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Review Summary: A great and solid solo debut album of one of the most talented and technically skilled drummers in the world of prog. “Feels Good To Me” is the debut solo studio album of Bill Bruford and was released in 1978. The line up on the album is Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Dave Stewart and Jeff Berlin. The album had also the participation of Annette Peacock, John Clark, John Goodsall, Kenny Wheeler and Neil Murray.
As all we know, Bill Bruford is one of the best and most recognizable drummers ever, with his drumming sound inimitable, known for his ringing metal snare drum, crisp cymbal work, and knack for complex time signatures. He really had truly an amazing and brilliant career. He first gained prominence as the original drummer of prog rock band Yes, from 1968 to 1972. After his departure from Yes, Bruford spent the rest of the 70’s playing in King Crimson. He was the touring drummer for Genesis during their 1976 “Trick Of The Tail” tour. He was one of the founder members of UK. In 1981 he was part of a newly formed King Crimson. In 1989, with some of his ex-band mates of Yes, he formed Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. From 1991 to 1992 he returned to Yes. In 1994 King Crimson re-emerged and he was present.
But, besides all of that, after he left UK due to some overall musical divergences, Bruford formed his own band named, Bruford. So, with his ex-collegue of UK, the guitarist Allan Holdsworth that had been fired from UK by John Wetton and Eddie Jobson, and with two other musicians, Dave Stewart a very well known keyboardist that had played with several bands of the Canterbury scene and Jeff Berlin an American jazz fusion bassist, he released “Feels Good To Me”.
“Feels Good To Me” goes far beyond the usual prog rock conceits of its time, and enters fully into the compositional structures and improvisational dynamics of jazz. With “Feels Good To Me” Bruford proved to be not only a great drummer but an excellent composer as well, as he wrote or co-wrote all of the album’s tracks. While Bruford’s signature style, a mathematically precise approach that never failed to find the innate groove in even the most complex of time signatures, it was in clear evidence that the album didn’t sound like a drummer’s solo album. The emphasis was put mostly on composition. It’s also clearly evident that the other members of the band had ample room to demonstrate their formidable talents, and above all, there wasn’t any drum solo that can be found on this album. Bruford made it clear from the get go that his role as bandleader was to be that of an equal contributor rather than a dominant voice.
So, “Feels Good To Me” consists of compositions of Bruford, with some support from Stewart. This is quite surprising, as Bruford has not been noticed in any of his previous bands as a composer. The 10 songs oscillate between slender jazz rock with intricate lines and a prog with a very bright basic sound. There’s no particularly rocking here. This is due to the fact that the guitar is almost only used as a melody instrument, nor outstandingly bombastic, neither very weird passages. Still, one or other melody line can’t necessarily be described as particularly catchy and some exciting chord progressions are built, which usually lead to a guitar solo. Of course, there are many crooked and intricate rhythms, but also straighter spots, and usually more vigorous songs are contrasted with subsequent calmer, more ballade pieces.
Bruford’s play is always lean and compositional and lives above all on the differentiated cymbal work and its already legendary bright snare sound. Above all, the moving pieces with often hectic, tattered melody lines of Bruford’s work on vibraphone and xylophone, which doubles the lines together with keyboards or guitar, also live here. Stewart mainly uses electric piano and polymoog synths, plus a little piano and organ, but not nearly as much as in his earlier projects. Holdsworth is practically responsible only for melody lines and fast paced, tricky jazzy solos. In the long run they sound a bit alike, but it’s great how fluent and clean his sound is. The chord work is essentially in Stewart’s hands. In the few places where a bit of rhythm guitar occurs, this takes over John Goodsall, known from Phil Collins’ jazz rock project, Brand X. Jeff Berlin’s bass work is consistently outstanding and a source of joy. Somehow, the elastic sound, quick fingers, but still enough foundation memories of Jaco Pastorius are awake, and that is saying something, isn’t it?
Conclusion: Overall, “Feels Good To Me” is a thoroughly enjoyable, unexpectedly jazzy debut album that is highly recommended to any friend of fluent, prog jazz rock/fusion. The musicianship along with the production is superb. Bruford’s cymbal action is quite nice and the excellence of Dave Stewart’s keyboards is always a good thing. About the arrangements on this album, we have the predictable late 70’s fusion. Annette Peacock’s atmospheric vocals make the album especially pleasing. On balance, the album represents an intriguing new musical direction, combining the jazziest parts of the Canterbury scene with the best of other traditions of jazz fusion. If you are in prog rock jazz/fusion, this is certainly an album you should look into. Catch a buzz, sit back, chill out and enjoy some very real cool music.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
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Album Rating: 4.0
So, after the keyboardists, it's finally time to the solo works of the drummers of Yes. And nothing better than to begin by their best and one of the best and most complete and versatile drummers that I ever heard, Bill Bruford.
Bruford has a true amazing career in the world of prog. He was member of two of the best and most influential prog bands, Yes and King Crimson where he was one of the responsible of two of the best albums ever, "Close To The Edge" and "Red", he played in a live tour with one of the best (possiblly the most influential prog band ever), Genesis and he was one of the founder members (he participated on their debut album), of on of the best prog super groups in the history of prog, UK.
But, above all and besides his participation in many other projects, he was able to make a very interesting surprising and solid solo career. He is responsible for some amazing albums, which is really surprising since he is a drummer (which isn't a common thing), and proving that he is also a great composer.
So, here it is my review about his debut solo album, a real amazing album, especially for jazz/fusion fans. I hope that you can enjoy it, like me.
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nice one mate
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, Moto.
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Whoa, e, I didn't see this one coming. Nice! I was listening to the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe live album last night, and really noticing how much I like Bruford's drumming, so this review was a welcome surprise this morning.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Good review. I bought this album recently and still haven't heard it! I will fix that tonight!
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I had this one on vinyl long time ago. I think it's his best solo album. The first half is PERFECT. For the rest, the title track doesn't sound serious to me, but it contains clever passages. ''Either End Of August'' is a great atmospheric one and one of the best on here. The funky ''If You Can't Stand Out The Heat'' is kinda revisiting ''Beelzebub'' and ''Sample And Hold'', so it's a deja vu kind of track. ''Springtime in Siberia'' is laid back with a gorgeous horn solo. Would be a good ending. ''Adios A La Pasada'' starts spacey and jam oriented and develops in an energetic way. Song is ok, but could be shorter.
Good review, bro, and happy 100ieme review!!!
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, Diva. I'm very happy because you're happy too. Lol.
You know, it would be impossible for me don't review any album of Bruford with my prog journey trough the world of Yes. That journey would be incomplete, really.
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nice info e, love the content of your reviews
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, Friday. You're always welcome on my reviews, pal.
Great purchase. I'm sure that you will like the album.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I knew that you like the album Jethro. Still, I prefer "One Of A Kind". Maybe because I own a CD copy of it, since for a while. Unfortunately I don't have, yet, a copy of "Feels Good To Me". So, I had to content myself with hearing it on Spotify.
Thanks, my friend.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I knew that you like the album Jethro. Still, I prefer "One Of A Kind". Maybe because I own a CD copy of it, since for a while. Unfortunately I don't have, yet, a copy of "Feels Good To Me". So, I had to content myself with hearing it on Spotify.
Thanks, my friend.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Oops, something went wrong and duplicated my comment. Sorry guys.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, wham. I really very glad that you like the contents of my reviews.So, you must continue to read them, always. Lol.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Feels Good To Me has more solid structures and is way more melodic. It's close to a 4.5 to me. One Of A Kind is more jam oriented. I really love ''Hells Bells'', a big portion of ''One Of A Kind'', ''Fainting In Coils'', ''The Sahara Of Snow'' but in between, I think there are fillers, but don't get me wrong, I like that album too, which is also a 4 to me (until now). Will revisit.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Jethro
I forgot to thank you the congratulations for my 100th review. It was a coincidence that it was with this album. So, it wasn't wilful. I just followed my initial plans with the prog journey of Yes. Still, I'm very glad that it have coincided with an album of Bruford, which is one of my favourite drummers, perhaps even my favourite.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I knew that you love both equally, Jethro.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I'll have to revisit Gradually Going Tornado as well. I only remember the track ''Land's End''...It's up there with his very best tracks. Bruford's Earthworks is another project to check. I really like their first album. Moraz in collaboration with Bruford is another strong combination. You see, I don't exactly hate Moraz hahah...
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"Moraz in collaboration with Bruford is another strong combination. You see, I don't hate Moraz hahaha... "
Good point. But I already knew that.
Sadly, I dont know, yet, "Gradually Going Tornado". But, it's in my list to be checked.
Bruford's Earthworks is another project to check, also by me.
I'm sure that it will be great, since both Bruford and Moraz, have a great sence to the jazz/fusion prog music. I think both are perfect to each other.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Try ''My Heart Declares An Holiday'' by Earthworks; Not with the same team, so the sound differs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gStSR_p4hJo
Take 5 minutes of your time to hear it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, Jethro.
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