Customer Reviews

Seven Moons

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I come to this release as a Jack Bruce fan. The previous collaborations of Trower/Bruce never did appeal to me all that much. They seemed drained of energy and Jack's bass seems to be buried too much in the mix. By contrast, when you look at, say, West, Bruce and Laing, the bass was recorded front and center and the album, although very uneven, had an incredible intensity and energy. The other obvious example was the song, Life on Earth. Done with Trower, it was a mid-tempo, undistinguished effort. When Bruce later recorded it for a solo album. it nearly exploded with vitality.

So, I was keeping my expectations low. And - wow! Was I pleasantly surprised to hear Seven Moons. First of all, unlike the other two efforts, this seems like a real collaboration, not like a Trower album with a little assist from Bruce. The bass is still too deep in the mix, and a bit mushy, but at least you can hear it - and it provides some memorable riffs. The best revelation of all is Bruce's vocal - which is a great mixture of power and warmth. Too often, in recent years, he has had a tendency to sound shrill and strained. Not so here. Just straight forward, warm, expressive.

Just Another Day and I'm Home seem to be about the emotional dislocation of (barely) surviving a deadly illness. And on these songs, especially, Bruce's vocals are simply stunning in his evocation of yearning and dread.

And, hey, Trower's playing is really wonderful, thorughout. Great tone. Still highly inventive and in its own way, a great, emotive voice. I'm not sure who else is really playing guitar this well, these days. It's a short list, that's for sure.

Gary Husband brings it all together on drums. He has been playing with Bruce for years now and it shows. His drumming is crisp and emphatic and inventive. Simply topnotch.

If I have any qualms at all, it's that simply wish there would have been one or two extended jams where these three could have kicked it up a bit. I do miss Jack cranking it up. But, hey, I'll take this for what it is - a collection of surprisingly catchy tunes, backed with great playing, and singing.

And for those who may disparage this effort, let me put it to others this way: if, in the 1980s, you were to pick up a new Muddy Waters album and complained that is was nothing more than a bunch of blues songs - people might wonder what planet you came down from. It's the same deal here. At this point in time, Trower has been playing Hendrix-like guitar now for far longer than Hendrix himself ever did. It's fair to say that Trower, finally gets to own the sound and be judged on his overall competence, which is very high. And, yeah, the album might sound like it came out of the late 60s/early 70s. But so what? It does what it does very well. If you don't particularly like Cream or Hendrix, this album will not appeal much to you. But if you're someone who accepts that era and that music as a legitimate genre (like the blues, or bebop) that is worth revisiting, then there's a lot to enjoy here.

And repeated listening brings ever greater rewards, It grows on you by leaps and bounds.

I've heard the "Truce" album as well as the "BLT," and this is by far the best collaboration between Trower and Jack Bruce. His bass playing is still incredible, and he sounds wonderful on this "Seven Moons" CD.

Robin as usual is fantastic on guitar, but that's because he's one of the best, and I don't care what other people or critics have to say about him, he's in the same league and even better than some of the most famous guitarists ever, including Hendrix, Beck, Page, Clapton, you name them, Robin is right there with the best of them, but the sad thing is he's never got the recognition he deserves.

This is a great CD, not one bad track on it, and if you're a fan of Trower and Jack Bruce, I recommend you get it. It's much better than I had anticipated, and I'm very glad to have purchased it without ever hearing one complete song on it.

Glenn Signal Hill,CA

It heartens me to see the large number of reviews written for Seven Moons in the relatively short time since its release. Several years ago, Robin Trower mulled retirement from the recording studio. Since that time, he has issued three fine CDs (including this one), an excellent DVD and is currently in the middle of a successful concert tour. So by all appearances, he is back. And from the sound of this album, so is Jack Bruce.
Trower's sound is so unmistakable, you know you are hearing him play from the very first note. Ditto for the voice of Jack Bruce who has lost little since the glory days of Cream. Trower and Bruce were once teamed up in the past, and although I don't think Seven Moons is quite as strong as Trower's last outing, it is very much superior to this duo's last collaboration.
It took a couple of listens for this to grow on me and convince me that Bruce's voice is a near-perfect complement to Trower's guitar as it sizzles, stings, and growls its way through this fine selection of eleven originals. Trower shows his maturity in the way he plays. He feels no need to show off, but rather makes every note count with a subdued and tightly controlled approach to his music.
Though I generally like the whole CD, I find some songs to be outstanding. The best, in my opinion, are: the bluesy Lives of Clay, the rocking So Far to Yesterday, the driving, pounding The Last Door, and the sizzling Come To Me.
Those fans who like having the lyrics included in a booklet will find them instead printed inside the CD's tri-fold packaging.
Some say that Seven Moons will be best appreciated by those who were fans of Procol Harum and Cream. There may be some truth in that. But I think it will be appreciated as well by any lover of blues rock who gets the opportunity to hear it. Try it out, you should not be disappointed.

This is the third album from these two legends. Jack of course the man who singlehandedly revolutionized the electric bass as the mastermind and creative force behind one of the greatest bands ever: Cream. Whereas Robin graced the first five classic Procol Harum albums with some fiery, melodic guitar, before he had a revelation hearing Jimi Hendrix, which changed his playingstyle forever. So it's not surprising that this album really is 'Cream meets Hendrix' psychedelic blues at its finest.

It was painfully obvious at the otherwise historic and wonderful Cream-reunion shows in 2005 that Jack -due to cancer and a near-fatal livertransplant - was only a shadow of himself, esecially as vocalist, although he certainly put in a marvelous effort. But here his expressive, emotional and golden voice is back. And his bassplaying solid, inventive and inspired.

Robin shows that few others have grasped not only the sound and tone but also the spirit of Hendrix as deeply and profound as he. The drummer in this powertrio is the brilliant Gary Husband, a long time Bruce-collaborator, who has also played with Allan Holdsworth and John McLaughlin, and here he shines on every track with classic triorockdrumming, rather Mitch Mitchell-like.

The album is more or less recorded live in the studio, the vibes deep and spontaneous. The songs, all written by Bruce and Trower, great. The lyrics for the most part philosophical and spiritual with lines like: "Wanna stay where the light is streaming/ Find the one who's dreaming me".

A must for everyone into psychedelic rock and pure uncommercial, uncompromising MUSIC.

Great reviews already posted, but there are some specifics I wanted to address.

INSTRUMENTATION: As mentioned in other reviews, guitar, bass and drums. There are many overdubbed guitar leads. I actually like the trio format and find it a little distracting to have a 2nd guitar suddenly come from nowhere at solo time. It's interesting to hear musicians use the limitations of the trio and turn them to advantages, and so I value the few times that bands will stay in a true trio format, in this case "Come To Me". But Cream, Trower, Hendrix, Led Zep, all mostly used the overdub approach, classics all, so hey.

JACK'S VOICE: I love Jack Bruce. By the mid 90's his vocal style had changed a bit, gotten almost operatic. At times it seemed like he was "over-singing". I think it's true that at the Cream reunion he was not quite up to speed, for very good reasons related to his health. He sounds much stronger here, though not so operatic, more like the Jack of the early 70's, which I love. Is he as strong and sure now as then? No. But the guy is in his 60's. Anyone lucky enough to still be singing from 30 to 60 will make up for the sheer physicality of youth with a deepened emotional approach (look at Robt. Plant), and Jack has certainly done that.

ROBIN'S GUITAR: Trower sounds more like Trower on this than on the previous collaborations. He stays within the confines of the style of "Twice Removed From Yesterday" and "Bridge of Sighs". I was surprised when BLT and Truce came out that Robin was doing things outside that box, and enjoyed it. Whether this is a pro or con depends on how you feel about that style, but he plays it here confidently and beautifully.

JACK'S BASS: In recent recordings, the tone of Jack's bass has occupied a more "normal" bass range, and that's true here. In the past the sound of Jack's bass was instantly recognizable, and while he still plays with the same technical virtuosity, that unique, recognizable timbre is absent. Pro or con?

THE WRITING: Pete Brown is absent. Whether that's a pro or con depends on how you feel about Pete Brown (I'm thinking of Ahmet Ertegun's famous dismissal of the "psychedelic nonsense" of Cream's material. Safe to say he was proven wrong in terms of popular success).

All in all this album reminds me of a Tom Waits lyric; "If I exorcise my devils, my angels may leave too." Over the years there have been elements of these musicians' playing that has defined their style, for better or worse. A "maverick quality". When it works, it's electrifying, when it doesn't, it can be frustrating (or annoying) for fans. This album is a treat to hear, it doesn't annoy, but then again it doesn't electrify. But I'm very glad they're back.

I don't know what to tell prospective buyers when they have to read reviews such as the one entitled "a middling effort". If you don't understand the sonic beauty of one of rock's most under-rated giants then please don't write reviews. This is an amazing disc. The subtleties in Trower's guitar tones are worthy of hours of discussion. Jack Bruce's singing is just superb and the drumming is great. This is an incredible extension and improvement upon the earlier BLT efforts..especially in the area of extended soloing which was unusual and strangly abrupt in the first two albums years ago. Robin Trower is as good a blues guitarist as anyone out there today...In my opinion the fact that he plays in the harder rock lexicon restricts many a blues -guitar purist from appreciateing his incredible control and tone. Thank you Robert Fripp for being one of the few to express in writing Trower's greatness.

Put Simply: Seven Moons demonstrates a blazing performance by two masters of Rock & Blues, who've once again hit their strides and maintain their creative force and drive...in their 60s!!

As echoed by many, I'm a huge Jack Bruce/Robin Trower fan. And though I appreciated 'some' of the duo's former efforts (Truce/BLT/No Stopping) those records never garnered repeated listening. Perhaps it was the thinned-out 80s sound; perhaps it was because Jack's voice and style was definitely 'different' during that period (see: I've Always Wanted To Do This)...whatever the case, I never loved those albums.

Cut to 2007/2008. Jack (as evidenced by the Cream reunion, but also on his recent solo efforts) has re-captured the power in his voice, and his playing remains as powerful and driving as ever. Trower, whose playing has always entranced me, adds drive, punch, and creativity to every note, every solo. Put that together with Gary Husband (who's drummed on several of Jack's older releases) and you've got yourself a power-trio in the best sense of the word.

The fact that this album was mostly cut live is evident throughout. You really 'feel' like you're in the room with them; you 'feel' their enjoyment, and this is simply something that you just don't hear everyday.

On a recording note, this album is brilliantly done. Again, just listen to the title track to hear what I mean. It's clean, loud, up-front, and mastered to perfection. If the songs weren't so darned catchy, I'd love this album *simply* for the recording.

So, if you want to hear what these legends are doing now, pick up this release. It may be classic old-school to some, but it's inherently new, absolutely bluesy, and downright hot. Follow that path, to the Land of the Seven Moons.

I almost didn't buy this CD because of my perception of Truce and BLT. While I thought those two CDs were OK, they just didn't live up to my expectations of a Trower/Bruce mix. This one does.
It's a shame the general public won't get a taste of this CD, since radio stations don't play new stuff by classic artists. This could be a mega hit. Others writing comments spoke of the energy this CD has, and you feel that energy through all the selections. Bruce may not have the strength in his voice he once had, but he hits the notes and backs it with his thundering bass. Trower compliments Bruce with a heavy handed lead that makes for nasty, great rock. This CD rivals the best Cream ever put out, and I absolutely love Cream.
After listening to the CD for the 5th time, I searched out their websites to see when they are touring my area. Sadly, they are not touring together at this time.

This reminds me in many respects of some of Cream's better and bluesier moments. I really liked the BBM album Jack and Ginger did with Garry Moore a few years ago but this is much much better. Wonder how it might have sounded with G Baker drumming. Guess we'll never know. Highly recommended anyway. Robin Trower is, as always, playing great.

"Seven Moons" seems to wrap up the Bruce Trower Trilogy that started with 1980's B.L.T. album, and progressed the next year with Truce. There are many comparisons to be drawn between the 3 projects, but Seven Moons stands out as the most mature, and by far the "Bluesiest" of the three.

It's definitely a dreamy, "mood" piece for fans of Robin and Jack, with Trower's guitar tone and tasty chops at the fore front of the whole album. Jack Bruce's bass playing is inventive and fluid, and his vocals, while not up to his past glories, are precise and fit the music perfectly. Gary Husband (Level 42, Force Majeure, John McLaughlin etc.), is powerful, yet restrained, compared to his usual work, but proves he is an excellent drummer for blues/rock, and is by far the best drummer Trower has ever used.

The Highlights for me are "Just Another Day", a Classic song that would have been at home on either Disraeli Gears or Bridge Of Sighs, "Seven Moons", with it's Hendrix-like feel, "Distant Places Of The Heart", and "Perfect Place". Seven Moons is unique among the current crop of "New Rock" releases, that tend to be forgotten about within months of their debut, I have a feeling this one will become a classic among fans of Bruce and Trower, and might even create a whole new league of younger devotees of these two legends.