|
|
||
 |
Reviews
WEEKLY REVIEWS FOR JUNE 6TH 2004 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 That was a year ago, but this time, forget the summertime pop music, for this does exactly what it says on the tin. It's bleak, melancholic and relates many different ways you, yes you, may shuffle off this mortal coil. Not me, I am immortal. It's still absolutely fabulous, just in a relentless, we live too near the Arctic Circle for comfort kind of way. Of the other tracks, "Rekkedal" is so fragile as to be almost unlistenable, but only because you're scared you might damage it. And hey, there's a video! Which I'm just popping off to see. And now I'm back. Very cut and paste, proably very clever (animated by Ebba Erikzon whose recent work includes Radiohead), but probably too clever for a neanderthal like me. However, I'm sure the Sigur Ros fans will ooh and ahh, so job done. You can watch it on the web over at Seriously Groovy while you wait for them to post your CD. However, it's all about the music (man) and no-one does this kind of thing better. Get some, go again.
Oh, and it's for charidee with an unspecified percentage swelling the coffers of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Blood Pressure Association. Although I'm unsure whether the Blood Pressure Association is for or against blood pressure? There's also a video which I can't bring myself to watch, although I'm sure it won't be as fine a spectacle as Scotlands recent destruction of Trinidad & Tobago at Fortress Easter Road. In case you're wondering, we beat their cricket team 4-1 at football. Wha's like us! Although, it has to be said, some cliches do come true, and there is an actual silver lining. For the other track here, "Out There" is a glistening piece of summer pop from the pen of JunkTV mainman, Will Kevans, which was a real eye opener, that almost made up for the horrors that preceded it. Very Ian McNabb meets Squeeze, and heartily recommended. Despite Chris Moyles championing this, if you do happen to be English, and want to make amends for him and your nationality, then buy this and prevent the return of bad Liverpudlian dancing.
Jadis - Fanatic Apparently, this sees the return of the original lineup, after a period of 10 years, which has gotten their fanbase a tad on the excited side, and with some justification. For this is an excellent slab of classic British symphonic progressive rock, just the way we like it. Operating in an idiom popularised by the likes of Pendragon and IQ (and they do have former IQ keyboard player Martin Orford in their ranks), with nods to early period Porcupine Tree. There is an undisguised relish for melody in their work, which makes it a constant pleasure to listen to, as they never amble down widdle way, like too many other bands, and when they do stretch out, it's to the benefit of the soundscapes they're developing. Highlights are many, especially the opening "The Great Outside", which nods to all the conventions of progressive rock but is never enslaved by them, a dazzling fury of complex rhythms. "What Kind Of Reason" is the epic this time round, it's 8 plus minutes rooted in a more pastoral form of classic rock, with every note making a claim for being essential. However, my favourite has to be "Into Temptation" which is straight out of the Kansas book of great rock songs, genreless and timeless, it's an absolute delight. The one downside of this album is that I feel compelled to get copies of "Once Upon A Time", "Across The Water", "Once Or Twice", "Somersault", "As Daylight Fades", "Understand", "Medium Rare" and "Alive Outside" to keep it company. Which is what overdrafts are made for.
Soniq Theater - The Third Eye This is a pure one man band with Alfred handling a plethora of electronic instrumentation with only a wailing female voice popping up to provide some level of comfort for those of raised in a voice dominated world. Although a couple of numbers also have the title spoken, just in case you'd got lost. As with many others (Richard Wileman of Karda Estra springs to mind), he is fusing elements of progressive rock, electronica and classical. However, Soniq Theater come firmly down on the rock side of things, with the occasional crashing guitar sample bringing it all back home. Look to "Centaurus" and "Way to Karakorum" for a guide in how to sample properly. If you're looking for some connection to sounds you know, think of a rockier Tangerine Dream with hints of Tomita thrown in for good measure. Things peak on the epic "Lumania" with its complex orchestration and the mellotron heavy "Skydiver". Most of it is very uptempo, which is in itself very unusual, but highly infectious. A thoroughly enjoyable experience, which came out of nowhere, but one that bears up to repeated listening.
The Flexible Flyers - Church Of Dreams To steal wholeheartedly from elsewhere, "If you took The Beatles, They Might Be Giants and Syd Barrett, smacked 'em all real hard on the back of the head and dipped them in a vat of butterscotch, then turned 'em into a feature length cartoon by the creators of Ren & Stimpy, it would sound like 'Church Of Dreams'...well, maybe a little bit, anyway." Which sums it up rather well. Doktor Toddzilla (A.K.A. Todd Antony Perkins), for it is he, has a huge pedigree in the Roots Rock / Blues world, having worked with Snooky Pryor, Larry McKray, Madcat Ruth, Ann Rabson, George Bedard, Billy Branch, Howard Levy and Boogie Woogie Red, amongst others. After releasing a solo album, "My Whole Life", he rounded up a few likeminded critters to unleash this delightful CD upon us. There are delights aplenty from the peaceful "The Ice Maiden", the driving Ozric Tentacles sound of "Full Of Light" the spacerock blues of "Church Of Dreams", the summer pop of "Cynthia Smiles" and the neverending lyrical delights. If you need one reason to buy this, then buy it for the first recorded instance of the word 'exsanguinated'* on a record. Or buy it for the experimental tone poems, unusual polyrhythms and acoustic nods to the Grateful Dead. You decide. * drained of blood, if you're interested
Steve Morse - Major Impacts 2 Rather than do it the easy way, and release a covers album, Steve instead set out to create original compositions in the style of his influences. Which include The Who, The Yardbirds, Bach, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ELP, ZZ Top, Crosby, Still, Nash & Young and Enya, amongst others. Surprisingly, for someone known for his work with Dixie Dregs, Kansas and Deep Purple, it's the acoustic inspired numbers that delight most. Mind you, he had me at hello, with the opening CSNY influenced "Wooden Music"! However, there's plenty on offer for the more traditional minded prog/metal fan, especially on the Genesis influenced "Abracadab" and the ELP-alike "Organically Grown" which parps along merrily with a raft of B3 samples. One of the joys of this release is the sheer pleasure Steve seems to be getting from his playing, something I've found lacking in his day job over the last couple of years. Maybe Purple should give the man a bit more leeway for his inventiveness. A thoroughly excellent release, recommended to anyone who likes to experiment a little with their classic rock.
All About Eve - Let Me Go Home Should you buy this? Yes, but if you're in a hurry, buy it from record shop:-) Oh, and the fact that they've printed the wrong URL on the sleeve is just desserts!
|
 |
|
|
