Wide Open

Wide Open is a progressive rock milestone and a consummate example of underground psychedelic hard rock at it's most inventive and powerful. As the title suggests, Wide Open is a free-flowing and expansive musical blending of rock, blues and jazz, and to leaven out the sound there's a touch of acid folk thrown in for good measure. It's a very English-influenced sound but far from being a slavish copy of the overseas role model, the album bears a uniquely Australia flavor. It continues to be held as one of Australia's prime rock collectables. The tightly structured songs and the superb guitar work of Dennis Wilson and Tim Gaze (Tamam Shud) combine to stamp the record as a tour de force, where style, content, technique and sonic bearing meet in perfect equilibrium. Furthermore, the whole shebang is held together by the restlessly exploratory bass lines of the great Bob Daisley (who later went on to a stellar international career with Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Uriah Heep, Chicken Shack - the list is endless!) and the muscular, yet agile drum patterns of Dannie Davidson (Tamam Shud, Band of Light). Is it any wonder then that all these elements add up to make Wide Open one of the most sought-after artifacts of the entire Aussie progressive rock era on the 17th July 2005, Kahvas Jute, featuring new drummer Mark Marriott (an experienced session player), played a gig at famed Sydney venue the Basement which was filmed for future DVD release. Five of the audio tracks from that gig feature as bonus tracks on the CD reissue. Aztec Music's reissue of Wide Open has been digitally remastered by Dennis Wilson. Packaged in our usual 6 panel digipak, with rare photos, and liner notes by Ian McFarlane.