Looking Thru

Passport | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B00005RZX4
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,595 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Eternal Spiral

2. Looking Thru

3. Zwischenspiel

4. Rockport

5. Tarantula

6. Ready For Take Off

7. Eloquence

8. Things To Come

Editorial Reviews

Wounded Bird Records presents the next in a series of CD reissues by the German jazz-fusion group Passport. More than a progressive rock band, but a solid jazz-fusion instrumental unit with excellent experimentation, improvisation and playing; Space-rock meets Miles-era 'In A Silent Way', atmospheric, unusually funky and great ear-candy; A solid 8 song set is represented here which includes 'Eternal Spiral', the title track, 'Zwischenspiel', 'Rockport', 'Tarantula', 'Ready For Take Off', 'Eloquence' and 'Things To Come'; With bassist/guitarist Wolfgang Schmid, drummer Curt Cress, keyboardist Kristian Schultze and saxophonist/keyboardist Klaus Doldinger. Looking Thru was originally issued in 1974.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great album of proggy jazz rock, November 13, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Looking Thru (Audio CD)

Just like the follow-up Cross-Collateral (1975), this 1974 release of proggy jazz-rock was produced by Deiter Dierks, who was working with a number of German experimental rock groups at the time. Interestingly, little hints of the synth heavy nature of the experimental groups Deiter worked with, e.g. Cosmic Jokers peek through here and there, but not too much though. Overall, this is a killer slab of proggy jazz rock through and through.

The musicians on this album include bandleader Klaus Doldinger (tenor and soprano saxes; mini-moog synthesizer; electric piano; and mellotron); incredible drummer Curt Cress; Wolfgang Schmid (Fender and Rickenbacker basses; acoustic guitar on Zwischenspeil); and Kristian Schulze (Fender electric piano and Hammond organ).

The eight pieces on this instrumental album range in length from 1'31" to 7'58" and run the gamut from the synth heavy and proggy closing track Things to Come, to the more rocking and heavy tune Rockport. There is also a little funkiness too (Tarantula) and a really nice piece that features just the acoustic piano and acoustic guitar (Zwischenspeil) - the title track also features delicate passages. Eloquence is the jazziest tune on the album. The rest of the tracks are excellent examples of proggy jazz rock with loads of great riffs and synth work. Speaking of synths, the choice of instrumentation also lends the music a proggy feel, including the mini-moog and most notably the mellotron. As a mellotron fan, I was especially pleased to hear this instrument with the string setting on a number of pieces, e.g. Eternal Spiral. The use of synthesizers is actually fairly heavy and the distinctive tones of the mini-moog can be heard throughout. Of course, although I am raving about the mini-moog and mellotron, instruments traditionally associated with jazz rock, e.g. saxes and electric piano, etc. are used too.

In a nutshell, the performances by all of the musicians are superb, especially those by drummer Curt Cress. The pieces are all well put together, develop nicely, and are diverse with respect to dynamics and timbre. This album is highly recommended along with the 1975 follow up Cross Collateral. In fact, I would urge prog heads who don't mind jazz rock to check this album out - it has enough of a proggy feel to it that it should be very enjoyable.

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Music In Every Possible Sense Of The Word, July 1, 2008

By 

Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Looking Thru (Audio CD)

'Looking Thru' is the first Passport I had the privilage of hearing. It got my attention when the otherworldly musical swirls of drums,electric pianos and mellotron in "Eternal Spiral",the first tune here and the music actually sounds like an (maybe unintended) audio interpretation of the albums surreal cover artwork-Passport have some of the greatest album covers of the 70's this side of Yes,Osibisa,The Ohio Players or Earth Wind & Fire by the way. As with many of the earlier Passport releases this album has the best of both worlds with flamboyant jazz fusion and tunes that are actually very funky-like "Rockport" or the bassline to "Ready To Take Off". This quartet weren't really into putting their sound into any kind of box-the concepts of jazz/rock and jazz/funk,usually considered totally seperate styles are part of the same musical idea for Passport;they create grooves that are both funky and rock out too. For a then totally instrumental this band has a lot of memorable and melodic musical ideas-none of the musicians here let virtuosity get in the way of their chemistry. Not only that but Klaus's sax playing sounds like it could both lull an infant to sleep or peel solid iron. Because this band are based entirely in Europe they never got a lot of the internation attention many of their contemporaries from the UK and other areas received. But the music will thankfully always be there for all of us to absorb and enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars Passport Jazz, June 15, 2008

By 

B. L. Holcomb (Battle Creek, Mich. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Looking Thru (Audio CD)

This is one of Passports more truly Jazz offerings and as such is very good. Those who favor Passports early style will find pleasant hints of it but like true musicians, Klaus and Co. seek to expand their musical horizons. If you appreciate Jazz the there will be no disappointment in spending hard earned dollars on this Passport offering. I own the Cassettte and plan to purchase a CD.