Solution seems to be a somewhat forgotten name in the canon of progressive Dutch rock groups from the seventies. But this Groningen quartet played throughout Europe in its heyday and recorded albums in England with Gus Dudgeon (Elton John) and Jim Capaldi (Traffic). This well-cared-for collector brings the first four albums together, combined with live recordings from VPRO radio from 1971. The
… unnamed debut album (1971) easily competes with other highlights of the time (To The Highest Bidder by Supersister of Marks by Alquin) with a playful and strong rhythmic European jazz rock sound. With the arrival of bassist / singer Guus Willemse they start to combine this with supported vocal pop songs and ballads that are reminiscent of American groups such as Styx and Kansas. This is still schizophrenic on the second album Divergence (1972), but on the third album Cordon Bleu (1975) produced by Dudgeon, Solution finds a nice balance between smooth soft rock and inventive fusion, which is maintained on Fully Interlocking (1977). Taste asserts itself on these three CDs: one will go for the wild jazz rock and prog from the early days (for them the radio recordings are also more than interesting) and the other will rather opt for the more polished later repertoire. But it is certainly a special oeuvre. (MR) one will go for the wild jazz rock and prog from the early days (for them the radio recordings are also more than interesting) and the other will prefer the more polished later repertoire. But it is certainly a special oeuvre. (MR) one will go for the wild jazz rock and prog from the early days (for them the radio recordings are also more than interesting) and the other will prefer the more polished later repertoire. But it is certainly a special oeuvre. (MR)more
