Reflections is the second album from the Original Album Classics box set, which Santa brought me, and was heavily drawn from on the Glory compilation and it contains a number of favourites of mine.
It open with Storm Music, a reggae beat reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's Masterblaster, and a fine opening to the album. Grandma's Hands has a more orthodox soul feel in a lovely Bill Withers song, with a fine horn backing as well as a gentle guitar middle piece. Is That Jazz? floats along over a rambling bassline, a tremendous piece of smooth jazz, building to a powerful crescendo. The bass also pushes through on the poem Morning Thoughts, bassist Robert Gordon bending those strings like Jaco Pastorius, before Gil breaks into song for the final verse.
If the first half is strong, there's a treat for the second half. Only three songs, but they're all nailed on classics. Firstly, there's a cover of Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues, which features Scott Heron's poem The Siege Of New Orleans, with a soaring sax over the top of it. That's followed by Gun, a strong plea to the community to disarm ("when other folks give up theirs I'll give up mine"), yet the message never overwhelms the music and despite the subject it's a fantastic song. But the climax of the album is Scott-Heron's polemic on the election of Reagan, B-Movie. Mostly spoken word, with more song in the second half, this is the full twelve minute version, and it doesn't drag in the least.
I think this is probably my favourite of all the Scott-Heron albums I've heard, with a successful fusion of styles, the music being strong enough to carry the radical message. many purists seem to favour his earlier work with the Lost Poets, but I think Scott-Heron really nails it on this album.
5* - an absolutely fabulous album, showing Gil at his musical and political peak.
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