Focus

Focus ‎– Moving Waves (Featuring “Hocus Pocus”)
Vinyl | LP Cover (1:1) | FLAC | 24bit/96kHz & 16bit/44kHz
Label: Sire ‎/ SAS 7401 | Release: 1971 | Genre: Symphonic-Rock

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music.
I remembered way back as a kid hearing “Hocus Pocus” on the radio, this must be around 1979 or 1980, on the FM dial. Around 1989, I heard this song again and found out it was “Hocus Pocus” and the group was called FOCUS. I thought that was silly to have a song title that rhymes with the group’s name. I thought it was a rather ingenious mixing of heavy metal and yodeling.
When my interest in prog rock was on the rise around the early ’90s, I was wondering if it was worth trying FOCUS, and once I got to hear “Moving Waves”, I was not disappointed.
The album was entitled “Focus II” in Holland, but elsewhere, it’s known as “Moving Waves”. This album is definately an improvement over “In & Out of Focus”. The vocal pop-oriented material of that album have been totally dropped. Original members Hans Cleuver and Martijn Dresdin had left the band to be replaced by drummer Pierre van der Linden (ex-BRAINBOX, which Jan Akkerman was a member of, by the way) and bassist Cyriel Haversman. The other two guys, who helped make FOCUS what they were, were guitarist Jan Akkerman and keyboardist/flautist Thijs van Leer. “Hocus Pocus” was actually an unintentional hit for the band, and in fact wasn’t a hit in the United States until 1973, that is, not until even after their following album, “Focus 3” was released. The band thought the song as little more than a joke, but were forced to play it after it became a hit. And yes, it’s true, this song is not typical for FOCUS, but I still think it’s a truly wonderful song. “Le Clochard” is Jan Akkerman’s time to shine, a laid-back piece played on classical guitar (with nylon strings) and nice use of Mellotron in the background. “Janis” is a flute-dominated piece from van Leer. The title track is a piano-dominated piece, and the only song with any singing, showing that Thijs van Leer isn’t the best vocalist out there. It’s still a nice piece with a classical feel. “Focus II” is a jazzy piece with Jan Akkerman’s trademark lead guitar. The album’s crowning achievement, in my opinion, is the epic “Eruption”. It starts off rather mellow, dominated by Hammond organ and lead guitar. They also do a cover of a song from another Dutch band called SOLUTION in this song, in the “Tommy” section of the suite. Halfway through is a really intense and mindblowing rocking piece dominated by guitar and organ. Somewhere the band steals a LED ZEPPELIN riff (“Whole Lotta Love”) before they mellow out with nice use of piano. There’s also a really dramatic Mellotron passage, and then a nice drum solo from Pierre van der Linden. Previous themes on this suite resurface. Without a doubt, I feel Moving Waves is by far the best album FOCUS ever done, and this is the album you should start if you’re not familiar with FOCUS.

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Focus ‎– In And Out Of Focus
Vinyl | LP Cover (1:1) | FLAC | 24bit/96kHz & 16bit/44kHz
Label: Sire / SAS-7404 | Release: 1970 | This Issue: 1973 | Genre: Symphonic-Rock

Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.
It’s amazing and fascinating to know how FOCUS were (and still are) popular in Brazil. They are good and really deserved that distinction but I also realize that their first output came in a moment that part of the younger generation was eager to some new sounds, experiences and perspectives – a new focus, indeed. Those kids that became teenagers in late 60s had received musical information coming from BEATLES, MOODY BLUES, PROCOL HARUM, early FLOYD and CRIMSON, and so they were naturally looking for novelties, a niche filled amongst other by FOCUS.
“In And Out Of Focus” has a fair content of progressiveness, nothing really spectacular but with the exact dosage to amuse many, myself included. Their sound shows several directions and influences: hard and pop-rock, European jazz, psych & space, folk & erudite and even some of then recent acts like JETHRO TULL. All together could produce a tasteless and confusing salad but the result is agreeable since the production got to separate their backgrounds clearly.
The album begins and finishes with the same track, the band namesake song ‘Focus’, being the first provided with vocals and the later instrumental only – a catchy and soft tune much more in the romantic pop vein with some real rock passages. Vocals in English could have been weird if that was one’s native language however for a non-English speaker it sounded interesting.
‘Black beauty’ rocks pleasantly and a certain smell of 60s pop-rock may be felt while ‘Sugar Island’ blends Latin and psych tunes – either songs are not remarkable but are perfectly hearable. ‘Anonymous’ is a fine and real progressive track, the varied atmosphere changing associated with nice musicianship makes this one of the best album moments. This song has also some segments which in the future will shape FOCUS signature.
‘House of the king’ (not in SIRE issue) opens lovably the last part of “In And Out Of Focus”. The short song was a hit and became a band’s standard. ‘Happy nightmare’ brings back the vocals, together with catchy folk and jazz tunes – not special but nevertheless hearable. ‘Why dream’ is simply an average non-skipable track with psych spices.
FOCUS debut album is the starting point for a lengthy and successful career that should be not overlooked when diving into the band’s discography. “In And Out Of Focus” could be a plain good album however the legend of FOCUS recommends it as a meaningful addition for all music collection.

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Focus – Hamburger Concerto (1974)
Vinyl rip in 24 bit/96 kHz | FLAC tracks |Tech Log | Artwork | 820 Mb
ATCO Records – SD 36-100 (1974) (Original US Pressing) | Prog Rock

Focus had well proven their ability to write rocking instrumentals by the time of this release. Their catalog, although consisting of four albums, rarely had a dull moment between them. Hamburger Concerto is equally consistent, much of it being prime Focus material. The Akkerman-written “Birth” and “Early Birth” are examples of Focus fully flexing their muscles, featuring superb guitar work and amazing all-round musicianship, as well as sporting some superb riffs. The usual lengthy instrumentals are present also, as well as some manic vocals from the manic but genius Thijs Van Leer. Although Hamburger Concerto is not as unerring as Moving Waves or Focus III, anyone who enjoyed the previous releases would undoubtedly find great satisfaction from this album. (Allmusic) (more…)

Focus – Mother Focus (1975) (24-Bit/96 Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rip in 24 Bit-96 kHz | Redbook 16 Bit-44 kHz | FLAC | Cue | No Log | Scans | 782 MB + 214 MB
1975 / Genre: Pop-Rock-Funk / Polydor – NL

“Mother Focus” is the fifth studio album by the band Focus, released in 1975. The album marks a departure from the progressive rock style that dominated the band’s prior work, to a poppier, often funky influenced direction.
Let’s hear another side of Focus; less “proggy” and “excitement”, but this is for sure a beautiful album with tasteful and enjoyable music!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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