BEGER, ALBERT'S 5 - Listening - CD - Earsay Records - 2004

review by: Avi Shaked
On the free jazz front, the influence of Dave Holland’s Quartet’s Conference of the Birds is clear and up front, laying harmonies and melodies that are later used as terminals for improvising on and across the border of avant-garde, with atonal, sometimes out of proportion, enriching and unpredicted notes.

But despite being labeled (and marketed) as a jazz album, there are certain factors here that transfer this into being rock.

The most obvious of all is probably the violent, punching rhythm section that manages to deliver an intense beat while not compromising on creativity. Then, there’s a certain scent of classic rock – not only on the title track where you have an early 70’s sounding organ work that remains in the background while affecting the atmosphere of the whole piece, but also throughout the other album’s tracks. These two boost up even the gentle moments found here, and allow them to develop into imaginative, untamed realms.

However, that’s not all, as you can learn straight from raging opening track "What a Day," which towards its end develops into a King Crimson kind of thrash, a-la "Starless and Bible Black," with a wildly stretching guitar leading the way for a chaotic celebration, and then a furious return to the main theme.

And if for a moment, "I Was Here Before" and "Albert" lead you to believe the attack is over in favor of mellower, yet still adventurous and unexpected compositions, "Karma" will definitely set you straight: this is one track which could have fitted naturally on King Crimson’s highly acclaimed and influential 1974 album Red. If there ever was an album that managed to recreate that dark, suspended and tense atmosphere of that album, Listening is it! That alone should be enough to intrigue masses of progressive rock enthusiasts out there.

Listening is a rare album that bridges jazz sensitivity and exploration with classic progressive rock aesthetics, thematic playing with developing concepts, all in a modest way while remaining passionate and truthful throughout.
Brilliant! (10/10)