Crossover Prog Review: Gazpacho-Fireworker

Release Date: September 18, 2020

Label: K Scope

Website

Gazpacho hail from Norway and was formed back in 1996. The release under review is the 11th studio album from the band, Fireworker, and the debut was released in 2003, Bravo. I have liked this band for several years after hearing a track on a sampler CD and have enjoyed their music immensely.

Briefly, they are one of the few bands that seem to be able to generate majestic atmospheric soundscapes, where the quiet (and even silent) moments are as important to the overall effect of the music as the superb skills of the musicians.

The band has been relatively settled, with Jan Henrik Ohme (vocals), Thomas Alexander Anderson (keyboards), and Jon Arne Vilbo (guitars) all original members of the band, who were then joined by Mikael Kromer (violin/mandolin) and Kristian Torp (bass) as guest musicians on the album No 3, Firebird, in 2005 and band members on the next release, album No 4, Night, in 2007. Finally, Lars Erik Asp (drums) appears in the band on the album No 6, Missa Atropos, in 2010 and that band has remained constant in the intervening years.

Fireworker is a 5-track album with a total playing time of just over 50 minutes (50:23), with track 1, “Space Cowboy,” the longest on offer at 19:41 minutes and track 2, “Hourglass,” the shortest at 4:15 minutes.

Gazpacho has a tradition of producing albums that fuse various situations, from deep philosophical questions to the intricacies and complexities of the human mind. Isolation was the key on earlier albums, Night and Missa Atropos, dramatic scenarios on Tick Tock and Soyuz, and theological /scientific questions on Demon and Molok.

Fireworker deals with an entity that inhabits everyone and ensures that it survives from generation to generation and can, at times, control our actions. The entity is known by several names, Fireworker, Lizard, or Space Cowboy. The entity exerts control by rewarding or punishing the individual. So, you will have gathered this is not a light-hearted musical album, but it is a wonderfully atmospheric piece of work.

The opening track, “Space Cowboy” (19:41) is a stunning piece of music by the band. Starting very simply with the superb voice of Jan Henrik Ohme, backed with subdued bass, piano, and violin, setting the scene before the band moves up a notch around the 2-minute mark. The track moves on with changing tempo from time to time. Around the 5-minute mark, a choir appears which is a warning to the individual not to get closer to the entity within. The lyrics are in a pre-language, so no easy to follow lyrics. The track then swings from Jan Henrik led atmospheric vocals and music, back and forth to the choir. Around the 13-minute point, the band moves into a more hard-hitting passage.

I will admit that this opening track did take me several listens, as well as checking the band’s explanation of the track on Facebook, before the sheer magnitude and power of the opening 19+ minutes hit home. Not the easiest track to open the album with, but when you “get it,” it is superb. A track that makes you work hard to understand it.

The next three tracks, “Hourglass” (4:15), “Fireworker” (4:41), and “Antique” (6:24) are shorter and easier to get into while continuing the atmosphere generated by the opening track.

“Hourglass” is more up-tempo with superb piano in the opening portion and a church-style organ passage before the choir re-entering. The stunning, haunting violin played by Mikael, the superb piano passages, and those crystal-clear Jan Henrik vocals make “Hourglass” and excellent 4+ minutes.

The title track, “Fireworker,” is a quite different style of a track which simply rips along, from the violin enhanced early passages, through the vocals and allows the band to flex those musical muscles. Tempo changes drive the track towards its finale which sees the song simply fade away.
“Antique” continues the gentle atmospheric soundscape with the band in superb form, little bass lines, exquisite drumming, superb piano, and guitar, all contributing behind that powerful vocal. The violin has another great passage just after 3 minutes and then moves behind the vocals, bass, drums, and keyboards as the song finishes.

The final track, “Sapien” (15:22) has a keyboard and drum intro before the rest of the band pitch in and the vocals enter just after a minute. The melodic vocal weaves its way along before becoming more forceful around the 2:30 minute point. The haunting melody drifts along, almost as a touchstone as the track progresses. Around the 5:15 minute, the band leaves a keyboard and Jan Henrik’s voice to continue the story, then return under a minute later. A gentle piano and synth passage follows and the vocals re-enter. This passage is an excellent example of how to produce an atmospheric soundscape. The musicians make it seem so simple, but they are experts at this style. The tempo rises slightly before leaving just the drums, bass, and piano to continue to build the atmosphere. At 11:00 minutes, those beautiful vocals reappear and start to carry the track towards the finale. Returning to a previous theme, the band set about completing this superb soundscape. Sparse instrumentation behind the vocals slowly builds and the track starts to fade just before the 15-minute mark.

Fireworker is simply a majestic album that requires several listens and a fair bit of work on the side of the listener, but I would suggest that the listener spends the time and makes the effort. The reward will be the full appreciation of a superb piece of work by a group of dedicated, and very skilled, musicians.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson – Prog Rock Music Talk Staff
November 12, 2020

Tracks:
1. Space Cowboy (19:41)
2. Hourglass (04:15)
3. Fireworker (04:41)
4. Antique (06:24)
5. Sapien (15:22)

Rock-Pop Review: Denoven-Retrofuturism

Release Date: October 9, 2020

Label: TimeArt Recordings

Website

If you remember the 80s and the music that was being played then you will love Retrofuturism from the artist known as Denoven. Straight away one of your first thoughts will be this is one of those uncovered gems that never got released. The process of putting it together started in 2018 and was completed this year. The album showcases one hell of a tight band and a lady with an incredible voice that goes up to 5 octaves, which is extremely rare.

Notably, tracks are featuring Pat Kelley and Mike Miller on guitar with the masterfully effective synth work by Denoven and commanding vocals. Other players in her band that you will recognize are the incredible Vinnie Colaiuta on drums with Neil Steubenhaus on bass.

So, if you are ready to rock and think of days gone by, this will do it for you and then some. So here we go into the music time machine…

If you can remember the days of dancing “Body to Body” or you are doing it now in your social distanced bubble then good for you! Here is some music that will keep those eternal embers burning. Although I think the song is about what happens after the dance.

“Just Wanna Love You” is one of my favorites, it features a band in sync and reminds me of the 80s and Friday nights dancing in San Francisco. It put a smile in my heart and soul. It is perfect for the period. Denoven’s voice is sultry smooth and very emotive albeit sexy. The point gets across loud and clear. There are some great background vocals and a cut like a new razor lead guitar three-quarters of the way through as the track gets closer to the end.

The quirky “Make Up Your Mind” takes you down another path, this time the progressive lane as mentioned on the website one sheet, it is “odd meter.” This proved to be the outright talent this band has and their ability to change it up so fast.

The ballad “Never Goes Away” would have been a hit back in the 80s and actually, it sounded timeless to me and it is a hit at any time on my radio dial. This was excellent musicianship and vocals on display. I found a lot of appreciation for what was being offered. Similarly, and more of a rocker, “Out of My Head,” is a reminder of the days when hormones were raging and the power of youth took complete control of your mind and body. And another great guitar lick comes front and center around three quarters into the track, putting the rocker stamp on it for good. In the end, Denoven lets her 5-octave vocals close out the track. Wow, what a finale that was!

“Radioactive” sounds radio ready and a sure-fire hit in the top forty in the 80s. This music may be close to four decades removed from now but today I enjoyed it as much as I would have then. That says it all for this music lover.

Retrofuturism is a solid group of tracks and the title befits the music, you have my guarantee. Are you ready to rock into the 80s again or maybe for the first time? Here comes Denoven!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder
November 17, 2020
 

Track List:
01. Out of My Head 3:28                                 
02. Words in the Dark 3:48                           
03. Make Up Your Mind 4:01                           
04. Radioactive 4:02                                    
05. Who Do You Know 3:10                            
06. Body to Body 4:15                                 
07. You’re Someone I Could Know 4:13         
08. Hot as Ice 4:02                                            
09. Just Wanna Love You 3:35                      
10. Never Goes Away 4:14   

TOTAL TIME 38:08

Prog Rock Review: Circuline-Circulive New View

Release Date: October 9, 2020

Label: Circuline Music

Website

Prog Stock 2017 was attended by actual people, how different? Things that were normal every day things have changed in the new norm. I usually attend at least 5 concerts a year and I went to one just before the virus spread like wildfire.

Circulive New View just came out this month. I covered Circuline-Circulive::Majestik DVD in 2018. That was an excellent prog-rock experience so I anticipate the same with the new release and was not disappointed.

The band Circuline is a prog-rock band out of New York that is no stranger to the stage. Circuline is Andrew Colyer (keyboards, vocals), Darin Brannon (drums, percussion), Alek Darson (guitars), Joel Simches (bass), and lead vocalists Billy Spillane and Natalie Brown.

Their performance at the festival was captured on a magnificent Blu-ray and DVD. This is a 3-disc set including a CD so all formats are covered for thirteen tracks offered on this superb audio-visual experience. There also bonus features with official videos, tour posters, images, and more.

Circuline members are polished professionals and bring a very entertaining show to the stage. Their music is distinctively prog-rock with an in-sync rhythm section, two incredibly talented vocalists, a guitar player suited to play through all the many changes one song can go through, and of course the amazing Andrew Colyer on keyboards. Andrew is recognized for his accomplishments but not on the level he should be. Based on what I have heard over the last few years, he ranks right up there with some of the best and most tasteful players active today.

Coming in under the wire in the prog world is nothing new because it refuses to go mainstream. Fans such as myself and thousands more are grateful for that and thank them for staying true to themselves and the music. That is something that is accepted going into this type of music and the music remains the most important factor, endearing fans of all ages to their work. This set is a document to the excellence of Circuline as a functioning musical unit without exception.

The two performances I enjoyed the most were the “Piano Challenge” on track #5 and “The Forbidden Planet + Drum Feature” on track 10. The drum performance was quite entertaining as everyone on stage was playing some sort of percussion. They all were in sync as well, which is not an easy task, especially if it is not your primary instrument.

The bonus you get has two choices of viewing for the video and then the soundtrack on CD for strictly the audio experience. Also, something interesting is the option of watching the video to a band commentary, however, I would recommend watching just the concert first then the commentary version to see what they all have to say about the performance.

Circulive New View is the complete audio and visual experience you could have. Excellent musicianship is the most important factor and that is what makes everything else the icing on the cake.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Prog Rock Music Talk Founder
October 24, 2020

Track List:
01. Intro / Erosion (Live)        
02. Soleil Noir (Live)        
03. One Wish (Live)    
04. Nautilus (Live)    
05. Piano Challenge (Live)    
06. Hollow (Live)    
07. Return (Acoustic) [Live}        
08. Fallout Shelter (Live)    
09. Pale Blue Dot (Live)    
10. Forbidden Planet / Drum Feature (Live)    
11. Inception (Live)    
12. Summit (Live)        
13. Stereotypes (Live)

Track Feature: Fusion Mafiosi-Fall From Grace

 

Guitar wizard Danny John and his band are his first collaborative project by the members of Danny John Trio, Danny John, James Dennett, Marcos Gil, and friends, Justin Defreece (Guitar), Derek Sherinian (Keyboards).  They are called Fusion Mafiosi.

The first single "Fall From Grace," clocks in at 11:36. It is an amazing musical jam session that will remind you of the best jazz-rock-fusion from bands like Return To Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra at times. After 10 minutes he launches into full head-on metal riffs and some shredding.

So if you are looking for a taste of jazz-fusion, metal, and flat out shredding all in under 12 minutes, then you will definitely find great appreciation for "Fall From Grace."

Danny John is a superb six-sting maestro that I would not mind hearing a lot more!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

More About Danny John:
https://www.facebook.com/fusionmafiosi

Many instrumental guitar trios capably blend jazz, rock and blues elements, but the one led by Australian guitarist Danny John takes a harder stance. With feet firmly planted on the metallic side of the fence...READ MORE...

dannyjohnguitar · Fall From Grace (Fusion Mafiosi)

Featured Track: Dan Palladino-Leaving Cygnus

 

Dan Palladino has released several albums over his career and most recently in 2019 Pastoral Memory.

Dan Commented: With the single track "Leaving Cygnus," I wanted to continue the experiments which began on "Counting Stars" from Pastoral Memory. I find the electric sitar uniquely suited for ambient music, and I think featuring it on this track gives it the middle eastern/southern Asian vibe I was trying to create.  

 I would agree with that statement after listening to the track. I think the combination of the ambient music and all its sounds and textures are enhanced in a very positive way.  In fact, it actually highlights the other instruments in an entirely different light.  

"Leaving Cignus" continues the path of solar exploration in a most significant way with music and eye catching art like what Dan presents on the cover of this single track.

My hope as a listener is that Dan Palladino continues to experiment with different instruments to put on top of the ambient layers he creates. 

So sit back and listen to the stream now and enjoy this interstellar creation of music!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

More About Dan Palladino: http://danpalladinomusic.com

Dan Palladino is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and music instructor based in Central New Jersey. He began his journey on guitar at the age of seven, played his first gig at the age of 12, and has continually performed in public for the past 45 years...READ MORE...

Instrumental Acoustic Guitar: Michelle Qureshi-within

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Label: Real Music

Website

within is Michelle Quershi’s twelfth recording. The album encompasses 24 tracks which at first glance looks like a double album however they are shorter in the length with the longest coming in at 4:14 (# 23 “Waiting For A Friend”).

The acoustic guitar is Michelle’s specialty. The cover art indicates the color, nature, and organic placid beauty, much like the way all of these tracks are presented. She covers some ground amongst these tracks. It is filled with an excellent acoustic guitar that would relax the most nervous and unsettled individual. There is no other way to explain the effect this music can have on you.

I typically hear a lot of keyboard-based music so this was a nice step away from that. You come to appreciate acoustic guitar music more if you do not hear it as often as you like. There is nothing complex going on here, it is one woman and one guitar. That is all she needs because she reaches down deep within this music. The title is understated beneath her name on the cover in lower case. I see this at times and wonder why. My thought here is she wanted to bring more attention to her name and the image and what it projects. That is my perception and nothing else though.

Time is irrelevant because what is being offered here is aural substance and the beauty one instrument can produce if placed into the right hands. In this case, Michelle sounds as if she was born to do this because the flow of the tracks is so effortless. As with mother nature, it happens, you accept it and appreciate it or not. For this listener, there is a lot of appreciation for this kind of music. The singularity and simplicity of it are what amazes me and along those lines, then how would something like this keep my attention? Well, it does quite well thank you very much and I had no issue enjoying all of it with complete attention.

There is more to music than meets the eye. It is all-encompassing in regards to atmosphere, tones, texture, and how you perceive it all is the most important factor. It works that way for all of us who love our music. What is there not to like here? 24 tracks of gorgeously composed and played acoustic guitar music suits me just fine any time of day.

Guitar aficionados and listeners alike will all find something to enjoy on within. It does not get any easier and straightforward than that.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
September 26, 2020

Track List:
01. Above Us
02. With Joy
03. With Courage
04. Sweet Child
05. With Anticipation
06. With Hesitation
07. With Knowing
08. Aurora Glass
09. Content
10. Shores of Atlantis
11. Before We Go
12. With Langour
13. Afternoon in May
14.  With Resolve
15. Storyboard
16. Half This Sky
17. With Certainty    
18. Beneath    
19. With Doubt
20. At Twilight         
21. With Hope
22. With Thoughtfulness        
23. Waiting for a Friend        
24. With Tenderness

Jazz/Prog Fusion Review: The Segue

Release Date: December 8, 2019

Label: Digital release

Website

The Segue hail from Poland and are the second new Polish band to catch my attention recently. The band comprises 4 members, Robert Wiercioch (guitar), Karolina Wiercioch (piano, grand piano, synths), Marcin Essen (bass) and Szymon Piotrowski (drums) and they are joined on this recording, Holograms, by three guest musicians, Jan Kozlinski (bass), Michal Sarapata (bass) and Maciej Dzik (drums).

I am most impressed with this debut, as I will freely admit that fusion/jazz fusion would not normally be a genre I would listen to, and, it is also an instrumental album, another area I can find less interesting, but The Segue have an interesting sound that takes me beyond any preconceptions.

Holograms is a 7 track album with a playing time of just over 45 minutes (45:15), with the opening track, “Segue,” the shortest on offer at 3:55 minutes and the final track, “Time Space Illusion” being the longest, clocking in at 8:14 minutes.

The opening track, “Segue,” bounces into life very quickly and grabs the attention just as fast. Guitar, bass and drums set down an amazingly interesting sound and just after the 1-minute mark, there is a synthesizer passage before the track settles into the earlier style. Around the 2:10 minute point there is a slight change to the guitar which steps to the fore, driving the track along, suitably underpinned by that thumping bass and precision drumming. Just into the 3-minute mark there is a very atmospheric passage before the band wind up and are away. An ideal opening track, highlighting the musician skills and enticing the listener into the sound of The Segue.

Track 2, “Questions” (6:31), starts off much more gently and soon the piano of Karolina takes the track onwards with a very jazzy feel, suitably aided by the guitar, bass and drums. Karolina then moves into one or two different piano passages, complimented by the engine-room of drum and bass. The piano remains the major instrument, although around 3:45 minutes, there is an excellent bass passage which changes the tone of the track. Karolina (piano) and Robert (guitar) take the track on with Robert coming to the forefront, before a very gentle piano/bass passage ushers the track to completion.

The fourth track, “Future Ways” (4:30), starts with a synth passage to which the bass and drums soon pitch in followed by the guitar. Karolina concentrates on the synth on this track, together with Robert’s exquisite guitar playing and the bass and drum foundation is always there, supporting. “Future Ways,” as with all the tracks, gives the individual musicians a chance to step into the spotlight and shows the band to be a unit of very skillful musicians.

Initially I mentioned that jazz and instrumentals do not form a major part of what I would normally listen to, but The Segue seem to be different in that they mix what they do so well. Karolina is as accomplished on synths as the piano, although her style of playing certainly shows a love of jazz. Robert on guitar can throw out jazzy guitar runs with the best of them, but is not averse to suddenly diving into a more prog vein.

I think that it is this versatility that make Holograms so accessible and I have no doubt that many people will think the same. Holograms will be an excellent addition to many CD collections and indeed I still listen to tracks regularly. This is an excellent debut release and I look forward to finding out where further releases will take the band.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson -Prog Rock Music Talk Staff
September 22, 2020

Tracks:
1. Segue (3:55)
2. Questions (6:31)
3. Torrent (8:05)
4. Exosphere (6:30)
5. Future Ways (4:30)
6. Broken Mind (7:30)
7. Time Space Illusion (8:14)

Soul Review: Bobby Deitch Band-Work With Whatcha Got!

Release Date: August 31, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

Bobby Deitch grew up being exposed to an eclectic range of music from his family members. All of those influences come flowing out of his music on Work With Whatcha Got! Which was released a few weeks ago. Bobby heads up the 7-piece eclectic band.

The Bobby Deitch Band offers up nine tracks about the human condition. The male and female give and take vocals on several of the tracks make this music get closer to the heart. Music like this can get you very sentimental but it also is most importantly easy to listen.

The combination of soul, pop, and rock with plenty of funkiness like on “If Looks Could Kill,” keep the flow of variety on this recording consistent. The consistency lies in the strong musicianship and variety of styles that are incorporated in every track. This is one of the coolest tracks on the album for sure. It is as danceable and funky as it gets, the Bobby Deitch Band pull out all the stops on this one. They put the boogie into the Woogie…yes sir!
 
When I first read the write up on the band’s Soundcloud page this segment gave me a hint of all the influences that permeate their sound: Uplifting original Soul music that takes its cues from Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Earth Wind & Fire, Billy Joel & Michael Jackson.
 
That is about as mixed as you can get for the types of music that you will hear on Work With Whatcha Got! Early influences for Bobby included big band, doo-wop, and pop, so the natural progression was to incorporate the previously mentioned artist's sounds as well.
 
“He Loves Me” features the beautiful vocals of Natasha DiMarco with a cameo appearance by Turkuaz vocalist Shira Elias. This takes the band into a nice smooth groove as they venture into a flat-out love song. The lyrics are to the point and delivered perfectly as the music moves with the emotion of the singer. As she brings her voice to a different register and emotion the band just cooks along with her. It is heartfelt and sexy.

“Constant Complainer (feat. George Porter Jr.)” gets back to the funk and horns of previous tracks with an in the groove bass line that leads the way with in sync drumming. Including George Porter Jr. and his bluesy gritty vocals gives the track a definitive soulful in the pocket blues feel as the band just kills it in support of all the great vocals. This is one of the finest tracks on the album.

Work With Whatcha Got! is full of a lot of great energy and easy to understand and relatable lyrical content. This opens the door for a listener to walk right in. It is a musical welcome mat that you will not be able to resist. And the good news is it comes backed up by some fine music with good vocals to catch your ear on every track.

 
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-TFOV Founder
September 13, 2020

Review Provided By MuziMan.net

Track List:
1. Live Together
2. Love Is Just a Kiss Away
3. Work with Whatcha Got
4. You're All That Matters to Me
5. If Looks Could Kill    
6. Love Attack    
7. He Loves Me
8. Constant Complainer (feat. George Porter Jr.)
9. It's You
 

Instrumental Jazz-Rock-Fusion: Manuel Muzzu- 3-Ree

Release Date: July 15, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

3-Ree is Manuel Muzzu’s third proper album. He has a handicap (I would rather call it a disadvantage) with his right hand so he cannot use all his fingers. You would never know that until he told you though. His playing is superlative.

Manuel Explains: My songs are inspired by all the different sounds I manage to extract from my 6 string basses including what may sound like a conventional guitar when I use it as a harmonic instrument opposed to a slap or a straight forward fretless melodic one.

Now think about that for a minute, how does this man discard a disadvantage with the most important factor in playing a stringed instrument, your hands? Amazing is the word as far as I am concerned.

Many things come to mind while listening to 3-Ree. The attraction for my ears and tastes becomes evident straight away as the first track “Give a Fu(n)k” starts. Notice the play on words in the title. Manuel likes to have some fun and give you something to think about as you browse over the track list.
 
He then takes the classic jazz-fusion from Coltrane “Giant Steps” and gives it his title dropping the s calling “Giant Step.” I imagine you would call it that as it sounds like a funky electronica jazz fusion mix with that impeccable bass of his leading the way. It is almost like the sounds of older computers moving at light speed that you would hear in older sci-fi movies or from the space-age cartoon The Jetsons from the 60s. A very interesting take on a legendary jazz fusion track indeed.

Manuel has many guests adding to the overall sounds and atmospheres of each track. As each track progressed through all of its layers of changing bursts of colors and paces, I could not help but think of some of my favorites since I started listening to jazz-rock fusion in the early 80s. Al Di Meola came to mind at first. And of course, his first band Return To Forever that amazing supergroup. “Soca Suca” really brought all of that reminiscing and feeling back to me very quickly. I remember the revelation of hearing Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty for the first time. This is great music and for many reasons.

Manuel’s use of the bass is genius and how gets that guitar sound is incredible.  3-Ree is a stellar recording from start to finish. If you are a listener that enjoys jazz, smooth jazz, rock, jazz-rock-fusion, or all of the above, then you are in for a sonic treat of the senses. 3-Ree is the entire palette of the jazz canvas converging into one incredibly entertaining group of tracks.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
September 9, 2020

Track List:
01. Give a Fu(n)k
02. Kosong
03. Giant Step
04. A Place to Be
05. Soca Suca
06. Smoothazz
07. Stay Right To the Bottom
08. Just a Lullaby
 

Featured Track: Dyan Garris-Forest Whispers

Dyan Garris is an award winning new age artist and author. She is multi-talented and touches upon all of the arts within the new age genre and is a classical trained on the piano and violin.

"Forest Whispers" is a recent single track that is the feature I speak of.  It is a new age journey as beautiful, natural, and inviting as the cover indicates.

The birds are chirping with delight as the sounds of new age combined with world music fill in the space around you.

It takes you there immediately. That my friends is exactly what any recording artist wants!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

 

More About Dyan Garris: DyanGarrisMusic.com

Dyan Garris is a multiple award-winning New Age recording artist, an award-winning author, and an official music reviewer for Zone Music Reporter (ZMR), New Age CD, and Spirit Seeker Magazine. Garris has recorded and produced 13 albums. Garris’ recordings include a series of independently tested music and meditation CDs that earned The National Health & Wellness Stamp of Approval.

Her latest CD, Mystic’s Nine, was released 11/1/2016 and won a Global Music Award. The song Mystic Sea from the same album won the 16th Annual IMA (Independent Music Awards) VOX POP WINNER award, New Age Song category. Her music is available on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Sirius XM, MoodMusic, Muzak, Music Choice, and more.

Dyan Garris started playing the piano when she was four years old. Her mother bought a baby grand piano and soon thereafter brought in a piano teacher. The piano teacher was an interesting choice because he was totally blind. 
At the first lesson Dyan asked him how he was going to teach her to play the piano since he could not see, and she asked him to take off his glasses so she could see his eyes. He obliged. They were beautiful blue and they were definitely blind. But even then through those obscured windows, she saw his soul. He was brilliant.

And he said to her, “Child, we do not need to be able to ‘see’ to play this instrument. We only need to be able to feel the music. Music is not about seeing. It’s about feeling.” With that, he took her hands and placed them atop of his and they played the most wonderful music.
Garris is a classically trained pianist and violinist. She became and maintained first chair, first violin throughout high school orchestra and still loves the way the two instruments blend together in perfect harmony. 

Her interest in meditation and music for relaxation goes back to early 1993 which is when she first began creating guided meditations. Music itself, of course, has been a way of life.

Rock-Pop Review and Interview With Neal Smith For Pop 85/95 Album!

Release Date: June 1, 2020

Label: 2020 Neal Smith

Website

Leave it to a living legend like Alice Cooper to lend us a diamond in the rough. Cooper’s drummer Neal Smith, finds himself at a crossroads of pop and rock. At 72, the rock-musician-turned-solo-artist releases a set of songs that harken back to simpler times on Pop 85/95. In particularly thinking of all that’s occurring in this world, especially with the Coronavirus, Smith finds solace and simplicity in pop melodies and lyrics with rock flares throughout. With a time warp back to the 80s, the album is a great reflection of sentimentality and flashbacks to easier times.

“If I Only Had You,” revs the album up to a steady soft-rock start. With its even tempo and words of desire and love, it reflects on what could have been. The person in question who has moved on, might just be listening around the corner. “Dying to Love You” slows up almost immediately. Typically an album contains a number of songs before a ballad or song of sadness play on. The singer is in need of that long lost love, from years gone by. That is what brought him true happiness. “Secret Eyes” give off that cool, smokey vibe. The synthesizer combined with the drums and guitar makes way for the perfect ‘80s flashback.

If you want an enticing intro, look no further than “Love Sets the Night on Fire.” The piano/keyboard, back-and-forth notation combo, pulls the listener in to acknowledge a deep emotional state and build of excitement. Essentially, we as the listeners are anxious to hear what the singer is yearning for.”Distant Drum” finds itself in the middle of this album due to its dream-sequence sound and mood. Speaking of a drum that the singer can only make out now, but wishes for it back to keep it as his own again.

This time we take samples of Journey and Modern English’s “I’ll Stop the World” when “I Wanna Be Good, But I Don’t Know How” begins. The song is a rush of energy that the album is refueled by. This allows the listener to re-engage, should she or he be dissuaded or dissatisfied by the mellow tones of prior songs. “Love Can Run, Love Can Hide” sings of how the strongest emotions can be buried or subdued as hard and deep as possible, but in the end, when it comes to love – it always finds a way to materialize. “In a Heartbeat” is a heavily synthesized creation of pure excitement and conviction. The song is a great representation of how quickly and immediate something can occur or materialize when desired heavily enough.

As though the title of the song didn’t give away that this would be a sad tune of wish and desire to come back home, “Fly Home Sweet Angel” is peaceful and somber at the same time. “I Love You to Death” is the exact opposite of the track before. It is a jolt of energy and pure enjoyment. The themes of love and reminiscence are prevalent through Pop 85/95. It plays well with the concepts of sexy, a bit of risque, and relationships both sweet and sour. Finally, “All My Eyes Can See” plays with imagery and conceptualization of what our desires and perceptions see in the world and in our own mindsets; even when it comes to a specific love or just romantic interest.

Key Tracks include: “I Love You to Death,” “Secret Eyes,” “All My Eyes Can See”

Gregg Keniston - MuzikMan.net Staff
August 7, 2020

Track Listing:
01. If I Only Had You
02. Dying to Love You
03. Secret Eyes
04. Love Sets the Night on Fire
05. Distant Drum
06. I Wanna Be Good, But I Don’t Know How
07. Love Can Run, Love Can Hide
08. In a Heartbeat
09. Fly Home Sweet Angel
10. I Love You to Death
11. All My Eyes Can See

Space Rock Review: Alan Davey-Four Track Mind

Release Date: May 22, 2020

Label: 2020 Purple Pyramid Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Website

You may not believe your eyes at how gigantic this piece of work might be, but, it won’t take long to tell you of this powerful album. Take a trip. That’s exactly how you’ll feel after listening to Four Track Mind. It’s interstellar, out-of-this-world. You might recognize this badass bassist and guitarist from his Hawkwind days. For 12 years from ’84 to ’96 and then again from 2000 to 2007, he rode high on his band’s success. In the space of that four-year hiatus, Davey took the time to mold his own career as a solo artist. During his second run of Hawkwind, his solo projects diminished. With this new solo release, it’s almost as if he had one final trick up his sleeve…that we know of.

Four Track Mind is not for the average, every-day music lover and or consumer, (even some aficionados might find some difficulty in getting through this heavy tracklist). The album lures the listener into a trance-like state. Alan Davey shows a great variance of techniques in utilizing a blend between two instruments – a bass guitar, and a synthesizer. As you play through the album, it begins to feel like a movie soundtrack from an alien domination film. The tone intensifies as tracks like “Lost in the Smoke” and “Greenback Massacre” come on, where the beginning 10 tracks and others like “Fire Tribe” are play-on beatmakers that play almost like individualized ringtones to old-fashioned cell phones.

Imagine, if you will, a hypnotical spiral where it continues to infinity. That is what much of this album represents. Four Track Mind is the kind of album you need to allow yourself to get lost in. Dedicate a day of meditation or intention to this record. The varying sounds and tones through the combination of the guitar and synths send you through an out-of-body experience like no other. But a piece of work of this magnitude also requires the discipline to go from start to finish and understand how to make essentially four separate albums cohesively flow together.

Gregg Keniston- MuzikMan.net Staff

June 30, 2020

Track Listing:

01.     Spiritual Modulator
02.    R.E.M. Time
03.    Chinese Whispers
04.    Transient
05.    Slumber Head
06.    Dragon Chaser (1986 Version)
07.    Hypno Trip
08.    In A Sphere
09.    E-On Strings
10.    Wind of Ghosts
11.    Dark Light
12.    Moody Motion
13.    Flight to Andromeda
14.    Sunrise Assassins
15.    Moonstone
16.    Dragon Chaser (1988 Version)
17.    Sword of the East
18.    A Shot in the Dark
19.    Spiritual Modulator
20.    The Call
21.    Fire Tribe
22.    Return To…
23.    Simulator
24.    Chased
25.    Dragon Chaser
26.    Drive
27.    On Acid Bass!
28.    Hitze Seeker V
29.    Of Wings
30.    Out of My Box
31.    Robby’s Rap
32.    Jigging
33.    The Noise
34.    Abab Fed
35.    Backwards Thru Water
36.    Tribal Daze
37.    Lost in the Smoke
38.    Snake Charmer
39.    Up and Up
40.    The Animal
41.    Deep Space Rock
42.    Don’t Fret
43.    From the Deep
44.    Blue Shift
45.    Osc Squared
46.     Stan’s Middle 8
47.    Astron Belt
48.    Special Place
49.    Received
50.    Fear at Night
51.    Endoparasitoid
52.    Wave Upon Wave
53.    Space to Go
54.    Greenback Massacre
55.    Shahadah
56.    Many Voices
57.    Bird Nebula
58.    Creamy
59.    Holosuite Program
60.    Assimilation
61.    Alien Fingers
62.    The Wind
63.    Be Still
64.    Magic B
65.    Lgm
66.    In the Game
67.    Reality Foil

Blues Review: Dion-Blues With Friends

Release Date: June 5, 2020

Label: Keeping The Blues Alive

Website

Dion was born, Dion Francis DiMucci in Bronx, New York. Throughout his career, he has seemingly done it all. Although at 80 years old (almost 81), you could expect that. While his musical beginnings link back to 1957, it was not until 1960 that Dion went solo and started to experience some true momentum in his music. Having gone through several different phases in his career, he has fiddled with so many different genres from rock to Christian, and R&B. I mean who else can form several different bands, break out into a solo career, and genre hop so effortlessly to arrive at 80 with such a short album discography? That has been revealed through Dion’s ventures with the Belmonts, himself, and revolving from Christian back to secular music. Recently he released Blues With Friends.

When “Blues Comin’ On” starts up, you immediately understand why the “blues” could be both uplifting and also get you right in the gut. It starts the album off with a very positive chord and tone, while the lyrics are reflective and not exactly light and positive. “Kickin’ Child” is a cruiser of a tune. With the top-down and the wind blowing through your hair, it offers a continuation of a feel-good spirit. Then you get the jazzy-influenced “Uptown Number 7” to conclude the trio of overall positivity.

“Can’t Start Over Again” at first, sounds like a country song. It’s like the singer is a rolling stone trying to find his way. But, when you listen more closely, it’s more of a heartbreak that acts as a roadblock in his life because the point of a do-over is so tough to comprehend. “My Baby Loves to Boogie” bounces right back to a funk beat. The song is a great way to step onto the dancefloor and…boogie. I’m reminded of the Blues Brothers here. “I Got Nothin’” is a cool message of letting a partner know that one might not have a lot of material goods or a lavish lifestyle, but in the end, they do have the capability to still make one another happy. “Stumbling Blues” is a great play-on song lyrically of the way we often feel when we first become infatuated with a new love interest.

Moving forward, “Bam Bang Boom” is a happy ode to a woman who gave new meaning to the singer’s life and he seemed he couldn’t be more thrilled because of it, just like that. “I Got the Cure” lays out the singer’s confidence in himself as well as for the perfect remedy of a bad day or mood. The album then switches up to “Song For Same Cooke (Here In America)” which is a wonderful reflection on the famed singer, Sam Cooke. It spoke of a bond between the two artists that went deeper than just music.

“What If I Told You” is a twist on the typical cheating or wronged love song. The song tells of how the singer is on to his lover’s actions and feelings (or non-existent feelings) towards him and toward someone else. Knowing he is above the tomfoolery of the back-and-forth of a breakup or fight, he just gives off premonitions of how aware he is of her actions.”Told You Once In August” pairs well with the prior song. Another cheating song told in a different form, holds more of a western vibe to it this time around.

Rounding out the final tracks, “Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)” sings of hurt and pain from love but, speaks more to the redemption of the singer’s attitude. He will in-fact, rise above this temporary pain of betrayal and be better for experiencing it. This leads us to the finale. Although sounding initially like a somber tune, a very positive, reflective message shines through.

Speaking of the Lord, Dion directs the listener to always look towards God to overcome the greatest adversity. This last track is an opposite mirror effect of his first track “Blues Comin’ On” where the lyrics are gloomy, but the tone and sound are both happy; whereas “Hymn to Him” is sounding more slow and dark but, a very powerful message prevails.

Key tracks include: “Hymn to Him,” “Kickin’ Child,” “Stumbling Blues.”

Gregg Keniston - MuzikMan.net Staff
June 30, 2020


Track Listing:
01. Blues Comin’ On
02. Kickin’ Child
03. Uptown Number 7
04. Can’t Start Over Again
05. My Baby Loves To Boogie
06. I Got Nothin’
07. Stumbling Blues
08. Bam Bang Boom
09. I Got The Cure
10. Song For Sam Cooke (Here in America)
11. What If I Told You
12. Told You Once In August
13. Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)
14. Hymn To Him
 

Eclectic Prog Review: Fren-Where Do You Want Ghosts To Reside?

Release Date: March 6 2020

Label: Independent

Website

Where Do You Want Ghosts To Reside? is the debut album released by the Polish band, Fren. Hailing from Krakow, they are classed as an eclectic prog band and were formed in 2017. The band is a quartet, comprising Oscar Cenkier (keyboards), Michal Chalota (guitars), Andrew Shamanov (bass) and Oleksii Federov (drums).

These guys are creating a few waves for being newcomers, as I have seen a couple of reviews which have extolled the virtues of this band, as well as hinting that they have a few older bands to thank for their sound. Having listened to this release, which was sent to me by Michal, many times, what we have here is an excellent set of musicians who give “nods” to various areas of “older, classic” prog, but masterfully incorporate these retro-style sound excursions into the sound of Fren. At this point, I should also mention that Fren is an instrumental band, and they have successfully circumvented my normal apprehension of such entities, as at no time during Where Do You Want Ghosts To Reside? did I think “what a difference a vocalist could have made at this point.”

Where Do You Wants Ghosts To Reside? is a 6 track album with a total playing time of just under 45 minutes (44:29), with track 3, “Goraca Linia”, being the shortest at 2:59 minutes and the fourth track, “Pleonasm,” the longest on offer at just over 12 minutes (12:02).

“Pleonasm” is a majestic track dominated by the superb piano passages. After a gentle piano passage starts the track, with the rest of the band almost unobtrusive in the background, the piece moves into a more jazzy sequence with all the players playing their parts very well, as the piece unfolds, the tempo, and the intensity shifts several times with the piano leading the way for the most part. The interplay between the four very skilled musicians is nudging perfection. Little forays, again into a more jazz-based style, this time led by guitar, ebb and flow, as the music returns to the piano lead before entering into a majestic full band passage around the midpoint of the track. The listener is drawn into the atmospheric piece by the shifting points of emphasis and the revisiting of the superb piano sections. At times this track is very minimalistic before building into a thunderous full band section, then the sound is stripped away to simply piano with the other instruments underpinning the track. The last 1-2 minutes are hugely atmospheric as the track moves to the finale. This is a stunning track that is different musically from the 3 prior tracks but maintains the high bar set by those tracks.

The final track on the album is track 6, “Time To Take The Stones Away” (8:41), and starts with another majestic repeating riff, before settling into a guitar-led passage which pushes along, giving Michal the chance to shine. A simply lovely piano passage at 2:00 minutes is backed by tempered bass and drums with the piano again the main instrument of the piece. Just after 4:00 minutes, the sound clears away to leave a stunning bass sequence with sporadic drum inputs before the guitar almost stealthily enters proceedings. Prior to the 6:00 minute point, the sound moves more aggressively before the piano comes in over the top and with the band now playing with such skill, the track is escorted to its completion.

This is a stunning debut release by Fren, performed by musicians who share a similar goal, that is, to aim for perfection in their music. Where Do You Want Ghosts To Reside? is an album that simply shouts out “Buy Me!”. From the simplest of passages to the multi-layered passages, this is an enthralling album to listen to. You will marvel at the points where you just about have time to think “that sounds like….” before another passage whisks you deep into the sound of Fren. This, in my opinion, is a must-have purchase in any true prog fan’s collection and will be listened to many, many times generating real musical enjoyment.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson   ProgRockMusicTalk Staff
June 16, 2022

Tracks:
1. Twin Peaks (4:41)
2. Surge (9:43)
3. Goraca Linia (2:59)
4. Pleonasm (12:02)
5. Heavy Matter (6:23)
6. Time To Take Stones Away (8:41)
 

Featured Track: The Song Gardeners - Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu (May all beings be well)

The Song Gardener's return to Rate The Tracks with another single titled "Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu," translated it means "may all beings be well."

After hearing the words and music you cannot help feeling empowered with all the positive spiritual energy this fantastic trio puts out into the universe.

Once again Corrie Dunn (vocals, piano, guitar), singer/songwriter Mary Gospe (vocals, guitar, flute), and Chris Day (bass), make their mark in the world of new age music with a classic mantra.

May all of you beings be well and listen to the music to help the healing along the way. Give it a listen now, the good vibes will relax you and and put a positive spin on your day!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 

http://www.TheSongGardeners.com

https://www.facebook.com/thesonggardeners