This is quite an unusual album; it has no guitars and no vocals. Only bass, organ and drums. Does it still rock? Yes! Billy Sheehan (well known from Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and various projects) plays the bass and takes care of the rock connection. The organ, a Hammond B3 is played by John Novello (Chick Corea, Andy Summers). So there’s the fusion connection. Dennis Chambers, who played with George Clinton and Stanley Clarke brings in the third influence: funk. All three styles blended together very well gives you Niacin. Niacin is also known as the vitamin B3 (still wonder where they got their name?) which is supposed to regulate normal tissue metabolism.

Well, you’ll need it when you listen to “Time Crunch” because your metabolism will increase! With all this in mind you might expect a really freaky album with almost nothing to hold on to but that’s not the case. Actually, the songs are really songs with verses and chorus (well, kinda) and while the CD opens with a couple of very groovy funk tracks, the tempo is slowed down in other ones. Want references? ELP and John Lord’s solo work. The King Crimson cover “Red” which fits in very nicely shows that it’s not really easy listening. To finish it off the album is closed with Jan Hammer’s “Blue wind” Freeeks only!!!