A two-disc set repackages the first two albums by one of the most inventive Afro-funk prog bands of mid-'70s Britain -- a group that was best regarded at the time, perhaps, as a spin-off from the headlining glories of
If
(saxophonist
Dave Quincy
) and
Osibisa
(percussionist
Loughty Amoa
), but is now best-known for uniting future
Gillan
mainstays
John McCoy
,
Steve Byrd
, and
Liam Genockey
. Firmly cast within the shadows of
, with extra added punch, the band never really escaped from the pub and small club circuit in their homeland, which is a shame -- their debut album, in particular, is a delightfully varied set, throwing in everything from seething rhythms to gentle harmonies, and every mood in between. Certainly they caused a stir when they toured the U.K. with
Chick Corea's Return to Forever
, at the height of his dalliance with the prog movement, and good as these albums are, it would be even better to unearth a live recording of the band at its peak. For now, the last of six bonus tracks, especially
"Liamo,"
meet that need. Elsewhere, two unreleased alternative mixes include a guest appearance from
Jeff Beck
, while we also find single mixes of the first album's
"Mr J"
and
"Amuso Fi,"
plus the preposterously pompous (but irresistible all the same)
"Zardoz (Beethoven Opus 92),"
a funk groove that really should last longer than its allotted two-and-a-bit minute lifespan. Ultimately,
Zzebra
were doomed to obscurity, with their third album not even seeing release during the group's lifetime. This two-fer, however, reminds us just how great they were, and how big they should have been. ~ Dave Thompson