Isotope-Illusion (1974)

Rooted in the Canterbury sound, Isotope was a short-lived band that, with two solid albums, burst onto the progressive rock scene, leaving a lasting impression on fans of the genre in the mid-seventies. Centered on the prominence of their leader, guitarist Gary Boyle, who, along with keyboardist Brian Miller, released their self-titled debut album, "Isotope", in 1974 a well-crafted jazz-rock record that, despite its high quality, went somewhat unnoticed by the general public. For their next album, "Illusion", released the same year, Laurence Scott replaced Miller, and former Soft Machine member Hugh Hopper took over on bass from Jeff Clyne. On this new release, Gary Boyle takes on a more prominent role, and his guitar work is outstanding. Hopper also showcases his experience, injecting considerable power into the tracks with his energetic bass playing. “Illusion” was their best work, where the band affirmed their class, reaching high levels within the progressive Canterbury sound.