heard this yet, hang on to the handrails, because this is some of the most furious fusion those 'tired old Europeans' (to use Dick Cheney's phrase) have ever produced.  (Now the joke's on Dick of course since he can no longer travel to Europe for fear of being arrested for war crimes and put on trial at the Hague, but he can at least listen to this masterpiece from the privacy of his lead-lined basement bunker 50 feet underground....as he remembers 'Yesternight's Dream:' [track A4] the New American Empire, now a matter made merely of memory alone...)

Yes, I know, more US-bashing.  But bear in mind I've also indulged in Euro-bashing:
http://prognotfrog.blogspot.ca/2012/06/free-fair-holland-1978.html
and singled out the obsessive-compulsive Germans for particular satire often enough...


CREDITS:
Bass, Grand Piano, PercussionErik Raayman
Drums, PercussionHenk Zomer       
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Organ [Hammond], Grand Piano, Flute, Synthesizer [Minimoog]Rik Elings
EngineerVolker Heintzen
GuitarRens Nieuwland
ProducerJochen Petersen, Scope (15)

And to think this record is almost 40 years old now!
Kayak...etc.:




Yesternight's Dream:






21 comments:

Tristan Stefan said...

http://netkups.com/?d=b528a3811b5f3

Tristan Stefan said...

Maybe someone can add some info about what those two went on to do after this band, I checked the discography of Rik Elings and was puzzled he didn't do more fusion composition in the seventies, considering how strong his ideas were.

Tristan Stefan said...

http://we.tl/PewZ21SMni
lossless, it will be up only for a week

and check out the solo fender chords in the middle passage of the first track, wow

DutchPrivatePressings said...

I have the Scope II album in mp3/320Kbs available for sharing. So if you want it...

Franco said...

Thanks so much for the time and effort presenting this in Flac Tristan!!
Great LP.

Regards.

Roaring Harm said...

Dear Tristan, I'll rip the Scope II for You in short so You can post it over here. =)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the upload, Tristan By the way, could you please reupload the two Free Fair albums?

Tristan Stefan said...

OK for free fair albums will do asap probably this weekend

Anonymous said...

Dear Tristan thanks a lot for this precious issue!!
I'm searching sice a long time 2 german jazzrock albums:
CRY FREEDOM Sunny day
HOLDE FEE Malaga
Is it possible that You post them in future?
Thanks again PIER DE HATFIELD

Tristan Stefan said...

have a look at the post: Teo macero - betrayal OST
these will be posted in the comments section there, promise

trank grappa said...

super band, super music! thanks a lot for all the good music you posted in your blog. i discovered many bands i didn't know before and appreciate it a lot! :-)

qs said...

Damn...i missed the flac version. Would...you be..so kind...please?! My eternal gratitude.

Anonymous said...

Aloha from Kauai, I missed on this. Would some kind soul possibly reup for me...mucho gracias..

Glowing in Hawaii. Kinebee

Julianryan said...

Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. For Hawaii I will do anything. Lossless Scope I and II will be posted here on my blog:
http://progressreview.blogspot.com

qs said...

Not Kauai but Kortrijk (Belgium)...not the most beautiful place on the planet but we do know how to say thanks. Thanks :-)

francisco santos said...

Scope III (Fusion Xtreme) 1977
https://mega.co.nz/#!tgpxlAYB!eAx6CDA9DDRTVGpQtf9F_nAhKG4bbHCuL2TWOPqMmHI
ENJOY

francisco santos said...

the link will be up for a short time
them if you want you can post it...OK ?

Keith said...

Any chance you can post again in FLAC? I missed it the first time around and I have been searching for this. Anything you can do would be super appreciated. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Would anyone be able to re-up the link for Scope III? Many thanks!

Cheers,
Cpt. Beyond

Franco said...

Re-Up for Scope III anybody?..........Please? !!!

Unknown said...

Scope III is on CdBaby released by the guitarist Rens Newland

Post a Comment