David Randall chatted to Thijs van Leer for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 9 June 2024 and featured in the second hour.
Spirit Of Unicorn Music [Release date 04.07.24]
Back in 1972/4 Focus almost burned themselves out, constantly touring on the back of major international success. Most importantly they had cracked the U.S. market. This was particularly unique for an all-instrumental band. After 1978’s Focus Con Proby, when the band had become somewhat directionless using a session drummer and weird choice of vocalist, they split.
It wasn’t until the late 1990s that word was getting out that Thijs van Leer was reconvening the band, this time with his stepson Bobby Jacobs on bass and Jan Dumee on guitar. It wasn’t until 2004 that “classic line-up” drummer Pierre van der Linden returned to the fold and by 2016 the new line-up was settled with Menno Gootjes firmly holding the coveted guitar position.
Since that time the band have released eight albums and toured fairly constantly. They are now a mainstay on the UK classic rock festival circuit and we should be really grateful for their regular sorties. We could even take them for granted.
In truth the millennium albums can be patchy but they are usually injected with humour and style. The opening title ‘Fjord Focus’ is a good example. This suggests that Van Leer has lost none of his prowess on flute and indeed when he comes in for the first time there is a feeling of “I can relax now, the master is here”. The track is also a great vehicle for Gootjes.
In summary, thankfully the band have moved on. They are not trying to ape their original sound and whilst there are stylistic comparisons to their later jazzier offerings, if not already the ghost of Akkerman is firmly laid to rest. They do persist, though, with the latest iteration of the self-titled piece, this time ‘Focus 13′.
Overall, the album is actually a mix of jazz rock and more classically inclined pieces such as ‘Born To Be You’ or a mixture of the two in ‘Nura’. This has the phrases that remind me of Van Leer’s wonderful magnum opus ’Dona Nobis Pacem’ with Pedal Point in 1981.
Focus 12 is a really good listen if not perhaps as rocky as some would like.
When Focus were recording ‘Focus III’ in 1972 in the next studio was Bowie working on ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust…’. Focus recorded their album in four days. It took Bowie many months. ‘Bowie’ is actually one of Van Leer’s grandchildren who also get a mention in ‘Bela’ and ‘Gaia’.
Akkerman always praised Van der Linden as the greatest ever rock drummer and he excels on this – he’s 78 dammit! – together with Van Leer’s fluid Hammonding and bassist Udo Pennekeet’s solid rhythm.
I’ve recently been listening back to a 1990 interview I did with Van Leer prior to the publication of a Focus feature in ‘Record Collector’. He is a real gentleman, a great raconteur, and I reminded myself also that his tenacity and perseverance over 50 years has ensured the continuation of the Focus “brand” of musical excellence. ****
Review by David Randall
Feature: Introduction to Focus (2020, including interview feature)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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