Incredible! (1969) was the combo's third album and first to boast contributions from newest members
Stuart Brotman (bass/vocals) and
Paul Lagos (percussion), flanking
David Lindley (guitar/banjo/violin/vocals), Solomon Feldthouse (guitar/oud/clarinet/saz/jumbas/vocals), and Chester Crill (harmonica/violin/organ/vocal). In the absence of
Chris Darrow's commanding songwriting, each member projected himself into the material, which adopts a discernible country-rock lilt accompanying Kaleidoscope's established Eastern-informed psychedelia. Nowhere do the two seemingly disparate styles fuse as effortlessly as the upbeat opener, "Lie to Me." Similarly the rural feel of "Let the Good Love Flow" could be easily mistaken for
the New Riders of the Purple Sage or
Commander Cody, with
Lindley pulling off a convincing faux steel guitar lead. On the other side of the spectrum is the funky workout on
Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor," as it slithers and slides around
Lagos' solid rhythm. The bayou-tinged "Petite Fleur" hearkens to a sound the band explored on the cover of
Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man" from their previous long-player,
A Beacon from Mars. The appropriately titled "Banjo" provides
Lindley with a vehicle for his remarkable virtuosity, likewise adding stimulation from Feldthouse's strong East-meets-West vibe. The traditional "Cuckoo" is one of Kaleidoscope's heavier numbers, reinforcing
Lagos' muscular interjections. The disc concludes with the lengthy and adeptly crafted "Seven-Ate Sweet," a reference to the time signature of the 11-plus-minute instrumental. It offers nothing short of a consistently inspired example of the power and prowess within this incarnation. [Collectors and enthusiasts should take note of the Pulsating Dream (2004) anthology as it features all of the tracks Kaleidoscope recorded during their years on Epic (1967-1970).] ~ Lindsay Planer