Mother Focus

Released in 1975, Mother Focus represents a significant stylistic shift for the Dutch progressive rock band Focus. Following the departure of drummer Pierre van der Linden and the arrival of David Kemper, the band moved away from the symphonic, classically-influenced epics of 'Moving Waves' and 'Hamburger Concerto' in favor of a shorter, jazz-fusion and funk-influenced sound. Recorded in Los Angeles, the album reflects the slicker production values of the mid-70s American studio scene. While Thijs van Leer's flute and Jan Akkerman's melodic guitar remains central, the compositions are notably more restrained and groove-centric. The album is often cited as a precursor to the 'smooth jazz' movement, though it retains the band's quirky European sensibility, particularly in its occasional vocal tracks and baroque-influenced closers like 'Father Bach.' It remains a polarizing but essential document of the band's evolution during the mid-70s transition of the prog-rock genre.