Rick Ray - Looking Into The Past / Clone Man / Mind Control Inc (Neurosis)

After enthusing over Rick Ray in earlier reviews I have now had the opportunity to listen to his entire canon of work, and continue to remain in awe of such a prodigious and productive talent. Here I'm highlighting three of out of the catalogue.

"Clone Man" is a more traditional rock CD, and is a 'near' reunion of Ricks band, Riot Act. Song based, there's some fine work here, including the driving "Scream", with it's furious riffing and the trippy Kings X like "Almost Beyond Repair" and "The Fictitious Man".
"Looking Into The Past" is, as the name suggests, a compilation of material covering Neurotic, Riot Act and the Rick Ray Band, and is a fascinating historical artefact. After all, how can you go wrong when things kick off with a cover of Aaron Copelands "Fanfare for the Common Man", recorded in the basement! Fantastic! Going as far back as 1979 to a blues influenced, grunge predating "Where the Wild Things Are" to early 90s Riot Act tracks, this is the sound of an evolving talent.

"Mind Control Inc" is, yay!, a concept album. Mind control tools that have been proven to work are; the TV, drugs, combination of drugs and radio signals, and the rest of the media - this is the premise that Rick Ray has set out to investigate through music. And a challenging premise it is too. Highlights include "Robot Assassins" and "Hypnotic Neurotic", soaring fusion driven things.

You really ought to be checking out Rick Ray, it's too good to be missed. Start with "MInd Control Inc", then "Clone Man", and then check out the history.

Available on line at www.osmind.com
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