|
|
||
 |
Reviews
Weekly Reviews For January 30, 2005 I am also Assistant Editor & reviewer
at MetalUK. I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock You will also find some reviews at spacerock.co.uk
|
 |
New Reviews To my ears Flight 09 just gets better and better. From the languorous, almost lachrymose rock of ‘Eternal Disgrace’ to the concluding gentle balladry of ‘When The Sleeper Wakes Up’, this fine Uzbekistan band has produced its most consistent CD to date. Intelligent lyrics, infectious choruses, the subtle addition of synth lines by Igor Savich (also his gravely, emotional vocals) and some cleverly constructed chord changes all contribute to the success of this creative endeavour. Pastoral openings give way to full blown symphonic episodes as on ‘Dancers in the Night’, a classic song with voices and strings delicately employed and an eloquently expressive guitar solo that reminded me of the playing of Robin Trower in his early days with Procol Harum. Anyone’s Daughter seems an obvious reference point but also a brief reference to Dire Straits may be heard in ‘Watching your Soul’ and in the fluid guitar playing of Igor Savich. The chorus in ‘He’s Calling Me’ is perhaps over repetitive (The neat guitar break is much appreciated though) but any criticisms of this splendid album would be only minor and the wonderfully atmospheric keyboard sequence in the 7 minute long ‘The Crow’ more than compensates for any previous minor inrritations. As the album progresses a heavier element to the music emerges that will please fans of music such as Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ and the splendid heavy prog band Threshold. ‘Human Nature’ for all the reasons stated above comes highly recommended. Contact: (Contact Rick Ray at hobbelshnimp@hotmail.com) (Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist) Available from http://www.the-rocker.co.uk
71 minutes is an ambitious length particularly given the intensity of the music and the message and the extent of the experimentation, nowhere more obvious than on ‘The Mental Minstrels’ which didn’t do a lot for me I’m afraid. Best to think of ‘Nine Lives’ as a good old fashioned double LP to be listened to a bit at a time and the impact will become obvious. I personally would start with the superb and moving Jones/ Pipkin instrumental ballad ‘Now I Know’ (I’m sure I’ve heard this with lyrics before!) leading through to what I consider the best track on the album ‘My God It’s Full of Stars’ via an intriguing ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ type guitar riff entitled ‘The Glodblug’. The sounds of cello, bells, wolf howling in the background, sax and guitar echo produce a haunting atmosphere, space music without the rock perhaps. ‘Loose Translation’ with its interweaving of ‘soundbytes’ is also very effective and, as always with C of H music, big questions are asked. The spoof ‘Sensible People’ is a good example of the Monty Pythonish approach to music. Overall though I would say the most obvious reference point in such eclectic and experimental music leads back to what Frank Zappa was trying to achieve with his Mothers of Invention. The album concludes with the powerful ‘Freedom Fighter’ where the band display their rock credentials. Working back songs like ‘Brain Drain’ are up there with the strongest of a line of distinguished songs by Body Full of Stars, The Rabbit’s Hat and laterally Census of Hallucinations (nine albums already!) Music like this cannot be ignored and Census of Hallucinations has once again produced a challenging and thought provoking album to take us out of 2004. The maelstrom of ideas on ‘Nine Lives’ can be perplexing but, with repeated listening, much will be revealed. Available from http://www.the-rocker.co.uk (Stone Premonitions SPCD 045) - Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist
Alex Gomez – Always Never To give you some idea of his credential as a slide guitarist, Mr Gomez hosted the PBS series "Blue Slide Guitar Workshop" on American television. And it is quite remarkable the range of gut wrenching emotion that one man and his guitar can engender. So, here he is, resurrecting the down and dirty boogie of Hound Dog Taylor overlaid with a Thorogood rasp and a sense of humour. Mr Gomez sings about the things that matter. Getting some, getting drunk, not getting some while getting drunk, all to a Link Wray backdrop of dirty, dirty blues. In my head I picture a porch, a rocking chair, a dog, a bottle
of whisky and this is the soundtrack in my head. Scary but somehow
attractive.
Karda Estra – Voivode Dracula
As you well know, we’re big fans of Karda Estra, the symphonic masterpieces concocted by Richard Wileman amongst the finest we’ve heard in many a long year. Now he turns his attention to Dracula, a novel so bad, it’s hard to believe that that the main character has managed to maintain a central role in our mythology for over a hundred years. We can thank the movies for that, as Dracula has now become a symbol of sexualityu, beloved of gothic romancers and mainstream punters. Voivode Dracula is a five part suite, each dedicated to different passages in the book. It’s a radical shift from the lightness of earlier album “Constellations”, but shows the remarkable skills of Richard as composer. Richard Wileman remains responsible for nost of the instrumentation but yet again, the musicians he brings in to augment the work are perfect for the job in hand. The title track sets the tone for the album, menacing and broody, with the other tracks only veering slightly from the initial template. The album highlight is “Mina”, where the music and vocals (again courtesy of Ileesha Bailey) merge to perfection. This is less an attempt to translate a poorly written Victorian melodrama into music, rather a look at the depths of human (and inhuman) emotions. Another fabulous chapter in the Karda Estra storybook.
A Rebels Guide – The Vale 18/11/04 Katey J Chris Gorman – Teargas EP A vivid thought provoking CD, which leaves you gasping for breath. Lyrically its pure genius, the words hit home and will mean something to everyone. Teargas is a beauty; by the second listen you will be starting to sing along. The whole CD is emotionally poignant and gorgeously graceful yet enormously powerful. When you listen to Endgame you totally connect with it, the majority is Chris and his piano, and then out of nowhere a band join in, an amazing toe tingling tidal wave crashes over you carrying you off to a dreamy other world. The fine line brushes with politics, a ballad with an edge! The music takes a hold of you and just wont let go, the songs buzz around in your head for hours. Its spiritual, impactive and uplifting, this is music to make your emotions pulse and explode. Katey J Bob Louisell – From Across The Years
This is what folk music was like in the old days. Just singing and picking your way through songs you love. Discredited these days where everything has to have a greater purpose, but there is something oddly affecting about this CD. Maybe it’s because I remember listening to lots of those songs on the old steam radio in the kitchen, back when I was a nipper. Perhaps it’s because I hate hearing classic songs being despoiled by everyman and his songbook. You’ll know most of these songs, and you probably like most of them, deep down, but let your sense of cool get in the way. Well don’t. It’s silly. Instead let “City of New Orleans”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “Rocky Mountain High” and “11. Trying To Get To Heaven Before They Close the Door” wash over you. If there is one fault, it’s that a lot of the arrangements are similar, but you can forgive that when you read the liner notes, and realise what a labour of love this is.
|
 |
|
|
