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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 38, No. 6 April 10, 1975

Rock

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Rock

Rock

Rock

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Tim Weisbert 4

Tim Weinberg; never heard of him. Right? Nor had 1, but wincing at the gaudy cover I ventured 'not another singer/songwriter from L A - city of fallen angels?' Let's face it, we need another of those like we need another Richard Nixon.

And what an atrocious cover. Sort of glossy pink with some grinning all-American guy reclining in a can chair. Back photo is of same, only now Weisberg is joined by his equally wholesome cohorts. One of the tracks is called 'Angelic Smiles'. Precisely.

First impressions decidedly negative. A quick look at the credits. A little more interesting. Judee Sill of 'Jrsus Was a Cross-maker' fame helps out on a few tracks. Tim Weisberg obviously fancies himself as a flautist, he's listed here as playing flute, bass flute, alto flute and [unclear: eb] flute, as well as piccolo and synthesiser. Four friends account for guitars, keyboards, percussion and more synthesiser.

So he's apparently not just another guitar-picking lost soul.

Onto the music then. Side 1, Track 1 is 'Invisible Messenger'. A promising enough start with whirling synthesisers, cutting to organ, then flute. But it doesn't go anywhere. I've nothing against instrumental meanderings, some of my best albums are just that, but the music here is stilted, it doesn't flow. Tracks of only a minute's duration don't help.

A few grandiose titles are thrown in here, try 'Winged Invitation' or 'Flight of the Phoenix', and a poor Santa-esque percussion break there, but nothing of consequence.

I eagerly awaited the final track featuring Judee Sill on vocals, but all we get is 1:20 of a slowly fading soul chorus.

At limes the music seems tailormade for a score for one of those American cops and robbers series. And it is Ok to do crosswords by. But for instrumental music with some intensity and creativeness check out the real stuff; the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Return to Forever.

Pleasant enough, but ultimately pointless.

Ladies Love Outlaws: Tom Rush

Here is an album that is all of a piece, a sort of New York 'Astral Weeks', its material supremely laid back acoustic jazz-rock that on first listening is pleasant and after several, more absorbing.

The basic instrumental components are Rush (vocals and acoustic guitar), Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter and Elliot Randell (guitars), Bob Babbit (bass) and Andrew Smith (drums) to which other ingredients such as the Memphis Horns, Carly Simon and James Taylor are added as need be. The sound, with the exception of the title song, varies only subtly from cut to [unclear: cut]

Rush possesses a broad baritone that is somewhat reminiscent of his earlier Elektra folkie cohorts without the hysteria. He phrases more like a cool jazz man, seldom using his voice other than as a leading line above a tightly co-ordinated instrumental texture. Though this approach de-emphasises the wistfully appealing lyrics selected by Rush to the point that they hardly count at all, it increases one's awareness of Rush as a musical thinker of exceptional sophistication. Among the better-known contemporary singer/songwriters only Jackson Browne shows a similar tendency towards such understated reserve, but Rush carries this reserve much further.

One of the album's ten songs - 'No Regrets' is familiar, having been previously recorded by Rush and a handful of other artists. Of the other nine cuts, the two most outstanding are 'Desperadoes Waiting for a Train', the album's impressive demonstration of Rush's hermetic ensemble writing; and 'Indian Woman from Wichita', the only cut in which a melody is allowed to absolutely dominate the instrumentation.

The final impression Rush leaves behind is one of prodigious musical intelligence [unclear: comvined] with an attitude of serene resignation. It makes for a subtly intoxicating brew - good rainy day/Sunday afternoon music.

Performance - Fairport Convention 15 April 1975

To the delight of many concert-goers Fairport Convention are returning for yet another concert at the Town Hall. The good news is that Sandy Denny has permanently returned to the fold so we'll probably be seeing a more mature Fairport this time. [unclear: Wo it] so good is the news that drummer Dave Mattacks has left the band: his replacement is rumoured to be Bruce Rowling from the Grease Band. Australian Greg Quill will be supporting.

Also, there will be a reception for the band on the 14th, probably at the airport and if you'd like a chance to chat with your heroes then it can be arranged - leave name and phone number at the Salient office.