This is
Pinhas' final recording, at least during his first prolific period from 1974-1982, and was followed by his long absence from music, simply because, as he explained it, he was burned out and "had no musical statement to make." As with previous
Pinhas CDs, this one features
Pinhas as composer, electronic keyboard artist and guitarist, with assistance on several tracks from
Heldon band members. On the whole, this is a much more convincing effort than the immediately preceding
East West.
Pinhas has dispensed with the techno-pop vocals and gone back to the more familiar combinations of synthesizers and electric guitars, with several atmospheric pieces built around simple riffs ("L'Ethique," Parts 1-4, and "The Western Wail," Parts 1 and 2), plus several aggressive jazz-rock fusion numbers ("Dedicated to K.C.," "Belfast," Southbound" ) which feature solid rhythm sections plus
Patrick Gauthier's mini-Moog and
Pinhas' searing electric guitar work. "Southbound," which reunites the
Heldon trio of
Pinhas, Auger (drums) and
Gauthier (mini-Moog/bass), is particularly fine and is a reminder of what a truly formidable band
Heldon was. As a solo artist, though,
Pinhas is typically less consistent. One thing confirmed by this CD is his rather limited gifts as a composer, as exemplified by the four separate versions of the title piece, which is really just a three-chord synth riff with some guitar improv over the top. One would be fine and even two would be OK, but four versions (plus two versions of another simple, riff-oriented composition, "The Western Wail") adds up to a program which, although very assured and enjoyable, could perhaps use a little more musical substance. ~ Bill Tilland