Jade Warrior - Last Autumn's Dream (1972 / 2000 Remaster)
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Artist: Jade Warrior
Album: Last Autumn's Dream
Released: 1972 / 2000
Background HBG 123-13
Genre: Progressive
Review:
Jade Warrior was (and is) an enigmatic and unique band with an uncategorizable sound that evolved over a lengthy career going through several different phases. Core members Tony Duhig (guitar) and Jon Field (percussionist/flute) had worked together in the late sixties in a psychedelic band called July. After July called it a day, the two worked together on various studio-based musical projects that ultimately led to Jade Warrior Mark 1, then joined by Glyn Havard (bass & vocals). The first album Jade Warrior from 1970 is a powerful opening statement, about half instrumental and half vocal, the songs cover a variety of ground but generally employ a rock base fused with world influences, with Field's flute and Duhig's non- standard guitar tuning - as well as the lack of a regular drum kit (mostly hand drums, bells and other percussion are used) giving their sound a character unlike any other. The dynamic shifts between loud and quiet passages would also be a trademark of their sound throughout their career. Some tracks are a bit more introspective and cerebral (for example "Masai Morning", "Wind Weaver" and "Slow Ride"), while others are more basic rock songs ("Petunia", "Psychiatric Sergeant", and "Telephone Girl") although these are affected by their unique style.
For their second album Released (1971), their rock edge was ratcheted up a notch or two with the addition of guests on saxes and kit drums, resulting in tracks like opener "Three Horned Dragon King", "Minnamato's Dream", and the fifteen minute rock jam "Barazinbar". And their quieter side was represented well with hauntingly beautiful pieces like "Yellow Eyes" and "Bride of Summer". Where the first album featured an array of sonic possibilities, this is an album that highlighted the contrasts within that sound. For their third album Last Autumn's Dream (also from 1971), Alan Price (who had played on Released) drums on a number of tracks, and Tony's brother David Duhig guests as second guitarist. This album takes a step back and revisits the wall-of-all-colors approach of their debut with a more surefooted and substantive instrumental approach, somewhat fleshing out their sound. Again we have the mysterious and often introspective instrumental tunes ("Dark River", "Obedience", "Borne on the Solar Wind") juxtaposed with more melodic pieces like "A Winters Tale" and "May Queen", and then a few overt rockers as well ("Snake", "The Demon Trucker", "Joanne"). One might sense in the overview that the band lost their way on the second album, and tried to put themselves back on track with the third.
Note that all of the first three albums (originally on the Vertigo label) have been reissued twice on CD: the first reissues (on the German Line label) were muddy sounding and in some cases not even derived from the original masters. Avoid like the plague. The second reissues (on the Background label) are meticulously mastered from the original master tapes, and come highly recommended.
"Last Autumn's Dream" is their definitive effort, regarding of their maturity and versatility as well, even though it stands alone as one of the best "Proto-progressive works" of the seventies, in the UK. Their line-up was made with a five piece, including Alan Price on drums and Dave Duhig on guitar, but unlike its predecessor. This album was more in the vein of their debut album, along with some remarkable tunes such as "Lady of the Lake", "Winter's Tale" and "May Queen" - whose composition combines such an Oriental music stuff, within a rock apparatus.
Recommended as an original work, perhaps a bit simplistic, but always fresh!!
Final album for Vertigo, and the best one, in my book. I never really thought the early JADE WARRIOR for Vertigo as a prog rock band. More like a varied rock band that included hard rock, jazz, folk, and ethnic influences. There are actually quite a few straightforward songs that I don't really feel comfortable call prog. There are some more adventurous numbers as well. I don't really call myself a big JADE WARRIOR fan, and I don't feel the need to have every album they did, but this is actually a quite decent album.
This 3rd release would prove to be JADE WARRIOR’s last on the Vertigo label and IMHO one of their best overall albums. JADE WARRIOR’s progressive leanings clearly come from their original genre fusions of rock and world... clearly in their approach. JADE WARRIOR blend Jon Field's flute with Tony Duhig's non- standard guitar tunings along with interesting percussion (congas, bells…) elements resonating a highly crafted and original sound. "Last Autumn's Dream" is an album that utilizes experimentation, a touch of fusion, traditional Japanese sounds, folk, jazz and yes even progressive rock to its advantages. Just as JADE WARRIOR are content to play in the tranquil space nebula they also are comfortable on the same album rocking out.
Track List:
1. A Winter's tale (5:11)
2. Snake (3:02)
3. Dark river (6:33)
4. Joanne (2:53)
5. Obediance (3:19)
6. Morning hymn (3:36)
7. May queen (5:22)
8. The demon trucker (2:34)
9. Lady of the lake (3:17)
10. Borne on to the solar wind (3:02)
Personnel:
Tony Duhig: Guitar, Lead Guitar, Percussion, Bass
Jon Field: Percussion, Flutes, Guitar, Tabla, Congas, Piano
Glyn Havard: Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Allan Price: Drums
David Duhig: Lead Guitar
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