Jimmy Hotz - Beyond The Crystal Sea (30th Anniversary Edition)

Published Monday 16th August 2010
Jimmy Hotz - Beyond The Crystal Sea (30th Anniversary Edition)
Jimmy Hotz - Beyond The Crystal Sea (30th Anniversary Edition)

STYLE: Rock
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 94745-16753
LABEL: Born Twice Records BTR7777
FORMAT: CD Album

Reviewed by Paul Loader

This is a re-mastered re-release of an album originally issued in 1980 and now considered by prog rock collectors to be something of a classic. Jimmy Hotz is quite a character. He is a producer, engineer, musician and inventor who has worked with some of the best, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Winwood, BB King, Yes, Chicago and many more. He has also been a technical consultant and inventor for major companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Electronic Arts, Atari and JBL. Back in 1979 Hotz recorded this album for America's Born Twice records. No those clever folk at Retroactive Records have re-mastered and re-packaged the tracks on CD. The album is very much of its time and is a fine example of '70s-style prog with larger than life synth intros, long passionate, head back, foot on the monitor guitar breaks and sincere vocals with deep ethereal lyrics. There is much here to remind the listener of early Yes, Genesis and Marrillion, although Hotz himself sites his influences being The Moody Blues, early King Crimson, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Asia, oh and Yes. My favourite track, being a total rocker at heart, is "Teton", which has guitar and synth ripping holes in your sound system. "Observations Of A Larger Reality" has all the grandeur of a Rick Wakeman production, with "Beyond The Blues" appears to be a real nod to Hotz favourites The Moody Blues. I'm not sure what second track "Night Passage" is all about though as it sounds like two minutes of an airline flight from the passengers prospective. Perhaps that's the point. However, it certainly doesn't feel dated in its hi-fi quality, the re-mastering team have done a good job. and I know that 'Above The Crystal Sea' is able to hold its own against many more modern productions. Followers of prog rock will want to investigate this fascinating dig into the archives.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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