Boud Deun - Astronomy Made Easy (1997)

Incredible fusion from the USA. I didn't enjoy this one as much as "The Stolen Bicycle",but this is still jaw dropping stuff.This is the kind of music that really needs to be listened to carefully in order to fully enjoy and appreciate it.The violinist in particular has a unique style,but they all are so amazing and tight.

"December 17th" opens with pounding drums and bass as some creative guitar arrives. A bass solo follows. I am awe struck with how amazing these guys play. What a display ! "Good King Friday" features some beautiful guitar and violin interplay. "Spiders" opens with some great guitar as the bass comes rumbling in and drums pound away. The song settles down as violin comes in. A full sound to end it. "Sleeping" is a mellow violin driven track. It's ok. "Niether" again features some mind boggling play,especially from the drummer and guitarist. "Copper Ink" is the longest track. It's really out of control with periods of rest in between. It calms down 3 1/2 minutes in with drums and violin. The bass before 6 minutes is killer.

"Conversations With Ellis" features some fat bass(no offense) and odd metered drumming. Some smooth violin melodies follow. "Coal Boxes And Daisy Cutters" has some crazy guitar in this rip snorter. "Lincoln" is fairly reserved 2 minutes in with bass,drums and violin. The guitar 4 minutes in is great as the drummer pounds every square inch of his kit. "Jupiter" 30 seconds in is the heaviest part of the album. More other-worldly drumming 5 minutes in right to the end of the song. "The Miller's Tale" is a short, yet blistering assault. "The Quince Tree" is more laid back until it changes 1 1/2 minutes in as rumbling drums arrive. Guitar and violin play over top. Bass solo 4 minutes in.

This is a no brainer for fusion fans or fans of virtuoso playing,however it rarely lets up with the bombast which is probably why their "The Stolen Bicycle" is one i prefer much more to this.Review from progarchives.com

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. December 17th (3:22) 

2. Good King Friday (2:38) 

3. Spiders (4:57) 

4. Sleeping (1:17) 

5. Neither (2:54) 

6. Copper Ink (9:51) 

7. Conversations With Elvis (3:43) 

8. Coal Boxes And Daisy Cutters (3:35) 

9. Lincoln (5:23) 

10. Jupiter (7:42) 

11. The Miller's Tale (1:18) 

12. The Quince Tree (5:07)

Total Time: 51:47

Line-up / Musicians

- Shawn Persinger / guitar 

- Matt Eiland / bass 

- Greg Hiser / violin 

- Rocky Cancelose / drums

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Zip Tang - Pank (2008)

The band's second effort 'Pank' is a really entertaining album filled with a cornucopia of impressions. Automatically searching for something comparable more or less Umphrey's McGee come into my mind when listening. First of all because of the fact that most of the songs are provided with a touch of jamming too. Deitrich Crashed My Enzo is a good example here. Basically a catchy song coupled with melody and rhythm variations - on top of it provided with a grooving jam section showing references to southern rock bands like The Allman Brothers Band as well as psychedelic patches. An exciting compilation of styles so to say.

The song title is weird though - probably they mean this sports car named Enzo Ferrari. And who is 'Deitrich'? In Germany we have a forename 'Dietrich'. A pun or lapse? Something which temporarily engaged me. Anyhow - they obviously operate with some kind of humour - best to point out with You Call This Art which starts (and ends) with laughing people. And the closing song Goodbye is their individual way to say farewell to the listener provided with marching drums and a pop styled mood reminiscent to The Beatles I would say.

However - jazzy portions are coming through all over, for example to recognize on Footprints - the drums and piano especially here. Marcus Padgett has a large share with his saxophone. He opens and closes the melancholic ballad One Last Beautiful Motion with a cool substantial contribution, an harmonic song with polyphonic vocals and floydy guitars. It's In My Head is an unusual blend of fusion and heavy psych and takes getting used to.

A punching bass line sends Katy to a heavy rocking and blues direction - but not that simple - a little bit avantgarde tinged which comes from some interesting saxophone dues once more. In a similar manner the album's title song is Zappa influenced. Cicada Jam irritates spiked with electronical experiments where the drums are perfectly imitating a train ride as for my impression. And finally I want to mention The Years dominated by duelling saxophone and guitar.

Some may come to the conclusion that this album is full of quite different music portions merged together by accident - quasi missing the 'golden thread'. Okay, if it is in that way - it's well done anyhow. ZIP TANG succeed to produce a varied output in any case and excellent musicianship is beyond dispute. Prog fans who like to listen to an eclectic mix of styles should take care of this - and won't regret. ZIP TANG Pank music reviews and MP3

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Footprints (4:22)
2. It's In My Head (8:25)
3. Katy (8:19)
4. Leaving Nothing (4:45)
5. Cicada Jam (3:27)
6. One Last Beautiful Motion (7:14)
7. Pank (3:48)
8. Deitrich Crashed My Enzo (7:25)
9. The Years (4:50)
10. You Call This Art (4:41)
11. Goodbye (6:28)

Total Time 63:42

Line-up / Musicians - Fred Faller / drums
- Perry Merritt / guitars, vocals
- Marcus Padgett / saxophone, keyboards, vocals
- Rick Wolfe / bass, vocals

Zip Tang - FootprintsPank

Zip Tang - "Goodbye" - at House Of Blues

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Atlantis - Philharmonic (1974)

For only a duo this cleveland based outfit from the USA created a great full sounding one off progressive rock album. There's hints of King Crimson, with the mellotron and at other times a little Atomic Rooster and Deep Purple with the hammond organ and guitar riffs. There's also a hint of "Caravan" too.

Check out the wonderful "Fly The Night" being slightly folksy with great hooks. Also "Atlas" which is like a more progressive "Black Sabbath ". Excellent!

This is mostly a real gem to come from the USA. A splendid mix of songs and instrumentals.

ATLANTIS PHILHARMONIC music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews

ATLANTIS PHILHARMONIC Atlantis Philharmonic music reviews and MP3

Atlantis Philharmonic - Death Man - 1974 ( Cleveland,Ohio )