Solar Plexus / Belladonna

Two groundbreaking albums from the British jazz-rock band Nucleus released on double CD. Solar Plexus (1971) and Belladonna (1972) were made during the music changing times of the late sixties and early seventies when the sound of jazz and rock merged with innovative artists or bands like Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, King Crimson and Nucleus. These two earlier albums sound very much like the early electric jazz outfits like Miles Davis, or Tony Williams Lifetime. But members of Nucleus developed their music before they heard Miles’ In A Silent Way or Bitches Brew. At the same time rock bands released records in these heady days, that were heavily influenced by jazz, like Chicago Transit Authority (1969, Chicago), Hot Rats (1969, Zappa), The Flock (1969,The Flock) In The Court of the Crimson King (1969, King Crimson) and the self titled first album by Blood, Sweat and Tears (1968). The early jazz-rock music was often funky, with use of electric piano, extended solos, and a cool slower groove. Then decadence in the mid seventies set in and the drive to fit as many notes in one second, combined with cheesy synthesizer sounds made fusion sound super dense and almost annoying to listen to (Return to Forever). The late great Allan Holdsworth was one of the few musicians to te be able to play fast and be very melodic at the same time, like on the album Belladonna ( the earliest album I know on which I heard him). While the Miles Davis influence is obvious on both these albums, this band has a sound of its own. To be frank, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew sounds more experimental and challenging then these Nucleus’ albums. But they are just as enjoyable. Belladonna as a whole is an album I like better, probably due to the greater variety. Standout tunes: Snakehips’ Dream, Belladonna, Mayday, Hector’s House. Great CD set!

Some interesting jazz-rock from the early days. The second album on this compilation, Belladonna, is particularly of note because it includes Allan Holdsworth on guitar, early in his career, at around the same time he was playing in Jon Hiseman's Tempest. There are only a couple of guitar solos, but wow! In addition there is a lot of nice comping, and one one number he uses a wah, which I don't recall him ever doing before.(Apparently Allan is not happy with his appearance on this album, but I don't see why - he plays beautifully.) Perhaps best of all, I thought perhaps this music was going to be a bit on the tepid side, but it's not at all. The writing and playing are of quite a high caliber.

I must admit to being quite surprised about most of the reviews of this 2 CD set. One would think that the main album was Belladonna and that a certain guitarist was the reason to buy this compilation. However, in terms of pure invention, the main reason you should buy this CD is for Solar Plexus - in my humble opinion, of course.Obviously I am biased here - as one of my lecturers at Cardiff University was Keith Winter - very smart guy and keeper of many VCS3, Synthi100 etc in the electronic music section of the Physics Department. Thanks to Keith, Ian was given an Arts Council grant to compose the work. Keith took one of his VCS3 up to London for the day to do the intro, outro and some "space effects".The assembled group itself was simply a who's who of the excellent jazz musicians of the early 1970s. Keith and I managed to get the extended group to play at University Hall, Cardiff in 1972 by obtaining a Welsh Arts Council grant to stage the show. What a magic evening that was.However, I digress. The work is based on two themes, used in various guises throughout the piece. There are lots of well written sections as well as some excellent improvised solos. Harry Beckett's solo in Spirit Level is one of my favourites. But I will let you be the judge. If you would like to start with some excellent evocative playing, listen to Track 3 first. Karl Jenkins on oboe, before he became famous as a composer, performs the introduction with Jeff Clyne on double bass - simply lovely.Thank you Ian Carr for giving us great music over the years.

First heard as a couple of tracks courtesy of a long ago WBCN Saturday night hour, Nucleus never got the American exposure it should have - certainly less than Klaus Doldinger and Passport, who were their lessers. Listen for Carr's charts and with an ear to what would be brought to later Soft Machine.

to call it jazz-rock, would be an extremely dubious assumption. as idiosincratic as jazz can be, the only thing left to do is to listen.

Came exactly as it was described THAAANKS

I bought this CD for one reason: It has the greatest guitar player who ever lived on it: Allan Holdsworth. However, of the 30 or so CD`s I have which feature Allan, this CD is the one and only one that I consider total rubbish. I think it should either be left where it is found, or placed in the trash can. This is no fault of Allan`s of course. It`s just a bad CD.

two for one. great musicianship. will raise your IQ, guys.

I can't fault this album which now completes my Nucleus collection. It sounds as fresh as when I first heard the band back in 1969. I have always been a faithful supporter but then it is only right and natural I should be since founder Ian Carr was my cousin!

I bought Solar Plexus in 1971. I felt it was very atmospheric-especially "Snakehips' Dream", which I wore thin. I actually preferred it to Miles' "post Bitches Brew" work of the time.In retrospect, it represents the pinnacle of their early work, refining the techniques an ideas of the first two albums.The only other Nucleus I bought on first issue was 1973's "Roots", with Dave McRae's compositions which gave it a different feel.Good Though these are, It is to the eternal shame of the UK music industry that regular recording opportunity and promotion was not given to some of real UK jazz greats of that time such as Kenny Wheeler, Alan Skidmore, John Taylor, John Surman, Gordon Beck, Keith Tippett, and eventually Ian Carr himself, who for 20 years or more depended mainly on small European labels and promoters.However, 32 years on, after hearing almost all Nucleus' work, I still think Solar Plexus represents their peak, as maybe they began to run out of ideas, although Belladonna still holds up well.

Superb product

Beyond writing an excellent biography of Miles Davis, Ian Carr has done some interesting jazzrock -recordings with his band, mainly Nucleus. These two are better ones, from the beginning of the 70's. With the double "Elastic Rock/We'll Talk about it Later", this one is absolutely worth for your money.

excellent cd containing two original albums of brilliant 1970s british jazz fusion.worth every penny.anything by ian carr or nucleus is worth a try