Coming soon: Progressive Rock

Review: He's played with everyone from Bowie, Lou Reed and Lennon - just the tip of a truly humungous session work iceberg - as well as his longstanding service with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, but Tony Levin's more than capable of whipping up a musical storm without any celebrity help. This is the bassist's latest solo affair, released in September 2024 and, together with a lengthy list of collaborators - among them KC guitarist Robert Fripp - it bends jazz, funk, rock and experimental soundscapery into numerous new shapes. 'Give The Cello Some' is a delight, answering the question "what kind of music would ZZ Top make if they were fronted by Captain Beefheart?" 'Road Dogs' kicks off half metal riffing, half Krautrock linear grooving before hitting a prog/jazz interface and 'Beyond The Bass Clef' is a serene, beatless, almost classical piece. Full of surprises, this is the sound of a master of the bass game following no-one else's lead for a change - and loving every moment.