Album Review: Gavin Harrison - Sanity & Gravity
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Best know as drummer of Porcupine Tree, King Crimson and The Pineapple Thief, Sanity & Gravity was a solo album that was released in 1997 as a solo release. Featuring Mick Karn, Richard Barbieri, Jakko Jakszyk (21st Century Schizoid Band) and Dave Stewart (Egg, National Health), this is an album that is experimental, emotional, and about as far away from some of his other work as can be.
Firstly, I have no doubt that the musicianship here is top dollar. Harrison’s work is understated, ego-free and completely abstract. It’s full of (unsurprisingly) jazz fused musical workouts that confirm that there’s much more to Harrison than just a tub thumper. And whilst I can appreciate the music, craft and care that has gone into the record, I found the whole thing overblown, a bit pretentious and well, dull.
I’m sure there will be thousands of his fans who ‘dig’ the smooth opening on ‘Aim’. Yet, ‘On A Wave of Posterity’ is about as poncy as it’s title and I found myself yawning with boredom as the abstract freewheeling slowly played out. It’s a bit too much for me. The expansive and frankly weird ‘Dog Day’ fried the brain.
I’ve no doubt that this album will appeal to many. But for me, well, sometimes you just must accept that it may not be for you. If you want it on in some funky, hipster coffee shop or craft ale bar, then I’m sure it would be fine. If you want something to relax to whilst reading or simply snoozing, get a copy. For me, I admitted defeat after the flaccid ‘A Place to Stay’. A losing choice this time round.
