Secret Oyster - Sea Son


Year of Release: 2006
Label: The Laser's Edge
Catalog Number: LE1045
Format: CD
Total Time: 49:25:00

It is not often that one comes across a Danish "supergroup," but there is a first time for everything. Secret Oyster's success may not have reached far beyond Denmark, but it was enough to support a few lengthy tours and a recording contract with CBS in the 70s. The band's music has been labeled jazz-fusion and compared with the biggest names of the era like The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever. Sea Son, the band's second album from 1974, is filled with repetitive musical foundations providing the platform for a jam type feel. "Mind Movie" is the perfect example, consisting of a nine-minute guitar jam that has more in common with rock and psychedelia than fusion. The music seems to find a groove or riff, and then falls into a holding pattern, not moving far beyond the original idea. The ideas themselves are interesting, but a lack of contrast leaves me begging for the band to shift gears more often.

The opening "Oysterjungle" is a brief two minutes, but the horns and violins create enough tension with their dissonance, that I felt I was in for a treat. The string quartet used to open "Painforest" is interesting, and I like the transition the song takes when the band comes in. Bonus tracks "Sea Son" and "Alfresco Part I" are a bit odd in that they use the same themes/riffs found in "Pajamamafia." There is unique music in each, but overall their additions are dispensable. "Alfresco Part II" has potential, but never really develops. I have continued to listen to Sea Son giving it many chances to grow on me. I do admit to hearing more of the fusion influence than my initial reaction, but ultimately, I just find this music jammy, repetitive, and often times boring. The Laser's Edge has satisfied the desire of many 70s fusion fans with the remastering and first time ever CD release of Sea Son. If there is one thing that we can all agree on, it's that Secret Oyster's music has been long overdue for release.


Tracklisting:
Oysterjungle (3:01) / Mind Movie (9:16) / Pajamamafia (6:12) / Black Mist (3:41) / Painforest (5:32) / Paella (8:27) / Bonus tracks: Sea Son (5:25)/ Alfresco, Part I (5:39) / Alfresco, Part II (2:07)

Musicians:
Claus Bohling - guitars
Karsten Vogel - sax & keys
Kenneth Knudsen - keys & Moog
Jess St?hr - bass
Ole Steenberg - drums & percussion

Guests:

Palle Mikkelborg - trumpet
Finn Ziegler - violin
Kasper Winding - congas

Discography:
Secret Oyster (1974)
Sea Son (1975/2006)
Vidunderlige K?lling (1976)
Straight To The Krankenhaus (1977)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin DK

Added: February 19th 2007
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Hits: 2444
Language: english

  

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