THE
ASHQELON QUILT - "The Event"
"We
were stunned when we first heard this material. We were sure it was
some rare, unearthed recordings from the late 60's/ early 70's. But
no, this extraordinary debut album comes from seriously talented classical
music students who have created this masterpiece during their university
years."
I don't normally quote verbatim from a press release but this statement
from Headline just about sums up this remarkable album.
Apparently all this is known about The Ashqelon Quilt' is that they
recorded a version of Soft Machine's 'Dedicated To You But You Weren't
Listening', a Mellow Records tribute to the Canterbury scene.
A wide range of instruments is played on the album with brothers Ori
and Shachar Hendel taking care of the guitars, percussion/ drum programming,
keyboards.
The vocals early on reminded me of the Zombies' 'Odyssey and Oracle'
while the third track 'The Coin' is an 8 minute 40 second psychedelic
classic with its expressive and evocative guitar work. There's a fabulous
trumpeting synth fanfare on 'Twilights' and some piano playing reminiscent
of early Gary Brooker on 'Introduction to the Event' leading into the
title track with its eastern/ Irish folk leanings (Great hand drums!)
'The Well' is another classic starting like some crazy tango and bringing
me back in scope and execution to parts of Procol Harum's 'In Held 'Twas
In I' from 1968's 'Shine on Brightly'. The chorus 'There she stand,
stands and stares from the edge of the well' will haunt you for weeks
and months to come.
'The Event' is a stunning mixture of progressive psychedelic music with
'folk' references and certainly one of the best releases of 2001.
Contact: www.hinotemusic.com
(Headline HDL 506 CD) (Phil
Jackson) musician
and reviewer
PARADOX
ONE - Dimension Of Miracles (Neurosis)
Here
we have the follow up to "Reality Quake", an album rightly
lauded as a major album of 2000 by European Progressive Rock Reviews.
Phil Jackson, for it is he, has taken a sideways step, aiming for a
more ambitious, wider encompassing release. Still rooted in the melodic
and ambient, Camel-esque roots of his first release, but adds in some
more fusion type touches and even borderline techno loops in places.
The
fusion influence is best experienced on standout track, "From The
Void" where the progressive and fusion influences gel in fine fashion.
And most surprising, album closer "Spaceship In The Sky",
closes things down gently with an acoustic guitar! Most Mike Oldfield.
Other highlights include the classic prog of "The Road to Osiris",
and the spacerock vibe of "Alien Harvest".
I
can see some elements of those who acclaimed "Reality Quake"
being offended by the more off genre influences but this should be a
mandatory release for those who cherish their spacey ambient electro.
http://www.paradoxone.co.uk/
info@paradoxone.co.uk
Neurosis
releases are available from http://communities.msn.com/GuitaristRickRay
hobbelshnimp@hotmail.com
The Chaos Engine - "Escape Ferocity" (Wasp Factory)
In
finest pseud fashion, The Wasp Factory define themselves as :"...to
one degree or another as sitting in the many grey areas where alternative
rock meets contemporary electronica."
This is the third album album proper from the Chaos Engine, tragically
named after some old dogy computer game.
Surprisingly liked by the goth community, the Chaos Engine actually
specialise in industrial techno rock crossover like the lamentable Pitchshifter,
firmly allying themselves to the Front 242, Cubanate,Front Line Assembly
et al camp.
This CD, howebver, does make attempts to stretch the concept taking
in chunks of power metal and ambient, with 23 tracks
The Chaos Engine are happy to fire their musical loads all over the
landscape, and are a refreshing change in the homogenised and stereotypical
world of industrial music. We like.
http://www.wasp-factory.com/
enquiries@wasp-factory.com
Ant - A Long Way To Blow A Kiss (Fortune & Glory)
If
I was to use the words 'big', 'girls' and 'blouse' at some point, in
reference to the full length solo release thing from Hefner drummer.
Antony Harding you would be correct in anticipating a degree of wussdom.
For this does not power along in a rock and / or roll fashion, rather
it ambles along on a melancholic and mellow dean easy manner.
If
nothing irritates you more than students telling you how hard their
poor me diddums lives are, when they should be getting their arses kicked
into gear, and pointed towards the real world, then this CD will be
the antithesis of everything you hold dear. However, if winsome, heartfelt
Nick Drake melodies and charm are more your bedfellows, then pop round
here for a good thumping. Or get yourself a hold of this, because its
very much your Belle and Sebastian just popped round for tea, and isn't
this living lark, terribly, terribly dreary. Ach, we like it, but then
there's always been a world weary, fluffy kitten element to our raunch
and roll, and who can resist the beguiling "When I Need You To"
and "I Always Hurt The One That I Love". You can buy it here;
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To Cart
http://www.antpop.com
http://www.fortuneandglory.co.uk/
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