IAN CARR WITH NUCLEUS 'Solar Plexus' LP (UK, Be With Records, Catalogue #BEWITH127LP) Brand new/unplayed copy of limited year 2023 Be With Records label LP edition of 1971 UK JAZZ ROCK MONSTER! album (originally released in 1971 in the UK on the legendary Vertigo Records label) entitled Solar Plexus by Ian Carr's Nucleus! If you were wanting another band to listen to that could go toe-to-toe with none other than Miles Davis's own contemporaneous electric era groups, these Nucleus cats were it! (quite fitting, too, seeing as how Ian Carr is a top biographer of and lifetime expert on Davis himself.) A highly anticipated reissue (following on from the Jazzman label's sensational Don Rendell/Ian Carr Quintet reissues from several years ago, the issuance of which caused a worldwide frenzy of jazzbo maniacs going wild in acquiring those long out of print and highly coveted holy grails of British Modal Jazz) and once again, Be With Records has knocked it out of the park with this slab. Solar Plexus is a highly recommended addition to your record shelves if you have even only just the faintest tangential interest in the sound and waxings of the top monsters of '70s Funk Fusion Jazz Rock. If your interest in this arena already runs deep, acquisition of Solar Plexus is as mandatory as it gets!
(NOTE: ALL RECORDS ARE PACKED AND SHIPPED IN PROFESSIONAL, SUPERIOR QUALITY RECTANGULAR SHAPED, CORNER PROTECTING CORRUGATED CARDBOARD RECORD MAILERS WITH FILLER PADS. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!)
(NOTE: BRAND NEW/FACTORY SEALED ITEM!)
(NOTE: LIMITED VINYL EDITION!)
The outstanding Solar Plexus, the much-loved third album from Ian Carr and Nucleus, was first released on Vertigo in 1971. Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era.
Ian Carr describes Solar Plexus: "I wrote Solar Plexus last year with the help of an Arts Council grant. It is based on two short themes which are stated at the beginning ('Elements I' and 'II'). The first theme is angular and has a slow, crab-like movement: the second theme is direct, simple and diatonic. 'Changing Time' and 'Spirit Level' explore the first theme and 'Bedrock Deadlock' and 'Torso' explore the second one. 'Snakehips Dream' tries to fuse both themes. (The title is a reference to the famous dancer 'Snakehips' Johnson)."
Solar Plexus features the same lineup as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later, but they're augmented by six guests, three of which play brass. Carr himself had almost full control of the writing and it does feel very different to the previous albums. It's more of a jazz record loosely based on a rock foundation rather than jazz fusion jamming. The haunting synth-and-bass soundscape "Elements I and II" opens the album in dramatic, experimental fashion. It gives way to the bright, funky feel-good jazz of "Changing Times". An elegant onslaught of horns, courtesy of guests Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett, ride a solid groove for the duration. The melancholic "Bedrock Deadlock" features the brooding majesty of Jenkins's oboe and Clyne's mournful, skittering double bass. Wah wah guitar, drums and funky percussion then take over before the horns ride you out over frenetic beats. The dark, angular "Spirit Level" is a real highlight, by turns harmonic and beautiful then dissonant and wayward. The breezy soul of "Torso" feels like a breath of fresh air, skipping along in the up-tempo style with guitar, horns, drums and bass. A track which truly sounds scintillating, featuring sax solos, fantastic propulsive interplay from all the group around the halfway stage before Marshall gets his chance to really shine in closing out with a polyrhythmic drum solo. Final track "Snakehips' Dream" stretches cooly out over 15 minutes to round out a spellbinding album. An epic, suave groove, it's a relaxing piece with warm electric keys, laconic guitar and languorous horns. Truly sophisticated soulful jazz. Remastered from the original Vertigo master tapes by Simon Francis. Cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Studios. Gatefold sleeve.
- The outstanding Solar Plexus, the much-loved third album from Ian Carr and Nucleus, was first released on Vertigo in 1971.
Solar Plexus features the same lineup as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later, but they're augmented by six guests, including Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett.
- More of a jazz record loosely based on a rock foundation rather than jazz fusion jamming.
- Remastered from the original Vertigo master tapes by Simon Francis.
- Gatefold sleeve.
Tracks on this LP are as follows:
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