UNDER THE SUN

Description

Under The Sun is the sequel to the astonishing Roots and contains even more absolutely essential material from Nucleus. Originally released on Vertigo in 1974, Under The Sun has never been reprinted and, of course, these original copies are now very difficult to come by. Like all Nucleus records, it has aged very well, and this Be With reissue, remastered from the original analog tapes, shows why this album deserves to be pressed again. The genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his time. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential to merge the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the United States. By the end of 1969, after the disbandment of the Rendell-Carr quintet and tired of British jazz, Carr formed the legendary Nucleus. Viewing music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to "acknowledge rigid boundaries" and worked to provide what they considered a "total musical experience." One could argue that. Under Carr's leadership, Nucleus existed as a fluid ensemble made up of inventive and talented musicians. This constant evolution and revolution were part of the ongoing musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new heights. And the music has remained relevant. To quote a line from a recent review of our reissue of Roots, when it comes to Nucleus, "it's already hip-hop in a way." Under The Sun opens with the crisp, mid-tempo track "In Procession." It's a typically inventive piece from Carr, with layers of dramatic themes led by repeated riffs and brass explosions. Bryan Spring's "The Addison Trip" is a dark funk piece, featuring Kieran White as a guest vocalist without words. Roger Sutton provides a beautiful bass line on this track, especially the superb solo around the two-minute mark. The cool, jazzy ballad with the excellent name "Pastoral Graffiti" paints bucolic scenes with its soft sounds, plaintive brass, and Bob Bertles' flute. Sutton's stunning "New Life," driven by the bass, brings a different dynamic. Brass, guitar, and electric piano swirl around the bass motif, along with a remarkable guitar solo from Ken Shaw. A false fade halfway through the album introduces a new bass riff picked up by the whole ensemble while Carr plays wah-wah over it. It's total. The beautiful and laid-back "A Taste of Sarsaparilla" is just that – it closes the first side with a delightful burst of what’s to come on the decisive flip. The entire second side of Under The Sun is a suite of three "Themes" written by Ian Carr. The first rhythmic theme "Sarsaparilla" is undoubtedly one of Nucleus's best. What would have been a mess in most hands is instead an effortless lesson in clarity and exuberance. Between Geoff Castle's electric piano solo, the relentless funky drums, and Carr's wilder wah-wah trumpet, Nucleus shows you how it's done. The languid groove of the second theme "Feast Alfresco" is much more typical of "classic" Nucleus and resembles something that could have been on Roots. A baritone solo from Bertles and a guitar solo from Shaw intertwine around the heart, a serpentine brass theme. The darker "Rites of Man," the third and final theme, slowly builds to a solid bass and electric piano riff, supported by complex brass. Carr pushes the theme even further, and there’s still plenty of room for solos from all corners of the Core. As usual, the dynamic duo Sutton/Spring, bass/drums, keeps the rhythm for the others to improvise. This Be With edition of Under The Sun has been remastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, with mastering by Simon Francis collaborating with Pete Norman's cut to weave their usual magic with these beautiful recordings. The dark, rain-soaked cover matches the melancholic mood of the album and has been restored as the finishing touch to this long-awaited reissue.