Review Summary: Obscure jazz/prog rock buried along its record label
It has become apparent to the lovers of the genre that the early 1970s scene in the UK was full of prog orgasm. Many were the bands which experimented with rock music at all levels in order to achieve the perfect result through a distinctive difference. One of such bands was Tonton Macoute. Whether their name comes from the Haitian paramilitary force or the mythological creature is of little relevance. What is actually relevant is how these four people used their music skills to create such an epic result.
The melodic keyboards and the folk-ish flute are the main elements that drive the opening masterpiece ''Just Like a Stone'' along progressive lines, making the listener anxious of what will come next. It's now with the introduction of an eloquent saxophone that the album turns towards jazz paths. Again the driving forces are the captivating keyboards to a greater extent and the flute to a lesser one, which will take ''Don't Make Me Cry'' to another level. As you can imagine, an instrumental song is an essential part of a true classic prog release and it is found in ''Flying South In Winter''. A rather controversial title since as it unfolds so exotically you get the sense of travelling through Eastern passages of time, something that Camel mastered some years later on.
The seducing opening melody and keyboard notes of ‘‘Dreams’’ help the drums to enter the scene almost unnoticed in the background. At the point where they become apparent, a prolific guitar will back them up and catch you unprepared. Adding the pessimistic lyrics to this, we are left with an outstanding result. ''You Make My Jelly Roll'' combines all the essential elements, from a stylistic saxophone to an elegant piano play in order to compose a groovy jazz monster. The magnificent and imaginative journey comes to an end with a two-part song called ''Natural High'': It's aesthetic, it's enjoyable, it's immense.
