If you were under the impression that Page and Plant had effectively retained exclusive rights on the enduring ethos of Led Zeppelin as revolutionary catalysts exploiting the endless potential of heavy rock/world music crossover, think again. John Paul Jones returns to the fray after too long (nearly 20 years) working behind the scenes for artists as diverse as the Butthole Surfers and Ben E. King, with an instrumental album featuring the dynamic multifarious talent with which he made a name as both a key producer/arranger during the late Sixties, and also as the most easily forgotten but nonetheless vital quarter of Led Zeppelin.
"Zooma" and "Grind" feature the unstoppable rhythm mechanics of heyday Zeppelin, while "The Smile of Your Shadow" showcases marvellously haunting acoustic finger-picking. "Goose" makes a suitable sequel to "LED ZEPPELIN IV"s "When the Levee Breaks", and "Bass 'N' Drums" allows Jones to remind us how he got the job in the first place.