Unorthodox Behaviour
Unorthodox Behaviour gives Brand X a clear balance between intricate playing and a relaxed group sound. The music moves through jazz-rock, funk and quieter acoustic settings, with the musicians sharing the lead. Phil Collins and Percy Jones form an especially active rhythm section, while guitar and keyboards provide both sharp lines and softer colours.
Nuclear Burn opens with the fastest, most forceful side of that approach. The bass and drums keep the music moving beneath the guitar and keyboard exchanges. Its energy is immediate, but the attraction is the way the musicians work together. Even when the parts become busy, the performance feels like a conversation within one band.
Euthanasia Waltz changes the setting. Acoustic guitar gives the arrangement a lighter surface, with electric piano and bass adding movement beneath it. The calmer sound does not reduce the detail. Instead, it makes the relationship between the instruments easier to follow, providing one of the album's most distinctive passages.
Born Ugly brings the funk influence further forward. Robin Lumley's electric piano and Jones' bass give the piece much of its character, while John Goodsall's guitar moves between support and stronger lead playing. There is plenty happening inside the groove, although the tune itself is less memorable than the performance.
The title track is more playful and unsettled. Its rhythmic patterns give the musicians an unusual framework, and the arrangement explores that space without always reaching a strong conclusion. The playing remains interesting, but the musical idea can feel stretched beyond what it needs.
Touch Wood makes an effective closing contrast. Acoustic instruments reduce the scale, allowing the record to finish with a gentler texture. It also shows that the group can find character outside the more familiar electric-fusion sound.
The album's main weakness is that its strongest moments promise more than every composition delivers. Some of the longer playing is easier to admire than to remember. Yet the flexible rhythm section, varied textures and shared attention to detail give the music a strong appeal. Unorthodox Behaviour works best when its skill helps the arrangement become more expressive, rather than simply busier.
