A trio
of classics from this electronic duo – all brought together in a single set! First up is In A Wild Sanctuary – one
of the best records ever from Beaver and Krause – largely because there's not so much noodling! This one features the pair on moog and organ, with help from Dave Grusin on piano, Milt Hol
land on percussion, Howard Roberts on guitar, and Bud Shank on reeds. The sound isn't jazz at all – but more a mix
of spacey grooves and bubbling bits, with much more
of a song-like structure than on other records. There's a few nice cuts here that almost hit a groove, and even when they don't, they still have a nice stripped down moogy sound that's very pleasing. Titles include "Spaced", "Salute To The Vanishing Bald Eagle", "
People's Park", "Walking Green Algae Blues", and "Another Part
Of Time". Gandharva is a cool mixture
of rock and electronics – a perfect example
of the Beaver & Krause team at their best! The ensemble on this one is bigger than usual, and the players includes jazz musicians like Mike Bloomfield, Gerry Mulligan, and Howard Roberts – but Beaver & Krause still play a lot
of moog, though, and the songs are pretty groovy – although a little short. Side 2 was recorded at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Titles include "Soft/
White", "Walkin By The River", "Walkin", "Nine
Moons In Alaska", "Bright Shadows", and "Short Film For David". All Good Men is a higher concept album than usual for the team
of Beaver & Krause – a record that still features plenty
of cool moog and electronics by the pair, but which also has them teamed up with arranger Jimmie Haskell in a set
of tunes that mixes older themes with original numbers! A fair bit
of tracks here have vocals – either by Krause, or by female vocalists Cris Williamson, Adrienne Anderson, or Elisabeth Wilson – plus the "celestial choir" on a few tracks. There's a hearkening back here that's a bit confused at some moments – mixing Scott Joplin with the then-common apology to Native American mode – but things sound best on the original numbers, which have picked up a groove a bit more than before, and even have some nice warmer tones we really like. Titles include the spacey spinner "Between The Sun & The Rain", plus "
Loves
Of Col Evol", "Sweet Williams", "Bluebird Canyon Stomp", "Looking Back Now", "Child
Of Morning Sun", and "All Good Men".