Review by stefro \r A strangely disjointed mixture of hard rock, psychedelia and jazz fusion, this self-titled 1973 album was actually the Greek group's third overall, and the second to be named after the group. Although not too much is known about Axis, we do know that they were one of a number of Greek groups who moved to France sometime during the early 1970s, hoping to join up with the vibrant French music scene and hopefully win themselves a recording contract, though ultimately they failed to find true commercial success. Led by keyboardist-and-vocalist Demis Visvikis and also featuring Alexandros Fantis(bass), Chris Stassinopoulos(guitar) and George Hadjiathanassiou(drums), Axis' third album is considered by some to be one of Greece's all-time great prog-rock albums, though by their own admittance the Greek scene wasn't exactly large. Of course, you can't really have a discussion about Greek prog without bringing up the legendary Aphrodite's Child, home to Demis Roussous and Vangelis Papathanassiou, two of Greece's biggest musical exports and, later on, international stars in their own right. Like Aphrodite's Child's career-defining double-album '666', 'Axis' contains a plethora of styles, textures and tones, skipping enthusiastically between fusion-style flourishes and Canterbury-flecked organ runs to initially bemusing effect. Subsequent listens, however, reveal a talented quartet at work, and a slightly hard-rock edge that plays nicely off the album's fusion- dominated mid-section. Occasionally, the group do wander off into strange little musical side-streets, yet for the most they manage to carve out an interesting and mainly instrumental album. It may, then, take a little time to sink in, as multiple listens are required to truly grasp what is happening, but even then one shouldn't expect any great shakes. This is a good, interesting album, yet it doesn't quite manage to serve up any real, killer melodies or stand-out tunes for a supposedly 'lost classic'. If you liked '666' you'll dig 'Axis', though the album's fragmented nature may well put some listeners off. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2015