Focus were certainly the
best band to come out of Holland in the
Seventies. (Don’t give me Golden Earring.
“Radar Love” was a great song, but what
else did they have in their biscuit barrel?)
Focus were formed in Amsterdam in 1969
and they became a major concert attraction
in Europe, playing extended songs with
lots of classical bits thrown in. Over
the years their music matured and some
would say peaked with 1972’s Focus 3.
Some great guitar, keyboard and flute
work disguised the fact that none of them
could sing or even speak English. As a
substitute there were lots of blood curdling
screams, orgasmic groans, triumphant shrieks
and choir-like choruses.
Focus 3 starts off with the spritely jazz
tinged “Round Goes The Gossip”. This was
followed by six, short, well constructed
rock songs including the band’s biggest
single success in the riff laden “Sylvia”
(The Bizarre Hocus Pocus complete with
manic yodeling coming from the previous
album “Moving Waves”).
But it’s the second half of this C.D where
the songs are extended up to 27 minutes
where the band members are allowed to
come into their own, kick off their clogs
and go for the solos.
The interplay between keyboards, flute,
guitar and even a rocked out penny whistle
is absolutely mesmerizing, with each musician
pushing the other to the limit.
The only thing that puts the old tail
between the legs a bit is the over long
bass and drums solos at the end. This
Dog always thinks that drums solos are
to allow the rest of the band a break
(drummers don’t need them). Therefore,
on record they become a little tedious,
especially when listening to them for
the second or third time round.
For this culpable sin I deduct 2 stars
from the otherwise true forgotten Classic.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
