In 2015 Rolling Stone magazine ranked it every bit the 30th best progressive stone album of all time.
This band represents a vital slice of the wonderfully incestuous history of English linguistic communication progressive rock. As whatever fan knows, members of the U.K. prog scene tended to displace freely from 1 band to another, creating all sorts of interesting cross-pollinations to the betoken that the genre's development looks something similar a geneaology chart.
Just to yell ii examples: John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson et.al., stopped past times hither earlier going on to bring together the prog-veteran supergroup Asia, acre Bill Bruford brought credentials of Yes, King Crimson too others to this outing. He also has had many other stops since.
This is an first-class album that does non deserve its relative lack of attending (both today too when it was released). It takes progressive stone inwards a new, jazz fusion-oriented direction that tin give the sack live seen to stimulate got led to Brand X, with others.
As a teenager, I purchased U.K. inwards the 70s on vinyl. It actually took me ii decades to prepare a total appreciation for its complexities, to the betoken that it at 1 time ranks every bit 1 of my cracking progressive albums of all time. If yous stimulate got whatever affinity for this type of music (or cracking music inwards general), yous won't regret adding this album to your collection.
If you're a progressive stone fan, this disc is a treasure. Almost xxx years after it's initial release, this album nonetheless sounds fresh too leaves a stunning impact. When I get-go heard this I was listening to a lot of heavy guitar oriented music too the ethereal layered keyboards of Eddie Jobson made me cast the initial persuasion that this was mellow. After hundreds of repeated spins this has go 1 of my favorite discs, too fifty-fifty though in that location are many tranquillity passages it's far from mellow. It only takes fourth dimension to appreciate the depth of this music. Clocking inwards a lilliputian over 46 minutes, this disc is total of polish every bit drinking glass segues too matchless music with all band members contributing and/or collaborating inwards the songwriting duties.
Eddie Jobson's keyboard playing too occasional electrical violin operate is spot on. John Wetton has a haunting vocal musical note that is perfectly suited for this type of music too his bass playing is awesome. Bill Bruford, the master copy percussion player, pulls off many syncopated, impossible, drumming maneuvers with ease. Allan Holdsworth is 1 of the most original guitar players always too his playing throughout this disc is amazing. It's a shame that this lineup of U.K. lasted less than a year, but they created, inwards my opinion, 1 of the best prog-rock discs ever.
In 1978 iv extraordinary musicians came together to cast the outfit known every bit U.K.. Bill Bruford too John Wetton, from King Crimson, joined Eddie Jobson, of Roxy Music, too fusion guitarist Alan Holdsworth to utilization this dark, brooding but powerful recording. Progressive stone fans held onto the promise that this could essay to live a novel direction for the genre. Unfortunately, it proved to live to a greater extent than of a in conclusion gasp every bit the band dissever inwards ii next this debut. Only Wetton too Jobson remained too presented ii uninspired follow-up recordings. This disc, on the other hand, is particular too is good worth adding to one's collection. It presents a creative too innovative union of progressive stone to that of jazz-fusion acre borrowing greatly from the direction set out past times Wetton, Bruford too Robert Fripp inwards their in conclusion collective efforts with King Crimson. Highly recommended.
In around ways U.K. represented both the in conclusion hurrah of progressive music's golden age, too the measure past times which all other supergroups that followed would live judged. The impeccable technical precision, complex yet modern arrangements, too dynamic alive performances made them an overnight legend whose reputation has far outlasted their brief existence. No other supergroup, progressive or otherwise, has had such an immediate too lasting impact.
The band was formed inwards 1978 past times bassist John Wetton too drummer Bill Bruford, both fresh from the USA tour (and accompanying alive album) of KING CRIMSON. Keyboardist & violinist Eddie Jobson had also played on the KC tour too album, but was ameliorate known for his bright operate on a string of ROXY MUSIC albums, every bit good every bit their seventies alive album, "Viva!". Wetton briefly secured guitar wiz-kid Eric Johnson for the band every bit well, but Johnson's ain projection (the "Seven Wonders" solo album) too the legal wranglings that were accompanying it would exertion Johnson to rapidly withdraw too live replaced past times around other guitar virtuoso, Allan Holdsworth, who had worked with SOFT MACHINE too GONG, inwards improver to his solo operate earlier joining UK. This was the get-go inwards what would go a serial of lineup changes earlier the band would disband for skillful less than ii years later.
The star-studded lineup had no problem securing a tape deal, too Polydor released their self-titled debut on the E.G. label that same year, which is oftentimes credited every bit the get-go successful stone supergroup studio release ever. The music is characterized past times layered synthesizers, jazz-inspired guitars too bass, too inwards full general past times exceptionally high-quality musicianship. The band followed the release with a lengthy promotional tour.
Bruford would release a couplet of albums nether the BRUFORD BAND yell next this tour, too would eventually furnish to the KING CRIMSON lineup for their "Discipline" release inwards 1981. Holdsworth also appeared on the BRUFORD BAND releases, too would afterwards number a serial of solo albums inwards improver to a broad arrive at of session appearances. Terry Bozzio (FRANK ZAPPA, GROUP 87) would supersede Bruford, too the trio would release the band's 2d too in conclusion studio album a twelvemonth afterwards ("Danger Money"). Without a replacement for Holdsworth, this album suffered due to overcompensation on violin too keyboards, too the band disbanded next after the Japanese leg of the promotional tour. H5N1 alive album of that tour would live released presently after, but the band was finished. There were rumors of a reunion inwards the nineties, but despite the fact that most of the members would operate together on occasion next the band's demise, no U.K. collaboration would occur. Wetton would go along to commercial success with ASIA, too Bozzio would likewise strike it rich with MISSING PERSONS.
UK generated a bright flash of publicity when they formed at the halt of the progressive music decade. But the fickle too rapidly changing tastes of the public, tape label pressure level to commercialize their sound, too other to a greater extent than lucrative opportunities all combined to select well-nigh a rapid halt to a fascinating lineup. GTR, ASIA, too many others would go downward the supergroup path inwards UK's wake, but none would utilization it with to a greater extent than style.
UK deserve a house inwards the Archives for the impressive resumes of its diverse members, the essentially classic self-titled debut they issued inwards 1978, too the influence they had over an entire generation of top-notch progressive too stone musicians past times piloting the concept of a super grouping of musicians existence brought together for the sole role of capitalizing on each other's sounds. Tracks Listing
In The Dead Of Night (Suite):
-1. In The Dead Of Night (5:38)
-2. By The Light Of Day (4:32)
-3. Presto Vivace And Reprise (2:58)
4. Thirty Years (8:05)
5. Alaska (4:45)
6. Time To Kill (4:55)
7. Nevermore (8:09)
8. Mental Medication (7:26)
Total Time: 45:14
Personnel
Allan Holdsworth – guitar
Eddie Jobson – keyboards, electrical violin, electronics
John Wetton – bass, Pb too backing vocals
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
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