boogie style that made past Tuna casseroles so boring. On the opening track Jorma claims, "I can see the light"; throughout the album, the message and music sound optimistic.

Phosphorescent Rat displays a new studio sheen. The band employs strings on two cuts and the vocals are more carefully performed. Instrumentally, Jorma doubletracks rhythm guitar, Jack Casady remains his usual monumental self, and drummer Sammy Piazza finds and stays with the group's pulse. Papa John Creach now plays his fiddle for his own band Zulu, but Kaukonen takes up the slack.

Phosphorescent Rat surprised me with its economy of expression. It has resulted in a major improvement over Hot Tuna's countless, frantic jams of the past. (RS 157)

JACK BRESCHARD