An underground soul jazz classic – massive grooves from drummer Steve Reid, and exactly the kind
of set that's gotten him so much attention in recent years! There's a mixture
of freedom and tightness here that's really wonderful – some
of the looser elements
of the loft jazz generation, mixed with an inherent sense
of rhythm that always set Reid's records apart from the rest – a groove that comes not just from his own pulsations on the drum kit, but also from the elliptical basslines
of Richard Williams on electric and Luis Angel Falcon on acoustic, and the mixed organ and piano lines
of keyboardist Les Walker. Joe Rigby brings some really sharp-edged sax work to the record, alongside the trumpet
of Ahmed Abdullah, who really sounds wonderful here – bringing a spirituality to the album that's clearly borrowed from his time with Sun Ra. The album includes the great groover "
Lions
of Judah" – which has a very Ra-like quality – plus other great cuts "Long Time Black", "Sixth House", "Nova", and "Free Spirits Unknown".