Bob Downes Open Music - 1970 - Electric City (f... Official

Released in 1970 on the legendary Vertigo "swirl" label , by Bob Downes Open Music is a wild, eccentric artifact of the British jazz-rock explosion. The Sound: A Controlled Chaos

: Roughly half the album features Downes on vocals. Critics often note that while his "vocal gifts are not on par with his head-turning instrumental talents," they provide a raw, "naïve honesty" that fits the era's experimental spirit. Key Tracks Bob Downes Open Music - 1970 - Electric City (F...

: A standout "Latiny groover" that highlights the ensemble's rhythmic tight-knittedness. Released in 1970 on the legendary Vertigo "swirl"

: Unlike his more contemplative works, this album features a massive "who's who" of the era's jazz-rock scene, including guitarists Chris Spedding and Ray Russell , and trumpeter Ian Carr . Key Tracks : A standout "Latiny groover" that

Reviewers from All About Jazz and AllMusic generally view it as an essential, if uneven, piece of psychedelic jazz history. It is more accessible than his later avant-garde experiments but retains enough "wildness" to satisfy fans of early fusion and the Vertigo catalog. Discogs : 4.3 / 5 Prog Archives : 3.11 / 5 Bob Downes: Electric City - Album Review - All About Jazz

The album is a "mixed bag" that thrives on cross-pollination between avant-garde jazz, heavy rock, and psychedelic influences.

: Features lyrics by poet Robert Cockburn and sets a dark, progressive tone.