Jack Bruce – Out of the Storm
Thankfully – for miserable old barks such as my good self, anyway – the summer is all but over and a respite from all this sunshine and happiness beckons, with several months’ worth of grey skies, torrential rain, high winds and the occasional blizzard to look forward to. Granted, not the most dramatic departure from the weather we British types have already enjoyed this summer, but at least it gets dark earlier.
Heralding this imminent change of season is the reissue of Jack Bruce’s 1974 album, the aptly titled Out of the Storm.
A formidable offering, it captures the prolific bassist and vocalist (perhaps most famous for making up one third of psychedelic supergroup Cream) during a particularly fruitful period of his solo years. Kicking off with the stately ‘Peaces of Mind’, a progressive piece demonstrating some fine piano-work (which also featured on last month’s ‘Prog Rock Mixtape‘), Out of the Storm maintains a strong pace throughout, never once blowing anything across the threshold akin to a dud.
High drama is the order of the day, with Bruce’s driving basslines lavishly embellished by his incorporation of a variety of key-based instruments (Fender Rhodes, organ, harmonium etc). The lyrics – courtesy of long term collaborator, Pete Brown – and vocals all veer towards the melodramatic, matching the underlying melodies perfectly and though this album is a tour-de-force of jazz/prog rock, it allows itself some heavier moments, piled high with thundering drums and scorching guitar, courtesy of Jim Keltner and Steve Hunter respectively.
The track, ‘Into the Storm’, demonstrates this powerful blend perfectly, shaking the rafters and providing a dynamic counterpoint to more enigmatic excursions such as ‘Golden Days’ and ‘Running Through Our Hands’.
For the completists out there, the Esoteric reissue offers five early mixes of selected tracks as a (Jack) Brucie bonus. All in all, a job well done.
Out of the Storm by Jack Bruce is available to buy from Amazon.co.uk
Don’t just read and applaud. Subscribe to the rather splendid RSS Feed
Hi Nick
Looks great, who’s in the band? I have (and love) Songs for a Tailor and Things We Like, great stuff. However after that I never really got round to having a listen.
Thanks for your interesting articles, and the entertaining tweets also.
Best – Joe
Thanks Joe. I endeavor to please.
The band consists of Jack on vocals, bass, keyboards and harmonica; Steve Hunter on lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars; and Jim Keltner on drums, except for three tracks where Jim Gordon replaces him.
Definitely worth a shot.
One of my all-time favourites. ‘One’ is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, Jack’s singing is sublime.
And the outro jam of Timeslip absolutely rips.
A worthy successor to Harmony Row, Tamas.
Loved “Songs for a tailor”, must check this out!
PS something of a sad comment on the way the music business works when someone as talented as Jack comes second in the public’s mind to Clapton just because he’s a bass player, not lead guitarist.
Indeed so, Laura. I know who I’d rather get stuck in an elevator with and it’s not the one that seems to think people calling him “god” is a substitute for a personality.