Customer Reviews

Infinity Machine

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

BEWARE!! Wounded Bird Records is doing an ENORMOUS dis-service to the sonic legacy of the European fusion group Passport with its current re-issue series. Talk about flat sound! How Atlantic Records can permit such desecration in a re-mastering job while putting out their own superb ("Definitive") series of re-issues for groups like Yes and Genesis is inexplicable. Where is Rhino Records when you really need them ??!!?? Purchase these editions of "Infinity Machine", "Sky Blue" and other Passport titles by WBR at YOUR OWN RISK. Seek out non-WBR versions first.
Jim Bonevich in Kalamazoo, MI

Infinity Machine is one of the early recordings of the original band Passport, led by multi-instrumentalist (sax & keyboards) Klaus Doldinger, and yes they are European - Germans, I assume. This group of four musicians and their production team knew how to put together an excellent, tightly knit sound with each musician stepping forward to create a warm, energetic sound. Hard enough edge to satisfy those of us who loathed the pop-jazz sound that emerged in the 80s, but straight-forward enough to avoid avante-garde rambling excesses. Really great sound.

My favorite track is "Ostinato" - and yes it has that - with a middle section where the ostinato just teeters on the annoying before surging back to a great refrain of the main theme.

This was my second Passport acquisition after "Cross-Collateral" - which also featured the original musicians, and probably remains my favorite of their albums. Passport's later albums with a number of other musicians didn't hold the same interest for me. My only regret is that I don't think I ever had the opportunity to see Passport and/or Doldinger live.

Passport's Infinity Machine on Atco records, is a must have addition to any serious music collector's library. The opening song is worth the price of the CD alone. Fortunately, there are several other great selections. I found the album very enjoyable considering my diet at the time had contained large portions of Chic Corea, Return To Forever, Nektar, pre Phil Collins Genesis along with a background in Yes, ELP, Pink Floyd, Earth, Wind & Fire and old school Dave Brubeck jazz.... Passport is a refreshing change of pace. While not quite jazz and not quite rock, I didn't know how to classify it when I first heard the release back in 1976. It would become what was called jazz/rock fusion but even that title didn't seem quite right. Even now, I could hear Dave Koz or Jim Brickman sitting in with the group and feeling quite at home. There are some undertones of what would become "New Age" and at least a parting tribute to the 70's funk sound. A great album worth five stars as it shows just how diverse the group could be. And as a DJ, it came along as Disco was driving me nuts so this was an exceptional breath of fresh air! Just how danceable it is, I'm not sure but it is one to tap your toes to with melodies to reflect upon.

I first heard this album in October, 1981. It was on Atco records. The first song on the album is the 10 minute "Ju Ju Man", which is a catchy song which could either be disco or jazz with the perfect mix of Kristian Schultze's keyboards and Klaus Doldinger's loud and smooth sax. My favourite tune on the album is "Morning Sun", which begins with a haunting blend of soft saxophone and a piano lick which sounds very much like Vince Guaraldi; The song then picks up it's tempo and sounds very much like a true Passport song. Track number five is called "Ostinato", which has an interesting sci-fi feel to it. If you want some good jazz to either dance, or relax to, I can't think of a better choice than "Infinity Machine" right now.

While this album overall is not Passport's best, the first rack Ju-Ju Man is certainly the best song they have ever done. This song is a mixture of African rythms, funk and progressive concepts. The 15 minute song is engaging from beginning to end and the solos are top notch. The second song Morning Sun starts slowly and just when you think you will fall asleep, the tempo changes and Klaus Doldinger's sax work demonstrates why there will never be another sax player to match his talent.

The rest of the album is marginal, but is still better than any fusion being done today.

When first released in '76 on LP, this album was famous for its state-of-the-art recording quality. It was particularly cool on headphones -- the drums on the opening track, 'Ju-Ju-Man', leapt out at you from all directions. On CD the album has lost some of its sonic brilliance, but it's great to hear it again.

In retrospect, PassPORT's ambition may have been to become Europe's Weather RePORT. OK, so Passport occasionally used guitar, but the two bands were both otherwise jazz-rock sax-and-keyboards groups. Track #3, 'Blue Aura', a little acoustic duet between soprano sax and piano, is very similar to the earlier, wonderful interplays between Shorter and Zawinul on 'Mysterious Traveller' and 'Tale Spinnin''.

So yes, Passport is derivative, but they brought a Germanic precision to their brand of fusion. Doldinger in particular is a multi-instrumentalist who has gone on to compose soundtracks for movies such as 'Never-Ending Story' and 'Das Boot'.

At my school, the consensus was that 'Cross Collateral' was Passport's finest hour. This is a good album also, and I have a very soft spot for 'Ataraxia' ('Sky Blue' on its original US LP release). There is much to enjoy here.

Just on "Ju Ju Man" alone.It's been said that how an
artist opens an album can make or break it's appeal and this opening track for Passport's "Infinity Machine" is a perfect example.Opening with a duff rollcall,Curt Cress's funky drumming
welcomes you to show and all hell breaks loose!Herbie Hancock-like synthesized keyboard riffs puncuate the beat,Klaus effectively synthesized horns shines like a diamond,hooked to a great,catchy melody.And unlike other fusion bands,Passport keep it "on the one" for over ten minutes in true funk style-how could "Ju Ju Man" go wrong?It's a shameless festival of classic funk and should be on countless compilations and tributes to the
genere.Only one problem-the rest of "Infinity Machine" lapses
sadly into more downbeat electronic kraut-fusion,typical of this
era of Passport and though "Ostinato" gets pretty exited,it's sad
to see artists as talented and ambitious as Passport fail to deliver a consistant collection.Despite these problems,nothing here is unlistenable and five stars is far too little for
"Ju Ju Man",which alone makes this a must-have album!

Breezy, Daring, Atmospheric, Adventerous, but this can be said about almost any Passport effort. Once again Klaus and Co. put together a thoroughly excellent offering that every serious listener of music SHOULD own.

This album is worth the money if only for the title track. Curt Cress is an amazing drummer, and several songs show off his polyrhythmic playing. Passport was also one of the first techno-jazz-rock fusion groups, and this album is successful at all three levels. A must have.