Although adepts wax lyrical over their work with Donald Byrd, (and rightly so), this is also one of the highlights in the rich portfolio of 1970s über-producers the Mizell Brothers. Their signature sound – post-Headhunters jazz-funk of a particularly feathery, ethereal nature where soft vocal chants and fraught string synthesizers are excellently counter-pointed by robust drums and bass (supplied here by Harvey Mason and Chuck Rainey on firing form) – is a brilliant foil for Hammond's soulful performance on organ, piano and various keyboards. As effective as the leader's soloing is in places it is really the complete tapestry of sound and the excellent repertoire that make Gears a classic. ‘Tell Me What To Do’, ‘Los Conquistadores Chocolates’ and ‘Can't We Smile?’ are anthems but the gorgeously wistful ‘Fantasy’ is the killer diller tune. The decision to give Michael White's violin carte blanche to soar and swirl around the theme was totally inspired. Bebop diehards may well object. Soul survivors may well buck 'em down on the dancefloor.