3

If you don't like drum machines stay away from this one; however, if you like Akkerman's style and appreciate formidable guitar work, even on jazz-funk, give this a spin. '3' is certainly a departure from his Focus stuff but in truth it's not always as far away as all that - if you concentrate on the guitar playing you'll hear things you'll love. 'Wait and See' is Focus-era Akkerman recast in slabs of jazz and even has a prominent piano to enhance the mood and the melody. 'Stingray' is sufficiently jazzy to please as is - after several listens - 'This Is the One'. 'Nightprayer' is an atmospheric jazz lullabye played with great skill and feeling and is the track you'll probably re-visit most often on this album. Four great tracks is fair return for your hard-earned cash. However, the album has some less sublime moments in 'Funk Me' (geddit?) and the disco-derivative 'She's So Divine'. These two tracks are weakly-composed pastiches of early 80's dance music complete with tacky vocals and drivelling lyrics . It's a good job CD playerss have a skip button otherwise the vacuous zombies in frocks singing "Makin' Me Hot (Hot Hot Hot) Come on and Funk me" may have you questioning your will to live...SAMPLE this album and you'll get the best out of it.

not one of his best.