DreamLand - Underwater (Dogfinger / Uncle Buzz)

Blimey, it's instrumental manna from heaven round our way. DreamLand, however, have headed on down the ambient route, a dangerous one, for 'tis a fine line between ambient and muzak. If you're looking for that easy tag, then Tangerine Dream on downers ought to do the biz for you.

What have are four evocative soundscapes, which you really need to be wearing headphones late at night (to paraphrase the Tadpoles) to appreciate fully. And if that doesn't scare you enough, perhaps I should mention they were improvised live. Shut the door behind you.

But if you persevere it is worth it, particularly on the closing "Underwater Pts 1-5", which really does take you down to the depths of the Atlantic trench. Quite scary, actually, but in a non-life threatening way.

So if is Tangerine Dream meets Jean Luc Ponty you're after, this is an extremely fine recording.

http://www.unclebuzz.com
http://www.dogfingers.com

RONDELLUS - Sabbatum (Beg The Bug)

There are mad ideas, and there are ideas that really ought to be locked away for a very, very long time. This is one of the latter. "Hey, lets take classic Black Sabbath choons, translate the lyrics into Latin, then record them in finest medieval stylee, all lutes, flutes and Gregorian vocals."

Only in Estonia. Because thats where Maria Staak and her cohorts have put this project together. Now I doubt many Sabbath fans will be converted, but I have to admit to rather enjoying this. But then I like Blackmores Night. So it's not my fault, really.

However, if you want to hum along to "Funambulus Domesticus" (A National Acrobat to you guv), a bagpipe version of "Via Gravis" (Hard Road like you never imagined) and 10 other Sabbath classics, but don't want the neighbours to complain about the noise, then you might want to give this a spin. After all, madness like this really should be encouraged in a world where Pop Idols are kings.

http://www.sabbatum.com
http://www.begthebug.com
info@begthebug.com

STEREOKIMONO - "Psycophonic Oblique Rock"

Is this jazz? One might be forgiven for mistakenly thinking so 7 minutes into 'Phileas Fogg' or halfway through 'Istanbul Di Giorno' when groovy organ and walking bass lines give us the comforting thought that we're not, after all, listening to something totally unique and indefinable here.
Or is the hand of King Crimson's 'Red' writ large on this music? Well, yes again, in parts such as the 11 minute 'Phileas Fogg' where Antonio Severi's midi guitars practise some Frippian sorcery.
Or is this the ultimate evolution of folk music- witness the possessed polyrhythmic 'dance' of 'Apoteotico' or the glorious eastern nuances of 'Per Verderlo Devi Chiudere Gli Occhi' ('In order to see it you must close your eyes.')
Stereokimono also reveal a darker side to rival Swedish progressive greats Anekdoten and Anglagard on the evocative 'Istanbul by Day'
Well, Stereokimono is all of these things yet none of these things. To use a musical oxymoron the band's music is 'complex yet accessible' and the title of the CD is the 'label' the band itself would, jocularly, apply to it.
And just who are these magicians, I mean musicians, who take us to these imaginary, at times, surreal, places? Antonio Severi plays keyboards as well as guitar, Alessandro Vittorio is the bass player, also doubling on keyboards while Cristina is in the drum stool and also handles (expertly) the percussion parts. Enrico Angelini contributes electric guitar to 6 of the 8 pieces while Silvia Tarozzi adds violin to 'Istanbul by Day.
There is no actual singing on the album although the opener is punctuated in true jazz tradition with an 'Eh!' and an 'Ah!' hence the title and there is some German prose at the beginning of the 4th track and, after a pause, at the end of the CD where an alarm clock also rings. No explanation of these extracts is given.
There is really no need for words though as the music speaks for itself and indeed paints a remarkable and unforgettable series of pictures.
Finally, I must say a word of praise for the lavish and eye catching packaging of the CD. This release is obviously a 'labour of love' for Iridea Records and the Sublime label and all credit to Andrea and staff for this release.
Although this is a 2000 release I'm going to break the rules and add this to my recommended releases of 2002.
This is a 'must hear' CD.
Web sites: www.stereokimono.com and www.sublimelabel.com
(Iridea Records 2000-11-3) - Reviewed by Phil Jackson) musician and reviewer, Paradox One