BLUE DRIFT - Cobalt Coast

Comprising John and Dave Lodder brothers, the latter of whom was a member of The Morrigan up until 2002, this is the debut CD by their latest outfit, also featuring the mono-named drumming of Arch. And it gives me no end of pleasure to say that is quite remarkable. This instrumental album is highly original, no mean feat in the progressive genre.

If you were looking to label, and I know you are, then it's pack to the heady days of so-called art rock, with all the pretentious undertones that the label implies. However, for once the label is apt. This is intelligent music that still manages to retain an atmosphere of life, especially when the Middle Eastern influences shine through.

The highlights on a splendid release are "Cobalt Coast" and "Drift Glass" where you are transported into other dimensions on a wave of longing. Dave Lodder, in particular, can be very proud of this release, although all three members contribute to the remarkable music on offer. My one quibble is that there is a tad too much synth and not enough organ.

John Lodder, 103 Moot Lane, Dowton, Salisbury, SP5 3LE, UK


FLIGHT 09

Flight 09 is a prog rock band from Uzbekistan named after a pilot less aeroplane used for surveillance, bombing or terror attacks. Rick Ray of Neurosis Records is very much impressed with this, their second CD on his label, and rightly so. Although the opening track ‘You Got My Love’ is a little predictable for my taste the second song ‘Look Around’ really is something special and from there on the band do just about everything right for me. ‘Both to Be Alone’ is a pretty intense ballad (No soporific lullaby-ha!) with a great Trower-like guitar break from Igor Savich.

The band is very compact with excellent song structures and an overall ‘feel’ that reminded me of one of my favourite prog rock bands, Sweden’s Landberk. The keyboards provide a nice ‘wash’ of sound for some memorable guitar riffs and solos- atmospheric rather than ostentatious. Eight songs weighing in at around 6 minutes each add up to splendid CD for all lovers of heavy melodic prog rock.
Contact: www.progressor.net/flight09 or order from The Rocker
(Neurosis Records)

(reviewed by Phil Jackson)


THE SUICIDE OF MISS MELANCHOLY - “Integrity is Plastique”

My impressions of TSOMM’s second CD- track one ‘With this Doublet’- Love, Genesis (in the arpeggios), Jeff Buckley (in the vocals) all spring to mind. Track two- ‘Sea Faring Men Sir’- struck by the ‘stream of consciousness’ lyrics. Track three- ‘With What, I?’- striking autobiographical piece- the spirit (not the letter) of Grateful Dead/ Buckley/ Groundhogs are invoked. Track four- ‘Here Hung Those Lips’- obvious by now this group has a very poetic bent. The guitar solo courtesy of John Solenberger (I think) is heavily redolent of the late great Rory Gallagher. The music so far is like a musical snapshot of a bygone era encased in amber. Indeed it’s been recorded on 8 track reel to reel which maybe accounts for the vivid sound. Don’t get the impression it’s all mad rocking stuff for there are gentler acoustic moments like on the fifth track ‘Receive you Well’ where singer/ pianist/ guitarist/ percussionist and composer of most of the music Joshua Frattarola is backed in the vocal department by bassist/ micromoog player Israel Slick and guitarist/ sitarist Solenberger. The gorgeous ‘Minds are Wild’ contains what sounds very much a guitar line from Joni Mitchell’s ‘Amelia’ but I don’t mind- this band are no plagiarists- they are far too creative and inventive for that. This, the sixth track segues brilliantly into the seventh ‘Marry with His Brother’, a Slick composition, a languorous and disturbingly evocative creation that goes straight into the aptly named ‘Yet Much Unhappily’, a song that asks a BIG question. And so it goes- there is so much to take in on this thought provoking album. Thanks to Tim and Terri for pulling out another gem- I for one will wear my badge with pride. A recommended release of 2003 for sure!
Contact: www.teahaile.com
(reviewed by Phil Jackson)

SHORT SHARP SHOCKS - Singles Roundup - Captain Soul, The Mars Volta, Rancid, The Mavericks, Lene Marlin, Amy Studt

CAPTAIN SOUL - Show Me A Way

Is there any more damning phrase than 'pleasant and unassuming'? If so, let me know and I'll use it in future. Summery pop that has its place. Just not here, not today.

THE MARS VOLTA - Inertiatic ESP

An entire album of this progtastic shrieking is a step too far, but in a small(ish), 13 minute segment, it reeks of inspirational madness set to wailing guitars. Better than the album.

RANCID - Fall Back Down

I remember, back in the day, standing in a pool (of someone elses) piss at the Brixton Academy watching Rancid destroy the place. Now Tim Armstrong writes singles for Pink! Is this why we fought the punk wars etc, part 372? This sucks but track 2 on the single, "Killing Zone" is absolutely storming. Unlike the sub-Wattie shoutouts elsewhere.

THE MAVERICKS - Would You Believe

In finest "it was just a break, not a break-up, no it's nothing to do with the failure of Raul Malos solo album, honest, guv, what missing guitarist, dunno what you're talking about" fashion, The Mavericks return to show Captain Soul what a summery pop records should sound like.

LENE MARLIN - You Weren't There

She had a hit you know? "Sitting Down Here" it was called. And it was so good, they've put it on the single right after the new song. Which is a shame, as Ms Marlin can knock out more than one bitter sweet pop epic, and this is one of them.. Oh, and I heartily approve of this new fangled notion of 2 track singles. Maybe we could call one the A side and one the B side? What's that? Been done already. Ah, well.

AMY STUDT - Under The Thumb

The divine Ms Studt returns with another fabtastic slice of teeny pop with a twist. Fabulous voice, fabulous face, hell I even viewed the video. A major talent in the making. Makes me sick to my stomach:-)