AMG Review of History: 1976-1980

Mike DeGagne
All Music Guide

A delightful overabundance of jazz fusion alongside dashes of progressive rock is the best way to describe the exquisite music of Brand X, whose drums were struck by Phil Collins for their first three albums, but was soon replaced by Chris Burghi and then Mike Clarke towards the end of the seventies. Actually, only John Goodsall remained with the band during their short stint, which makes A History 1976- 1980 all the more attractive as a compilation. This quick turnover within the band's lineup gave each album a definitive style and structure, represented firmly within this collection's ten tracks. 1977's Moroccan Roll and Unorthodox Behaviour, their debut album, were Brand X's most solid work, and tracks like "Disco Suicide and "Born Ugly" prove it. The flurry of keyboards and aberrant guitar provided an enormous easel on which the band painted their unrestricted free-form of rock, including volatile bursts of harmony and instrumentation. "The Poke" from 1978's Masques is a fine example of this, while "Pool Room Blues" has the band gearing down just a wee bit. This compilation could have been bettered by at least six or seven more tracks, but A History does characterize the unregulated configuration of this talented band. Each of their albums should be heard on their own as well though, as they each embrace their own unique personality.