With From South Africa to South Carolina, Gil Scott-Heron, a gifted poet and rapidly maturing musician and singer, and Brian Jackson, composer/arranger/instrumentalist and talented counterpart in the Midnight Band, have reached an impasse: the dramatic impact of the lyrics, always a key element in the Midnight Band's music, now seems forced from sketchy, rather ambiguous real-life situations.

The message is an increasingly frustrated and cynical call for action and self-determination in the face of a blissed out and surreal spiritual climate. Tracks like "Johannesburg" and "Summer of '42," a skillful dissection of the craving for nostalgia, bring home their point of view with undeniable clarity and vigor. But spread over a whole album, the point wears a bit thin.

The band still has a warm, unpretentious sound characterized by Barnett Williams's multifaceted percussion and Bilal Sunni Ali's distinctive harmonica wheezing in the background. Brian Jackson has taken on added lead vocal chores with mixed results; Scott-Heron's untrained but mellifluous and undeniably hip vocals are much more effective. The two combine on some occasionally abrasive harmonies that run a fine line between legitimate "out" and plain old out of tune.

There doesn't seem to be a tune as accessible as "The Bottle" or "Winter in America" on this one. Most of the melodies are pleasant enough, if somewhat directionless and repetitive, a semi-interesting dichotomy in light of the band's strident political bent. The very best of intentions shines through every part of this recording. Unfortunately, that ain't nearly enough to put the point across. (RS 204)

JEAN-CHARLES COSTA