Satchitananda - 1978 - A Thought Away

Satchitananda

1978

A Thought Away

01. A Thought Away (9:12)

02. The Whisper Heard Above The Roar (3:44)

03. Alpha And Omega (7:28)

04. Destiny (4:23)

05. Listen To Me (5:47)

06. Prelude (3:19)

07. Along Our Way (4:27)

Kevin McGlennon: grand piano, vocals, flute

Mark Janas: drums

Dave Hoffman: vocals, electric piano, flugelhorn, synthesizer

Ken White: soprano saxophone, lead vocals, flute

Recorded March - April, 1978 at Deglman Studios.

One of the very few Prog/Prog-Related bands not linked to Folk, which didn't have either a bassist or a guitarist.The short-lived Satchitananda (translated to ''being, consciousness, bliss'' and derived from three Sanskrit words) came from Illinois and recorded one album and two singles for the small Aferton label.They were Dave Hoffman (performing on a couple of electric pianos and synths), Mark Janas (drums), Kevin McGlennon (flute, grand piano, vocals) and Ken White (sax, flute, lead voices).Their sole release ''A thought away'' came out in 1980.

Apparently the bass rhythms has been replaced by the work on keyboards and the band played a nice, intricate Prog/Jazz/Fusion, albeit in a much lighter version than the one performed by most bands of the genre.The sound is driven by the constant keyboard and piano alternations, they remind me of compatriots ILIAD and even FLIGHT at moments with the mix of sweet vocal lines with ethereal jazzy tunes and totally professional interplays.When the keyboards don't prevail there is some room for measured sax soloing and even some good flute lines, always performed with a sense of melody and without the guys becoming too offensive with non-sense masturbations.Nice use of synthesizers in different fashions, either like a dominant instrument or in a background, supportive way and cool electric piano all the way.The vocal tracks appear to be the ones with the more commercial vibes, but even these contain a fair amount of intelligent interplays.But my favorite track in here is the closing ''Along our way'', an amalgam of THOMAS FLINTER/SUPERSISTER-like piano/flute interactions, fast vocals parts and melodic flugelhorn/synth battles till' the very end, excellent piece to say the least.

Can be found in its original form in reasonable prices, no reissues exist.An underground work of serious but too elegant US Fusion with a few pretty great interplays included. Recommended.