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Zapotec: Alpha Centuri (CD, 59:50); Psycho-Audible PA-0001

	I had heard of Zapotec awhile back being described as a Mahavishnu Orchestra/ Dregs 
kind of thing. (Ole Steve F. was right.) Bill Curtis's guitar is definitely in the Mahavishnu vein and 
I hear some of Stan Samole and bits of Corrado Rustici. Anna Hubbell and Dave Kline on violins 
give even a Curved Air tinge to things, as on "Transient". A Magma/Univers Zero angst crops up 
very nicely. There is a pleasantly eerie aura in "Transient" and Curtis lets it all out in great fusion, 
rapid-fired notes in abundance. They outro in a King Crimsonic manic overdrive.
	"American in Japan (Revisited)" is an early Dregsish piece with great violin and keys. 
Curtis' playing is more Jade Warrior than Dregsian on this cut. The song is a journey right back to 
nostalgic prog fusion. "Nameless Thing" reminded me of a cross between PFM's Jet Lag and the 
Dregs again but with a Mahavishnu Orch. mid-song jam.
	"Dusk" had a laidback, live jam feel to it. It was a Wishbone Ash moment, (one guitar 
though). A piano, drums, and occasional bass were backup for Curtis' 2:57 noodling. Violin joins 
in for the outro. "Tribal" had a raw-edged, live feel as well. Curtis played reverby and with ample 
delay. I felt like I was sitting about third row back listening to this jam session. Guitar and violin 
did a lot of conversational solos. This tune was very Flying Island.
	"Spirit Hollow" is Curtis doing the acoustic, Kottke/Tibbetts/NeilYoung thang sans 
percussion. A wonderful channel-to-channel violin wafts in for the outro. The 19:19 remainder of 
the disc is essentially two extended, space rockish/ jazz rock fusion jams. One 6:03 jam has a 
noticeable degree of master tape hiss with an abrupt ending. Recommended fusion.
	~ John W. Pattterson


Zapotec, Not of Sound Mind

I know I'm not supposed to judge an album by its cover, but it was hard 
to not expect the worst considering the eyestraining cover of Not of Sound 
Mind. However, considering the power and intensity of this disc, I'm now 
happy that the group concentrated solely on musical content.
 
"Ethnic fusion" is the term that first came to mind upon hearing this 
disc, but somehow it doesn't seem to accurately describe the visceral element 
of this music. Instead, try to think of Mahavishnu Orchestra with more Middle 
Eastern and funk influences and equally amazing guitar and violin lead work - 
and double all the tempos. Seriously, all these guys can play! Although Anna 
Hubbell's violin and Bill Curtis's guitar are the two most noticeably 
astounding instruments, the whole band really cooks - Jim Sullivan's 
percussion solos are insane (I'm a die-hard drum solo hater, but this guy is 
one of the few who can do them with taste) and bassist Mike Galway keeps it 
all together (no small feat) and contributes some marvelously funky slap bass 
solos as well. Combine the band's musicianship with complex compositions, 
full of tricky rhythms, mesmerizing guitar arpeggios, and achingly beautiful 
Eastern melodies, and you've got a killer mix.
 
Further comments on this excellent disc would probably result in little 
else than a list of superlatives. Bottom line: One of the finest CDs EER's Editor
sent me and one of the most intense fusion albums I've ever heard.
One of the very few true must-hears. ~Jon Dharma Murphree~ 

	



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