Third Eye - 1976 - Third Eye

Third Eye

1976

Third Eye

01. Protuberans (5:30)

02. Sound Circle (3:30)

03. All About Us (2:54)

04. Eichendorff 8 (4:39)

05. Serius (8:03)

06. Basic Train (2:44)

07. Bloodstream (1:33)

08. Arco-Mio (2:00)

09. Bass-Raga (3:30)

Jan Huydts / Fender piano, Hohner String Melody, ARP Odyssey, Mellotron

Alfred Haurand / bass, percussion

Frank Köllges / drums, Mellotron

Steve Boston / congas, cowbells, percussion

Recorded 11th and 12th of January 1976 at Blackfield Studio, Kirchhellen, Germany.

Produced by Ring Records, Moers.

Side A ends in a locked groove but has NO run-out groove which means it will play forever if not returned to the tonearm base. Unlike a locked groove WITH run-out groove where the tonearm will return to the tonearm base automatically when you have that return function on your player. Not so when the run-out groove is missing.

Founded in the Netherlands, Third Eye was an interesting ensemble with many faces. Their origins date back to the 1960s and are associated with keyboardist Jan HUYDTS (later in DUTCH TREAT). In 1973 they played with a lineup consisting of: Jan Huydts (electric piano, synhesizer, organ), John Schuursma (guitar, sitar), Leo de Ruiter (drums, percussion). The group initially played in the Netherlands, but later became more German-international.

However, the first chronologically-released record was a self-titled album from 1976, consisting of: Alfred Haurand (bass, percussion), Steve Boston (percussion, congas, cowbell), Frank Kollges (drums, mellotron), Jan Huydts (Fender electric piano, Hohner String Melody, Arp Odyssey Synthesizer, mellotron). It contains relaxing jazz fusion with a surprising presence of mellotron and some more cosmic krautrock influences. On the 1977 release Connexion, the group took a more catchy funky jazz fusion style, but with lengthy compositions, which is a good representative of the style.

Third Eye is definitely worth a look for fans of unconventional but accessible jazz-fusion, especially the 1976 album and the recordings released in 2021, with a hint of krautrock adventurous experimentation.