Kracq ‎– Circumvision (1978, CD, Netherlands)

The Dutch progressive scene has had fair documentation on CD format, especially in regards to well-known names like Finch, Focus, Kayak, Alquin and Supersister, but there are still a handful of gems that have not made it such as the only album by Kracq. Circumvision is one of those albums that could only be a product of the 70s with its wide array of electronics, its jazz rock base, and a host of references from the heyday of progressive rock. Primarily a keyboard-led quartet, Kracq have created an effort that holds similarities to more esoteric 70s progressive rock albums. Fusioon's Minorisa comes to mind immediately in regards to the heavily composed, start and stop rhythmic patterns, but Kracq's general methods have more in common with either 70s jazz rock icons like Return To Forever or Hancock or similar scenes like that of Canterbury. In fact the Canterbury influence through a European filter probably willl reflect more clearly on Kracq's mode of operation - particularly the zanier groups like Moving Gelatine Plates, Brainstorm, or countrymen Supersister. Only in the 70s did we see this type of synthesizer experimentation, with electronic effects (including what sounds like some vocoder sounds) strewn throughout. However, while the analogs are certainly alluring, Kracq understood that the foundation is of prime importance, and they delivered an album's worth of bizarre, constantly changing compositions that will delight the fan of zany avant-ish jazz rock or Canterbury. A gem indeed, maybe a bit too early in the game for a classic, although we'll never know how this band could have panned out. (Gnosis)