The unmarried "Hocus Pocus" was Focus' biggest hitting in addition to gained the band international popularity. The song, similar inwards some regards to the riff-driven hard rock of Black Sabbath in addition to Deep Purple, anticipated many aspects of 1980s heavy metallic music, in addition to peculiarly the guitar travel of Yngwie Malmsteen alongside Akkerman's role of the harmonic minor in addition to Hungarian nipper scales, uncommon inwards stone music inwards the early on 1970s.
Radical departures inwards musical styles follow inwards the remaining tracks of the album. "Le Clochard" ("The Beggar" inwards French), likewise entitled "Bread", is a melancholy classical guitar slice yesteryear Akkerman alongside van Leer backing on Mellotron strings. "Janis", some other Akkerman-penned ballad, becomes a flute showcase for van Leer alongside multiple tracks on that instrument. "Moving Waves", a pianoforte in addition to vocal solo yesteryear Thijs van Leer, features lyrics yesteryear Sufi poet/master instrumentalist Inayat Khan. "Focus II" features the entire band inwards a classical-jazz fusion instrumental alongside graceful changes of fourth dimension signature.
"Eruption" is a 23 infinitesimal long instrumental piece, a hard rock version of the tale of Orpheus in addition to Euridice in addition to an updated in addition to to a greater extent than modern version of Jacopo Peri's opera Euridice. An uncredited tune from Monteverdi's L'Orfeo opens the suite, in addition to a after segment includes the haunting "Tommy" (after its writer Tom Barlage of the Dutch fusion band Solution). The Zappa-inspired "The Bridge" is a heavily syncopated jam session, culminating inwards some solo guitar riffs reminiscent of "Hocus Pocus" . "Euridice", penned yesteryear Eelko Nobel, is a classical lied which segues into the Gregorian "Dayglow", in addition to then van der Linden's drum solo, "Endless Road". The suite ends alongside a provide to its opening themes, uniting them alongside "Euridice" alongside van der Linden's freeform percussion effectively evoking the audio of fireworks for the finale.
The album that boosted Focus into at to the lowest degree semi-fame exterior of continental Europe, Moving Waves blasts off alongside their hitting single, "Hocus Pocus." Built to a greater extent than or less a killer guitar claw yesteryear Jan Akkerman in addition to a serial of solo turns yesteryear the band, this instrumental replaced "Wipeout" every bit a staple of FM radio. The bizarrely hilarious vocal in addition to squeeze box solos yesteryear Thijs van Leer -- 1 of which absurdly concludes alongside rousing stadium thank yous -- accept to live heard to live believed. After this over-the-top performance, the other tracks look comparatively constrained: the gentle "Le Clochard" features some gorgeous classical guitar over Mellotron strings. The album concludes alongside "Eruption," which spell mimicking the multi-suite nomenclature of Yes in addition to King Crimson, is essentially a side-long jam session. Stop-time Emersonian organ solos alternate alongside languid sections of jazzy guitar redolent of Santana, spell withal other sections are flat-out electrical blues-rock stomps. It's impressive playing, though it comes off every bit a flake meandering after the tightly structured solos that began the album.
"Moving Waves" is an slow to similar classic prog recording. This is my favorite FOCUS issue from their repertoire. "Moving Waves" contains some killer prog moments alongside classical pianoforte in addition to outrageous guitar riffs. "Hocus Pocus" is their signature slice alongside the famous yodeling of Thijs Van Leer. I dear the gooves these guys larn into in addition to the presence of the 'ol Mellotron in addition to classic guitar stone gives "Moving Waves" a high ranking on my all fourth dimension favorite list.
This Netherlandish progressive masterpiece is 1 of the nearly difficult stone progressive album made during that era: indeed January Akkerman's incisive in addition to razor electrical guitars are omnipresent: pure difficult stone solos a la Led Zeppelin, in addition to barely less timid aggressive riffs. The drums are restless, real complex in addition to fast. The keyboards to a greater extent than oft than non consist inwards organ, mellotron, pianoforte in addition to harmonium. The intensely yodeling of Thijs Van Leer on "Hocus Pocus" is LEGENDARY: yous are going to desire to sing it! "Le clochard" has a beautiful floating mellotron inwards the background in addition to impressive & relaxing acoustic guitar parts that should print Steve Hackett himself. The peaceful in addition to rhythmic "Janis" contains mellow flute parts a la Camel. The Pb vocals on "Moving Waves" remind me early on King Crimson. "Focus 2" is an OUTSTANDING real progressive track: January Akkerman "dances" alongside his melodic electrical guitar: it seems that the other instruments follow his partitions, creating real structured in addition to pleasant melodies through beat & air changes.
On side 2, the epic "Eruption" is a REAL progressive masterpiece, sometimes comparable to Jethro Tull's "Thick every bit a brick": the same organ sounds, tons on drums, real melodic bass, straightforward difficult stone electrical guitars; at that spot are some intensely floating mellotron & backing vocals parts; at that spot is a business office which was composed yesteryear the Netherlandish fusion band Solution, coming from the "Divergence" album; at that spot is a poignant & melodic pianoforte part, accompanied alongside electrical guitar in addition to flute; the drum solo is absolutely impressive, having a flake the Neil Peart's style.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Tracks Listing
1. Hocus Pocus (6:42)
2. Le Clochard (2:01)
3. Janis (3:09)
4. Moving Waves (2:42)
5. Focus II (4:03)
6. Eruption (23:04)
-a. Orfeus, Answer, Orfeus
-b. Answer, Pupilla, Tommy, Pupilla
-c. Answer, The Bridge
-d. Euridice, Dayglow, Endless Road
-e. Answer, Orfeus, Euridice
Total Time: 41:41
Personnel
Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, mellotron, harmonium, flutes, vocals
January Akkerman – guitars, bass guitar
Cyril Havermans – bass guitar, vocals on "Pupilla"
Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussion
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