SH-MAN-TRA
- "Sub_Floating"
Sh-man-tra
is an Australian psychedelic space rock band hailing from
Sydney who cite Eno, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream and Radiohead
among their influences and have also been compared to
avant-garde improvisational Krautrock band Neu!
On checking out the band I discovered they released a
highly rated double CD entitled 'Formula Orange' in 2001
and in 1998 released a CD called 'Cornucopia' (The band's
original name)
Band member Alex Hole in an interview on the Progressive
World web site (Progressiveworld.net) described their
music as 'interesting sounds with no rules'.
Don't think for one moment though that Sh-man-tra lose
sight of melodiousness in the pursuit of experimentation.
Take the smattering of organ chords that anchor the 6
minute opener 'Floating' where the drummer's contribution
is of Nick Mason proportions or the wonderful Hillage
like delayed rhythm echo effect based on a few mellifluous
arpeggiated guitar chords (with variations of course!)
in the 13 minute 'Clam' and you'll find plenty of 'hooks'
in Sh-man-tra's music.
The drummer's contribution is less hegemonical here building
on brush and hi-hat to a more predominant role on full
kit near the track's conclusion.
There is experimentation of course- 'Floating' ends with
an unnerving noise resembling a dysfunctional Dalek and
'Clam' begins at near subsonic level like some sinister
alien underground engineering complex- ah, but my imagination
is running away with me now- and this is the essence of
Sh-Mantra's music-soul-stirring and provocative no more
so than on the 20 minute closer 'Head Hurts' the track
that most eloquently exposes that this music was recorded
during jam sessions (four more CDs to follow!)- the cacophonous
distorted guitars and synths in the first seven minutes
may not be to everyone's liking but I loved it as it reminded
me of some of the groundbreaking music on Add N To (X)'s
'Avant Hard'.
Gloriously a familiar melody appears that takes me back
to Pink Floyd's 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the
Sun'. Once the 'flames' die down tropical insect and bird
sound form a gateway 11 minutes in to a wondrous 10 minute
guitar sequence similar in construction to 'Clam' that
has a transpicuous, almost pastoral ambience to it, like
peering through the filmic gossamer of a spider's web.
Once again there is a total empathy once rhythm is added
and time literally stands still.
I'm sorry to get so carried away (I'm not really!) but
I just can't stop playing this CD and must get my hands
on 'Formula Orange' and anything else by Sh-man-tra very
soon!
Contact:
(reviewed
by Phil Jackson)
CARSON
- Demo
The
latest offering from Carson sees their early potential
coalescing into a more mainstream approach to all things
rock. There's shades of Doves and Starsailor sneaking
into songs like "Another Chore", and "Empty
Scream (In My Head"), but if you're looking for that
level of success, you've got to go for it. And they still
seem to have what it takes when you listen to songs like
"Overcast".
This
is a very good offering, but some of the early individuality
seems to be lacking this time round. On the plus side,
they do seem to have dumped the sonofBritpop guff that
some of their school era material had hanging around.
However, I'd rather they let their hearts rule their heads
After all, you're only young once:-)
A.P.C.G. - "Essential Hardware"
Apparently
when this album was first released in 1997 it heralded
a new era of heavy rock music later dubbed 'nu-metal'.
Actually the raucous opener 'Human Element' reminded me
a bit of Aerosmith. The 7 minute 'Chrome Plated' is altogether
subtler affair led by James Francis' insistent bass line
and Andy Rhead's off beats, a memorable chorus and an
'eighties' feel in the way of Killing Joke perhaps.
Another 7 minute number 'Sign My Name' has some jazzy
guitar chords (Giles Dron) and piano but is essentially
a progressive metal 'thrash'.
'Down She Said' is very 'New Wave', an impression reinforced
by Guy Eastwood's organ playing with vocalist Chris Kelly
showing yet another 'arrow to his bow' by crooning Costello
style. (Kelly's vocals and the challenging lyrics he delivers
may not be to everyone's taste but the passion, energy
and sheer musicianship all round make A.P.C.G. a formidable
live band I'm told)
I could have taken an album full of tracks like the outstanding
6 minute song 'Norman's Kitchen' with its touching 'Love
is a life or so she sings, trying to drown on broken wings'
chorus. (A lot of imagery and straight talking in the
lyrics as you might have guessed)
Unfortunately using the early eighties as a reference
point does not exactly endear this listener personally
to the music as this is not a musical period I have a
particular affinity with. (I'm afraid the chorus of 'Grungar
Rangar' brought back some awful memories!) However, there
was something rather compelling about this 'groove outrage'
And as the good people at Headline say in the press release
forget about labels because A.P.C.G. has concocted an
unforgettable listening experience on 'Essential Hardware'.
Contact:
(Headline Records HDL 501)
(reviewed
by Phil Jackson)
