Customer Reviews

Group 87

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Found this record in a dollar bin somewhere ca. 1982.Lucky me.Imagine you could play this to your weirder dreams.It would be magic.Did invest in the cd edition later,this way i can dream a little longer.Guess I should add something about the musicians here.Mark Isham(trumpet,synths)would later score countless soundtracks and make some new-age cds.Patrick Ohearn
(bass,synths)and Terry Bozzio(drums)former Frank Zappa players,
which accounts for brilliant musicianship and last but not least

Peter Maunus great guitar.One of a kind.

The debut album co-produced by cutting-edge artists Mark Isham and Patrick O'Hearn. Their unique blend of 80s Pop elements and ambient electro-acoustic orchestrations are uplifting as well as contemplative. It's a must for both New Wave AND New Age listeners, especially fans of Isham and O'Hearn.

When Group 87's eponymous debut album was released in 1980, virtually no one knew how to categorize it. Not exactly jazz, not exactly rock, not exactly new age or new wave, this talented trio (with help from ex-Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio) forged a dynamic fusion of all the above. The album's fastidious production belies its artful craftmanship and the clever arrangements, all of which are sculpted out of the icy sheen of richly textured keyboards, metallic-edged guitars, sinewy but pulsating bass and exploding percussion. Mark Isham's flawless synthesizer programming and minimal but tasteful brass charts form the bedrock upon which Peter Manu's fiery guitar leads and Patrick O'hearn's liquid bass lines spiral and soar like graceful birds in flight. It's as if one were to marry the passionate emotional intensity of jazz with the cold mechanical precision of electronic music; alternately, imagine the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Tangerine Dream fused into an organic whole. There's hardly a wasted track here, but among the numerous highlights are "Future of the City," "Magnificent Clockworks" and "Moving Sidewalks." Imagine it as one possible future of jazz that was never realized.

Was interested in the reviewer who preferred A Career In Dada Processing to this. I have to say it is the reverse for me. The record is dated, yes, but nevertheless inspiring. One Night Away From Day is one fine instrumental. This is certainly worth $1.99. Highly recommended.

I had A Career in Dada Processing on vinyl. Saw this cd used for a low price, and thought, how bad could it be?

It arrived in the mail as my wife and I were hopping in the car to run errands.

After 3 or 4 tracks, I started to exclaim how bad this cd was. My wife was saying, "I didn't want to say anything, but yeah, it is really bad."

We had fun trying to describe the special 80s way it was bad. It sounds like music for some 80s new employee training video, or 80s infomercial, tv interlude, etc.

Frankly, it has no soul. Sure, good musicianship, but nothing really moving or engaging about it.

I love Mark Isham's music, incl the other Group 87 album.

This is going into the garage sale pile.