\’Liberated Brother\’ might just refer to Weldon Irvine\’s liberation from the trappings of fame. While this debut album of this, originally released in 1972, was made around the same time as his come-up with Nina Simone as her bandleader, Irvine was not as impacted by publicity or subject to the same degree of pop culture notoriety. But just because a spark burns brightly, doesn\’t make it the most effervescent; this first LP charts the multi-instrumentalist\’s futuristic frolicks through funk-jazz, fusion and soul, all distilled into a romantic 8-tracker of trilling pianos (\’Liberated Brother\’) and moody noir jams (\’Gloria\’). Hot off the plate with a reissue by Japanese label P-Vine, this is an exclusive obi-strip version not many will get their mitts on; it could still be you, though.