Dreams (1970) Devil Lady -LOST 70s GEMS

Jazz rock ensemble Dreams may not have risen to the heights of the Mahavishnu Orchestra but they were equally talented, here on their debut they display their talents in expansive funky jazz Rock arrangements and free form jams.
Try Me is a cauldron of pounding drums, wah wah drawls and some big sexy sax stacks blasting out every funky phrase imaginable and some eye wateringly tight dynamics. The tinsel drum patterns and splintering lead guitar tones merge with a funky disco beat and flute work to remind me of a Blaxploitation film score.
The softer passages of this workout show off the bass work and the use of little horn and guitar squeaks and odd alien like metallic wails that I have never heard come from a guitar before. The Maryanne is a folk ballad which displays some flowery horn parts reminiscent of a slow down mariachi band while some Chicago soul seeps in towards the very end with a smoky lounge horn and a wallowing flute line. New York is an accessible radio ready single about the fast city set to a hustle bustle beat, the chaotic stabs of organ and horns are particularly rampant here, while the ending flange climax is incredible production sound. Holli Be Home is a beautifully sung song but the mix of dreamy pop, old school RnB and chiming Prog textures with the smoky horns doesn't work though individually they all sound great.

Then there is the three stages of the Dream Suit; the first part is called Asset Shop which showcases wah wahed funky background and some blistering horn work, explosive drums and a nice vocal part on top of that. The second part is simply titled Jane and is a little more mellower as the sax and horns separate and play a little out of sync with the flute, while the laidback shuffle of the verses increases the commercial sound as the percussion and brass dominate the mix over the soft vocal.
The third part of the Dream Suite is called Crunch Grenoala is a speed exercise in Dixieland sax and horn parts and more drawling wah wah guitar and a frenzied drum part way back in the mix; though this instrumental lacks the melodic aspects of the first two parts.

Devil Lady has a bracingly funky opening riff as horns and sax pip and put with each other in a rolling tradeoff, while the chorus soars, the piano and the harmonies add a dripping RnB flavour. 15 Miles to Provo is an odd one as it starts with a faux Mexican accent letting us know's its the start of take two over the studio speaker system before a placid beat and organ line start this modest tune which doesn't over do it at first before the ear splitting horns intrude on the relaxing number.