by Angelo Hulshout | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
IZZ have been around since the 90s, and were founded by American brothers Tom (keyboards, vocals) and John (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals) Galgano. Over time, the band became known for incorporating different styles into their music, and for combining four vocals: the two brothers, and female vocalists Laura Meade and Anmarie Byrnes). They’ve been getting more attention since their fourth album My River Flows (2005), and released their seventh, Everlasting Instant in 2015.
For me, this album was the first I heard of IZZ, another band I had heard about but never got around to listening until this year. I got hooked quite quickly, exactly because of the aforementioned characteristics. The mix of styles means that every track is different in nature, but still fits what is apparently the IZZ sound, and the vocal arrangements are often simply mesmerising.
The opening track Own the Mystery, has such an nice vocal arrangement in its ‘choruses’, that makes for a nice addition to a soft, almost pop piano and keyboard based track. The change to Every Minute is surprising. This is a short instrumental which introduces the bass of John Galgano, which proves to be a constant factor throughout the album – a bass that is not there for support, but to drive the music and provide it’s own melodies and riffs.
Riffs like the one Start Again, which is interleaved with very melodic vocal parts. The interleaving builds into a question answer pattern, with male vocals on the bass driven parts, and female vocals answering in the quieter more melodic sections. The second half of the track has more power and the male vocals become Sting like, but more powerful… Guitarist Paul Bremner seems to play two guitars over each other on the instrumental too.
The more jazzy If It’s True has yet again a very clear bass line, crisp bass line, with guitar and keyboard melodies moving in and out – supporting the female vocals. The synth noises at the transition from verse to chorus give it a slightly more experimental feel, and the short instrumental mid section briefly rocks before going back to the beginning.
And so it continues, with new elements in every song. The Three Seers starts with a mysterious piano and male vocal part. The first half of the song is like a 21st century minstrel telling a story accompanied by piano, while the darker, keyboard heavy second part is more desperate, and emotional.
The title track has an electronic beat, which is answered by a counter melody from a female voice, singing an almost Celtic piece. It develops from there into more folk rock like track, then to keyboard and organ driven symphonic rock, going back to the Celtic feel in the end. If not proven already, this track shows how IZZ use vocals not just as a carrier for lyrics, but really as an additional instrument.
Keep Away is best described as ‘contemporary jazz rock’, with a ‘jumpy’ bass line, which both contrasts and supports the slow melancholic vocals, keyboards and guitar. When a second female vocal joins half way, goose bumps are guaranteed.
The two most complex tracks on the album Can’t Feel the Earth Part IV and Sincerest Life sandwich the more accessible, Illuminata. Where that track starts with a happy, thoughtless feel, brought on by an acoustic guitar and then developers into a slow neo prog track, the other two are less clearly defined. Can’t Feel the Earth starts with bass and percussion, but builds in a few steps into a 70s symphonic rock track, with a big organ and guitar sound, and a very present bass. And of course, with a great goal arrangement again.
Hardest to get into is Sincerest Life, which goes from piano piece to a wailing guitar and keyboard lead, then to a more jazzy mood, then to a shuffled rock rhythm and an intricate vocal arrangement again. Here, even more than on the rest of the album, the off the trodden path drum work also helps confusing attentive the listener.
After all this, the mellow rock track Like A Straight Line, which has a nice layering of melodies and is almost completely instrumental is a fitting end.
As I like an album more, my reviews tend to get longer, and this one is no exception. The only words missing are ‘highly recommended’, although given what others old me, the three albums preceding this one may even be slightly better.
Also published on my blog http://www.angelosrockorphanage.com
by Angelo Hulshout | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
The Austrian (and according to some Italian) band Il Ballo Delle Castagne is the brain child of singer Vinz Aquarian and guitars/keyboard player Marco Gargegnani. They founded the band in 2007 and released four studio albums since then. The album under review here, Live Studio, is the fifth, and was recorded live (in band setting) in the Nadir studio in Genua, Italy.
Il Ballo Delle Cassagne is considered part of the Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI) movement within progressive rock, but is more fittingly described as Dark Italian Prog. Unlike most RPI bands, they don’t copy the sound of the progressive rock acts that Italy brougth forth in the 1970s (PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, Museo Rosenbach), but rather create their own mix of styles. As a result, this album contains a mix of Italian prog, krautrock, space rock and even a little bit of jazz influences, creating a foundation for the dark, mysterious vocals of Vinz Aquarias and guest vocalist Marina Larcher. Her chants add a druidic feel to some of the tracks, lie Tema di Gilgamesh and Il Viaggio.
Musically, the album is varied, with a solid rhythm section (Diego Ranchero does seem to have some jazz background in his playing, just listen to Il Trema), space rock like guitars and enough from for some good old fashioned organ playing.
The album, which is released as a limited edition CD (108 hand numbered copies and a few also hand marked promo copies) contains three covers of the band’s own idols. The most interesting one for me was their rendition of Appearance of the Voice by Eloy. The track’s lyrics were replaced by Italian lyrics, and Vinz really shines on this one. Next to this, the covers are Areknames by Italian Franco Battioto and Fire in the Sky, by Ya Ho Wa 13. Both bands I don’t know, but the way Il Ballo Delle Cassagne plays their works makes that they are now added to my list of acts to check out further, together with Il Ballo themselves.
The darkness of the bands sound may not be something one wants to hear on a daily basis, but at the right time and in the right place this is certainly worth listening – and listening attentively as well. Recommended!
Also published on my blog http://www.angelosrockorphanage.com
by Angelo Hulshout | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
Composer, singer, drummer and midi player, that is the description John Crispino’s name has on the album II, the second release of his personal project Seconds before Landing. On the album he gets the assistance of Steve Schuffert on guitars, JD Garrison on bass, Jamie Peck on piano, saxophone and flute, and Maurice Witkowski on acoustic guitar.
With a line up like that, there is a hint that this could be a jazz rock influenced release, which was also the indication the first track Big Train gives. However, besides the opening track, the only one that confirmed my expectations was Silent Bird, while the rest of the album has a more electronic and midi ring to it. That is not necessarily bad, but also not entirely my cup of tea – I prefer interplay between instruments over midi sounds.
However, there is still a lot to be found on this album for people who have a different taste than mine, and quite a few of those exist. The track Hey Dad for example is clearly influenced by Pink Floyd, think of tracks like Hey You or One of My Turns. Interesting detail in this respect is that the engineer who joined Pink Floyd at the release of The Wall, Andy Jackson, also took care of production for this album.
Two other highlights are The Great Deceiver and My Perfect Girl. The former is a rocky track, with a pulsing bass and a frantic guitar, with vocals that contain a slight hint of Alice Cooper in the vocals. The latter is darker and more industrial, reminding me of Transport Aerian.
Other tracks are more electronic, even ambient, and as said, not really my thing. This type of music has the habit of becoming slightly repetitive and makes me get distracted from it. However, this style does have its fans, so with a ‘try before you buy’ stamp on it, I’m sure this will still reach many satisfied listeners.
Also published on my blog http://www.angelosrockorphanage.com
by KIM SOLI | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
Just in time, for the HOLIDAY SEASON.
Since 2013, you’ve know him as a former member of the legendary FLOWER KINGS, DESPERADOS, and KAPIA, just to name a few…
Now discern and WITNESS the OTHER SIDE on MICHAEL STOLT, who’s A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT ROCK & ROLL, with TUNES YOU CAN SPEED YOUR MUSTANG TO, without a DULL MOMENT!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPREME GUITARIST, ROINE STOLT: ” EVERYONE SHOULD OWN THIS – ROCK OUT CHRISTMAS…PLAY IT LOUD, SAME HAPPINESS FEEL, AS SPRINGSTEEN, JUST SAYIN’! ”
A little sooner than expected but now you can buy Michael Stolt ” En Hedonist Utan Skam ” ( A Hedonist Without Shame ) if you’re located outside Sweden!
And now, a few words from MR. STOLT himself:
” Here we go with a teaser of what will be out on December 15th! ”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnQYTBwFYAg
” No fuss no muss just plain R&R! ”
” My new album feat: MIKAEL ‘ NORD ‘ ANDERSSON, ( Roxette & Scorpions ), ROINE STOLT ( Flower Kings, Transatlantic & Steve Hackett ) SCOTT HOLIDAY and ROBIN EVERHART ( Rival Sons ) MAX LORENTZ, TOMAS BODIN, STAFFAN ASTNER, PETER LINBERG, and many more.. ”
” In Sweden you can order it by sending your name and full address to: order@songsupport.se ( SEK 150 incl. shipping ) “
US, Asia, Europe, and the rest of the world, PLEASE order with 18€ EURO or $26. USD ( incl. free shipping ) at:
http://www.flowerkings.se/merchandise.php…
” COME ON FRIENDS, SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC!!! ”
” THANK YOU! “.
by blake | Dec 1, 2015 | Uncategorized
by blake | Nov 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
Transitions will officially be released November 27th and goes on pre-sale today for a special low price.
The band has spent the last four years writing and recording “Transitions” their follow up to the highly praised debut album. The band has also gone thru some personal changes during the writing and recording process thus the meaning behind the name of the new album Transitions. The album also features some very special guest by members of Yes, Michael W. Smith, Glass Hammer and Proto-Kaw.
Track Listing
01. Only One Way 06:56
02. Only Through Faith 02:10
03. Only Today 06:59
04. Prisoner 08:53
05. The Moment is Here 04:44
06. About Time 05:09
07. You’re All I Need 05:38
08. River of Sorrows 04:24
09. Water Girl 04:24
10. Love is Here 07:26
Time Horizon is…
Ralph Otteson (Keyboards & Vocals), Allen White (Electric & Upright Basses), Dave Miller (Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars).
Guest Artists…
David Wallimann (Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars), Lang Bliss (Drums & Percussion), Tony Kaye (Hammond B3), Billy Sherwood (Guitar), Jake Livgren (Vocals).
Additional Contributing Musicians…
Bruce Gaetke (Drums & Vocals), Jeff Garner ( Guitar), Michael Mullen (Violin), Dan Eidem (Drums), Gary Gehman (Backing Vocals).
Recorded by: Ralph Otteson , Bruce Gaetke
Additional recording by Billy Sherwood, Lang Bliss, David Wallimann and Engineering staff at Rundown Studios Topeka KS. “Love is Here”
Mixed by: Billy Sherwood Mastered by: Maor Appelbaum
Media Contact: Ralph Otteson: ralphotteson@yahoo.com
Nick Katona: info@melodicrevolutionrecords.com
Follow Time Horizon:
Official Website: http://www.timehorizonmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Time-Horizon-Fan-Page-148897908455012
Power of Prog: https://powerofprog.com/profile/TimeHorizon
