Review Summary: The best of Brand X. One of the finest British fusion works.
“Unorthodox Behaviour” is the debut studio album of Brand X that was released in 1976. The line up on the album is John Goodsall, Robin Lumley, Percy Jones and Phil Collins. The album had also the participation of Jack Lancaster.
Brand X is a British progressive rock band that was founded in London in 1975. Brand X was a jazz fusion band that was active between 1975 and 1980 and that had a hiatus from 1980 to 1992. The band was disbanded in 1999 and was reformed in 2016. Brand X is one of the best, most original and well known British bands in the 70’s of the jazz rock fusion scene. Brand X started in 1975 as a “jam” band funded by the Island Records to keep track of their activity on the studio schedule. The original drummer and vocalist Phil Spinelli and the guitarist Pete Bonas departed the band after recording the first and disappeared/unreleased Brand X album. Genesis’ drummer Phil Collins took over on drums and, in the early of 1976, their debut album “Unorthodox Behavior” was released to coincide with an extensive UK live tour.
Brand X released four studio albums in the 70’s. Their debut studio album “Unorthodox Behaviour” was released in 1976. Their debut live album “Livestock” and their second studio album “Moroccan Roll” were both released in 1977. Their third studio album “Masques” was released in 1978. Their fourth studio album “Product” was released in 1979.
In 1975 the city of London was the perfect melting pot to generate music of a stratospheric level and even in all that decade. And although punk was already beginning to show its weariness towards the usual proposals at the time, Brand X offered us their unorthodox vision. “Unorthodox Behaviour” was an album of smooth, elegant, soulful and all instrumental jazz rock, totally different from the kind of jazz rock that was being offered by the Canterbury school of progressive rock. This is jazz rock in the direction of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever or Weather Report, but there are also allusions to the classic prog. Musically, it’s at the very highest level. The album displayed amazing group improvisation and counterpoint. The album is a fusion of rock and jazz. “Unorthodox Behaviour” covers a variety of styles from melodic to energetic, and ethereal to mathematical. It’s punctuated by the distinctive characteristic playing of Jones and Collins balanced by the frenetic guitar work of Goodsall and the stylistic synthesis of Lumley. But, the pillars on the album are the two members of the rhythm section. The bass and drums have the most distinctive sounds.
“Nuclear Burn” is an amazing opener where Collins and Jones erupt in unison. Phil and Lumley enter to introduce us to the song and Goodsall who, together with Lumley, exudes a wonderful solo. The 70’s jazz fusion flavour is perfectly audible. “Euthanasia Waltz” is much calmer. It follows the repertoire with a melodious and dynamic piece that finds Goodsall playing captivatingly and where the acoustic guitar is the dominant instrument. Collins and Jones’ cuts are stunningly precise. “Born Ugly” is a groovy number where the band shares a bit of funk without getting too far apart. It can be best described as an improvisation session with a structure. The middle part is a bit psych as the band weaves a large soundscapes with growing intensity. “Smacks Of Euphoric Hysteria” is probably the least euphoric song in the all repertoire, but it’s highly attractive too. It has a slow groove. There’s an obvious intention to give to each musician the same time in the centre spot but Phil’s drums are really in the front. The title track is another piece that sounds like an improvised jam. It begins quiet and even hesitating and builds up a tension that it’s broken up suddenly by Phil’s drumming. A dialogue develops between the guitar and the keyboards and where bass and drums occasionally pop in. “Running On Three” is a piece where the band makes a rhythmic melodic experience. It’s a fast track where bass and drums play intriguing roles. Keyboards share the melodic work with a guitar solo of rock in the middle. The overall impression is a jazz jam. “Touch Wood” closes this great debut with delicacy where Lancaster nuances with his soprano sax the Goodsall’s acoustic guitar and Lumley’s keyboards, which fill us with warmth, especially at the end.
Conclusion: “Unorthodox Behavior” is a very well done instrumental debut album. You can feel that the musicians are very much in tune with each other. There are plenty of excellent instrumental parts here. It seems that all tracks were developed from jam sessions and structured later. You can hear typical jam-heavy fusion here, based on rather short carrying riffs or licks. The songs have less of a fixed structure that is then easy to follow. We can say that Brand X is definitely more for jazz rock fans than for the traditional progressive rock fans. So, if you like your 70’s jazz fusion with catchy hooks and complex rhythms you will adore Brand X’s “Unorthodox Behaviour”. It certainly set the tone for the band’s subsequent releases, “Moroccan Roll”, “Livestock”, “Masques”; “Product” and “Do They Hurt?”. But this is the album that showcases them at the peak of their humour and “innocence”. That makes of this album a true landmark.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
