A hell
of a groove from organist Don Shinn – one
of the legendary albums recorded for the Landsdowne Series in the UK at the end
of the 60s – and like the rest, a set that turns conventional jazz on its ear! Shinn plays Hammond, and a bit
of piano – but hardly in ways that echo the American scene, save maybe for some
of the changes
of Larry Young – but even then, maybe more in the mode
of Young when he would start to jam a bit more in the 70s – as Don works here alongside guitarist Paul Hodgeson, who's not afraid to add in some exotic elements to his strings – with bass from Eric Ford and drums from Peter Wolf – all delivered with the intensity
of a group who are clearly aware
of the changes in rock, but still lean more heavily towards jazz. This isn't fusion, and it's not really prog either – but a very special blend that makes the album a treasure through and through, on titles that include "Pits
Of Darkness", "A Minor Explosion", "The Jolly Dance", and "
Hearts Of Gladness".