Absolute Elsewhere-Playground (2024)

It took almost 50 years for the British group Absolute Elsewhere to release their second album. The reason this album wasn't released in the late 70s was due to new musical trends, which led Warner Records to abandon the project, shelving its release despite it having already been recorded. The lineup for this second album was the same as the one for their ambient and progressive debut, "In Search of Ancient Gods", which was discussed on this blog years ago, with the exception of drummer Bill Bruford, who was replaced by former Greenslade member Andy McCulloch. The rest of the band consisted of keyboardist Paul Fishman, bassist Jon Astrop, and guitarist Phil Saatchi, who also contributed vocals, along with guest saxophonist John Savannah. Unlike their debut album, the compositions on this second release moved away from atmospheric electronic sounds, developing a style that fused progressive rock with elements of jazz rock and hard rock. Recorded at CTS Wembley Studios in London during 1977 and 1978, the album utilized cutting-edge recording technologies such as the Neve automated console, resulting in a structured and innovative sound. Tracks like the captivating "Relax", the jazz-rock/fusion "Time to Change", the catchy "Talk to Me", the semi-progressive "The 7 Year Itch", and the ethereal "Tides" are filled with soaring keyboards, dynamic instrumental textures, and a sense of both immense complexity and accessibility, culminating in an album that is both technically flawless and exhilarating.