Nick Mason
had an interesting 1980s. The
Pink Floyd
drummer began to stray from the fold in the early days of punk, producing the second album by
the Damned
in 1977, but finally taking the leap to a solo record in 1981 with
Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports
. Even if his name was in the title,
Fictitious Sports
was a
Carla Bley
album in disguise, with the avant-jazz composer writing all eight songs and co-producing with the drummer. This signaled how
Mason
embraced the unexpected during his brief solo career, which is rounded up on
Rhino
's 2018 box
Unattended Luggage
. Available as both CD and LP,
contains
, along with two collaborations with
10cc
guitarist
Rick Fenn
: the 1985 album
Profiles
and the 1987 soundtrack
White of the Eye
. None of these records sound conventional, certainly none of them adhere to the sound of
;
is atmospheric, but it bears hallmarks of the slick, synthesized '80s, as does
. These two albums may have their flaws, but when paired with the unabashed delight of
, they make for compelling listening. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine