REVIEWS
ROUNDUP - JANUARY 2004 |
New
Machine - New Machine (Mascot Records - Out Now) |
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The
self titled debut of NEW MACHINE is a majestic,
emotional feast for the ears that combines great
song writing with an updated progressive, melodic
rock sound. Similar to a cross between Pink Floyd,
Kings X and hints of classic Marillion.. Its all
very classy with a good production.Track 2 New
Horizon is pure class with a great mid tempo prog
feel and nice simplistic yet emotionally packed
melody that plays nicely with the backing underneath.
. Its impressive to discover that New Machine
are actually just 2 musicians - David Garcia (drums,
keys and vocals) and Bob Gilmartin (guitars, bass
and vocals). The album produced with the help
of Eric Rachel sounds very good with a nice mix
and good seperation between all instruments.
Fans of modern day prog ala Spocks
Beard, Tran=satlantic, Dream Theater and The Flower
Kings will all find something to grasp here.
Rating - 82%
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Baltimoore
- Utimate Tribute (out now) |
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Baltimoore are
the Swedish hard rock band led by vocalist Bjorn
Lodin, a vocalist in the style of Kelly Keeling
and Sammy Hagar. Europe drummer Ian Haughland
bashed the skins and guitars are courtesy of Thomas
Larsson.
Ultimate Tribute is a collection of 12 tracks
that are obviously part of the bands influences.
Included are versions of Kill The King by Rainbow,
performed quite true to the original. Sabbath's
Never Say Die which kicks some serious ass and
a great cover of Jimi Hendrixs Freedom. Ultimate
Tribute is not going to win any awards for originality,
but it does show a band obviously having fun and
producing good versions of rock classics.
Rating - 74% |
ALLAN
HOLDSWORTH / FRANK GAMBALE- TRUTH IN SHREDDING
(out now) |
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Originally conceived
by Mark Varney and released on his Legato Records
label in 1990, Truth In Shredding is available
again after being out of print for seven years.
Originally recorded in 1989 this album sees two
of jazz/rock fusions great teaming up for 55 minutes
of all kinds of fretboard excess over a number
of standards from Chick Corea and The Brecker
Brothers. Fans of Holdsworth and Gambale will
lap this up and both seem to do each other justive
pushing themselves onto new heights. The guitar
work is top notch throughout, both Holdsworth
and Gambale get pretty much an equal share of
those solo spots. Fans of jazz fusion will love
this, fans of either of the artists will love
this, but for those with just a passing interest
it may all get a little too indepth. Recommended
for fans of the genre and players involved.
Rating
- 75% |
Drum
Nation - Volume One |
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Now here we have something completely
"out there". An album put together by
drummers and it must be said its nowhere near
as hard going as I imagined. The thought of what
I believed would be 12 drum solos scared me stiff
but luckily this is far from that. Here we have
a collection of some of the worlds most esteemed
drummers - Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai)
, Bill Bruford (Yes, UK), Steve Smith (Journey),
Rod Morgenstein (Winger) and Simon Phillips (Joe
Satriani) amongst others giving us instrumentals
where the drums are not the main focus, styles
from prog to jazz fusion to rock are all here.
Clocking in at just over an hour there is a lot
of value for money and also a lot of intreresting
musical ideas. Bill Brufords 'Beelzebub' is an
absolute gem. Simon Phillips' Manganese is a quirky
prog jaunt with some great guitar work from Andy
Timmons (Favored Nations solo artist, ex Danger
Danger) making this a great deal of fun. Overall
a nice suprise.
Rating
- 84% |
Hodson
- This Strange World (Frontiers Records - Out
Now) |
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