| Date | Label | Catalog # | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | LP |
Passport's fusion is distinct in many ways - not least of all because Doldinger has a unique sound for his sax and the way it is mixed and recorded - it is most often powerful, forceful and full bodied. He never plays as though he is hiding his sound in any part of the music. He has a great range and a clear tone.
Curt Cress's drumming has resulted in him being a session player on recordings from Triumvirat to David Knofler. He also had his own band - the Curt Cress Clan, but his greatest fame comes from the CDs he made in the 70's as a member of this band. His style is fast aggressive and complex, but where he differs from Lenny White and Billy Cobham is the heavy - almost rock feel to even his most jazzy performances. Matching his peers in complexity and speed, there is never a doubt that when Cress is playing you are hearing Drums - - pound pound pound.
Schultz and Schmidt also play wonderfully both in support and for their not infrequent spots where their virtuosity is front and center. Schultz on keys is especially critical in making the Passport sound while I love the touch of Schmidt on guitar more-so than on the bass where he is often has a heavy-handed sound. To be fair - there is nothing lacking in his skills on bass as even a casual listen to the title track will atest.
Looking Thru is no longer a great album - but in 1973 it most definatley was. Passport made better music following this recording - Cross-Collateral and Handmade though probably they did not make a better overall album. Looking Thru is the most balanced and consistent in sound of the 3 from this classic period. The sound here itself is often described as on the Jazz Side of fusion - - but I am not in agreement. I know of no contemporary fusion band that carries the rock side of fusion to such perfection. If fusion is some magical center between jazz and rock in 1973, then Looking Thru swings equally to each side - - rock and fusion - - whereas other bands tend to swing further to one wing or the other (and those on the Jazz swings tended (at that time) to borrow too much from 'Funk'). Rarely if ever during this period can Passport be accused of being 'funky'. Part of the success in their sound is the balance achieved between the real instruments such as sax, bass, guitar, drums, electric piano, organ, and the electonic things such as the Moog Synth, Mellotron, and Electonic Percussion. Ultimately, the jazz-end of their sound lack's soul and for the mass of American listeners Passport> in fusion - (like fellow-Germans Eloy in the Prog-rock genre) - will sit in the second tier of great bands.
If you are experimenting with this band, songs I might suggest are Eternal Spiral which introduces the Passport sound fully and Looking Thru which has passages that remind me of the Dutch band Solution and is my clear favorite for best song on this album.
Unfortunately as with everything, all good things must come to end and Passport ended up recording some really questionable material in their later years, but for fans of GREAT instrumental music, Looking Thru will certainly fit the bill.
