The Gentle Rain - Moody (CD)

All Music Guide

Oneoff project spearheaded by Nick Ingman that sold poorly upon its release in 1973, but became a soughtafter cult record, thanks to Ingman's dazzling instrumental arrangements of thenrecent pop hits. With top session pros at his disposal, yet only allowed two days of recording, Ingman bangedout one of the strangest albums to be ever labeled "Easy Listening." Taking songs by such artists as The Beatles, Carole King, and Bill withers, transforming them into cinematic, jazzfunk fusion tracks that sound like they were tailormade for a TV detective show or the latest Dirty Harry flick. You can almost taste the 1970s, as flutes and clarinets (which usually take on the melody) mingle with electric piano; tuned percussion, including congas; with Moog synthesizer stabs (played by Ingman; funky bass lines and tight drumming (courtesy Brian Bennett of The Shadows, who swings from jazz to funk to rock with ease); plus touches of light psych and scratchy, wahwah guitar; topped off by flugelhorn so...los. Incorporated into a song like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" are elements of somber jazz, ominous electronic film scores, psychedelic rock, groovy funk and jazzrock blend to stunning effect. Ingman's arrangements are inspired to say the least, occasionally even veering away from the song itself (such as the jazz detour at the conclusion of "Use Me"). But the best reinterpretations are those that take the tune so far away from the original that it's an amazing thing to be heard; "Fool On The Hill" is made funkyand it works Moody is an easily digestible fusion record that only gets noisy once (briefly, during Ingman's own composition, "Lonely Jelly"), yet is still experimental and pleasing to the adventurousheadscratching background music for those that love the sound of the 1970s. - Bart Bealmear, All Music Guide Read more Less