CHEESE - "Let
It Brie"
From
the first few bars of this recording you know you're in for a treat
as an exceptional rhythm section drive us through 'Popular Music'.
The 14 tracks pass very quickly with a succession of great melodies
and hooks, wonderful vocal harmonies and expansive guitar work. Cheese
is a Dorset (England) based band fronted by Marco Rossi, who is also
known for his role as guitarist in the Kevin McDermott Orchestra.
Think
Big Star in the vocal harmonies, XTC in the inventive and at times
'quirky' guitar and bass lines and Squeeze not only in Alan's vocals
but also the 'intelligent power pop' approach and general song construction
to get an idea of just how good this band is.
The music
was recorded between 1994 and 1997 but as this compilation was put
together in 2001 it definitely goes down in my book as one of the
recommended releases of 2001. www.pinkhedgehog.com
(Pink Hedgehog Records SMILE 1) Buy
online for £10.69
(Phil JACKSON) musician and reviewer, Paradox
One
STAR ONE - Space
Metal
Album
of the year? Probably not. Power metal album of the year? Probably
yes. People may be talking up Blind Guardian and they may be shifting
truckloads in Europe, but you'll be hard pushed to find anything better
in the genre than this. Space Metal is probably a misleading title,
although the concept (oh yes!) is that all the songs are based on
films that take place entirely in space. Oh, and if you move sharpish
and get the limited edition, then you have the joy of a Hawkwind medley
featuring none other than Mr Dave Brock. Oh yes!
But to
go back a bit, this is Ayreons Arjen Lucassen's new project and features
a host of B level metal celebs from outfits such as Symphony X, Threshold,
Wicked Sensation, After Forever, Nightingale, oh and Hawkwind. Chuck
in a few musos from Stratovarius, Shadow Gallery and Lana Lane, and
fanboys the world over will be reaching for the tissues. There isn't
actually a bad track here, and when it hits 100% ("The Eye Of Ra"
et al), it's awesome. The packaging is superb, and puts major releases
to shame, with some fabulous artwork. If power metal is your thing,
you have to have this.
You can
get the Japanese
import here
http://www.ayreon.com
music@ayreon.com
THE LIVES AND
TIMES OF QUARKSPACE QUARKSPACE - The Hidden Moon
Arguably,
the premier US spacerock outfit, this is the pinnacle of their output
today. Released in 1999 this 2CD set has 146 minutes of Quarkspace,
performing at the peak of their game.
Primarily
instrumental, this developed their earlier guitar based sound, bringing
keyboards more to the fore, opening up new areas of sonic exploration.
They even manage to take the dreaded 'jam', and make it a viable sound
force, harking back to the key elements of the mighty Hawkwinds early
70s live shows.
QUARKSPACE -
Spacefolds series
The Spacefolds
series is an ongoing programme of improvissation from the Quarkspace
camp, the first four were tape only releases, but 5, 6 and 7, are
all available. However, in this case, improv does not mean guff, rather
a trippy, ambient, rhythmic journey. It's never easy listening, challenging
you, the listening public to keep up with what can be delicate nuances.
There's hints of techno, it veers close to System 7 territory, but
remains very much, master of its own destiny. If you had to pick one,
go for 7.
QUARKSPACE -
Drop
"Drop"
is the most recent Quarkspace release, and if you loved the Spacefolds
series, then you could end up hating this, featuring, as it does,
a more mainstream approach to songwriting and performance. However,
this is Quarkspace, which means it's a concept album about the abuses
of consumerism. Nice, quoth the capitalist reviewer.
Its very
mid period Pink Floyd in feel, which is a good thing, and for those
yearning for more esoteric sounds, there's always the twenty minute
closing tune, "Blanket Hill, which even manages to shake off the spectre
of poets, and manages to make Gong seem, well, ordinary. Chet Santia
(bass, acoustic guitar, voices), Jay Swanson (synthesisers), Dave
Wexler (guitar), Paul Williams (synthesisers, drums, loops, voices),
and Darren Gough (guitar) have wandered down a more psychedelic route
here, less "Space Ritual", more "Hall Of The Mountain Grill". One
part Orb, one part Tangerine Dream, and a host of inspiration. And
where can you get these inspirational soundtracks.
Here
- Go on, you know you want to.
TANTALUS - "Short
Stories"
Tantalus
is a trio of Max Hunt on keys, rhythm programming and backing vocals,
Rupert Willder on guitar and lead vocals and Steve Meston on bass
and backing vocals.
Most
of the material was originally released in 1996 on cassette and the
material has been meticulously re-mastered for CD release.
Part
of the strength of Tantalus lies in their ability to take a traditional
blues structure and explore its possibilities like on 'Shot Down in
Flames' and 'Plans'.
There
is a lot more to Tantalus than that though as the band produce some
truly inspirational music on 'Light from Dark' and 'Wherever You Turn',
the latter containing some distinctly YES like variations. (I wouldn't
necessarily categorise Tantalus as a progressive rock band though)
There is also a gorgeous ballad 'City of Dreaming Spires' and a splendid
8 minute version of Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' featuring
some ingenuous bass and guitar variations. The latter track features
the present day line-up of Tantalus (A 5 piece with no Rupert or Steve)
Tantalus not only have musical ability but a 'heart and soul' no more
amply expressed than in the guitar playing of Rupert who combines
the emotion of Andy Latimer with the agility of Jeff Beck.
This
release brings the history of Tantalus up to date. They have released
two other albums- 'Jubal' and 'Smoking Angels' and have a new album
due for release in 2002. Contact: www.hinotemusic.com
(Hi-Note Music) (HDL 507 CD)
(Phil JACKSON) musician and reviewer, Paradox
One