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Posts Tagged ‘Toronto’

Half Past Four – Good Things (2013)

Posted in Art Rock, Progressive Rock, Review, tagged , , , , , , , on May 10, 2013| 8 Comments »

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TRACKLISTING:
1. It Strikes You (4:27)
2. Good Things (6:27)
3. All Day and All Night (4:45)
4. Rise (6:00)
5. Landmines (4:46)
6. Cool Water (5:25)
7. Spin the Girl (2:42)
8. Fate (4:16)
9. I Am Lion (6:35)
10. Wolf (3:09)
11. Darkness Knew (4:37)
12. The Earth (5:27)

LINEUP:
Kyree Vibrant – vocals
Constantin Necrasov – guitars, backing vocals
Dmitry Lesov – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals
Igor Kurtzman – keyboards, backing vocals
Marcello Ciurleo – drums, backing vocals

Back in the summer of 2009, the release of Toronto-based outfit Half Past Four’s recording debut –  the quirkily-titled Rabbit in the Vestibule – caused quite of bit of stir in the progressive rock community. However, in spite of the album’s largely positive reception and a barnstorming appearance at the 2010 edition of ProgDay, the band seemingly dropped off the radar for over two years. Formed in 2005 by vocalist/lyricist Kyree Vibrant and three musicians of Eastern European descent – bassist Dmitry “Les” Lesov, keyboardist Igor “Iggy” Kurtzman and guitarist Constantin Necrasov – the band were very active on the live front both in Canada and in the US until the search for a new drummer (a problem jokingly referred to as “Spinal Tap-like” on the band’s website) forced them to take a break. In early 2012, drummer Marcello Ciurleo finally joined, allowing the band to concentrate on the recording of Good Things.

Those who missed Half Past Four the first time around might be forgiven for thinking they are just another newcomer to that “female-fronted prog” bandwagon that has yielded a multitude of technically impeccable, though often soulless Annie Haslam clones. However, even a quick spin of Good Things will put any such fears to rest, because the Canadian quintet’s sophomore effort is a concentrate of humour, original ideas and outstanding musicianship that will reconcile a lot of jaded listeners (myself included) with a genre that, in recent years, seems to have left quality control by the wayside. The album’s unassuming title and delightful, retro-style artwork also stand out on a scene where hyperbole and pretentiousness abound, emphasizing the light-hearted attitude that has always been one of Half Past Four’s defining features.

Half Past Four can be counted among the trailblazers of what I call the “new frontier” of progressive rock – a 21st-century take on the “art rock” form associated with such diverse acts as Roxy Music, David Bowie, 10cc, Steely Dan and Supertramp. While many new bands follow in the footsteps of the classic icons of the genre, often letting their ambition run wild to the detriment of quality, bands such as Half Past Four, MoeTar  and 3RDegree (as well as a number of others) imbue that old pop music staple – the “short” song form – with progressive sensibilities, skillfully demonstrating that complexity does not necessarily mean excess.

Indeed, Good Things is packed with the kind of twists and turns that every self-respecting progressive rock album should offer, From a compositional point of view, the band has grown exponentially, and using the term “quantum leap” would not be an overstatement. In particular, Kyree Vibrant’s stunning vocal performance throughout the album elicits comparisons with MoeTar’s Moorea Dickason and District 97’s Leslie Hunt – both experienced, well-rounded artists like Kyree herself, as well as gifted vocalists. Her strong, confident voice dominates the proceedings,  from the soothing, wistful tones of “Fate” to the breathtaking acrobatics of the Russian-inspired “Spin the Girl” and the anthemic “Rise”. Each of the musicians strives to create s an extremely tight instrumental texture. Keyboardist Iggy Kurtzman’s consistently outstanding work  anchors the album and complements the singing in dramatic flurries or in gentle brush strokes. Newcomer Marcello Ciurleo and the ever-reliable Dmitry “Les” Lesov lay down complex rhythm patterns, leading the path to exhilarating, dramatic crescendos of intensity and assisting Constantin Necrasov’s head-on riffing in the heavier offerings, while capable of more subdued touches in the slower ones.

Like most classic albums, Good Things begins and ends on a high note. The jaunty talk-box intro of opener “It Strikes” immediately sets the mood, showcasing the album’s signature juxtaposition of breezy, catchy melodies and heavier, riff-laden sections, bound together by Iggy’s fluid piano and Les and Ciurleo’s pyrotechnic rhythm section, with Kyree’s commanding voice firmly in the lead. On the other hand, closing track “The Earth” reprises the exhilarating intensity of “Biel” on the band’s debut, climaxing with Kyree’s voice soaring to an impossibly high pitch. In such as dense album, there is something for everyone – from the jazzy, jagged “Landmines” (which made me think of both MoeTar and 3RDegree) to the rousing Russian folk echoes of “Spin the Girl”, from the cheery, almost comedic “Wolf” to the subdued atmosphere of “All Day and All Night” and the haunting mix of low-key melody and tense, brooding riffs of “I Am Lion” and the title-track – the latter reminiscent of District 97’s approach, though somewhat more restrained.

With a sensible running time of about 58 minutes, and none of the 12 songs over 6 minutes, Good Things achieves an admirable balance, coming across as a mature, highly entertaining album that is already poised to become one of the year’s undisputed highlights. Obviously, those who expect progressive rock albums to contain at least one 10-minute-plus and/or endless instrumental noodlings will not fail to be disappointed. However, if the genre has any hope of becoming relevant again, instead of slowly turning into a parody of itself, it is through albums like this one and bands like Half Past Four.

Links:
http://www.halfpastfour.com

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http://www.progshine.net/2013/04/interview-half-past-four.html

 

 

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Dean Watson – Imposing Elements (2012)

Posted in Fusion, Instrumental, Jazz-Rock, Progressive Rock, Review, tagged , , , , , , on April 22, 2012| 4 Comments »

TRACKLISTING:
1. Past Present (6:46)
2. 16 Feet Below (5:42)
3. Underpass (5:33)
4. Push Too (5:05)
5. Pendulum (6:31)
6. Depth Charge (6:20)
7. Of Age (6:40)
8. New Resolution (8:37)

LINEUP:
Dean Watson – all instruments

Two years after the excellent Unsettled, Canadian multi-instrumentalist Dean Watson is back with his sophomore effort, Imposing Elements – inspired like its predecessor by the work of Toronto-based artist Ron Eady. Both those who download the album from Watson’s Bandcamp page and those who opt for the physical object will be treated to an impressive cover depicting one of Eady’s austere, Gothic-tinged industrial landscapes, realized with the ancient encaustic technique.

The relationship between progressive rock (in all its manifestations) and the visual arts is a long-standing one, and for many devotees of the genre it is almost impossible to separate the music from the images that graced the covers of vinyl LPs in the Sixties and Seventies. Though Eady’s work suggests a Blade Runner-like universe (perhaps more suited to a highly technical metal band) than the bright-hued flights of fancy of Roger Dean and his ilk, it is interesting to see how Watson rendered the visuals in musical terms – stressing the painting’s undeniably majestic aspect rather than its bleakness.

With impressive technical and compositional skills honed in years of experience on the music scene, Watson is not your typical self-important artist who delivers one vanity project after the other, regardless of whether quality matches quantity. Even someone who, like me, is generally a bit wary of the ubiquitous “solo-pilot” releases made possible by modern technology and the widespread use of the Internet will not fail to recognize that Watson is someone who genuinely cares about producing high-quality music, rather than out to bludgeon his audience over the head with pointless pyrotechnics.

While Unsettled was a classy, eminently listenable effort, Imposing Elements marks a big step ahead for Watson, both as an instrumentalist and a composer. Firmly rooted in the progressive jazz-fusion tradition represented by the likes of Jeff Beck circa Blow by Blow and Wired, Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Bruford and  Brand X (among many others), the  album transcends the divide between conservatism and innovation, proving that great music does not necessarily have to be groundbreaking.  Imposing Elements is a more understated effort than Unsettled, dispensing almost completely with the (admittedly trendy) metal overtones of its predecessor, while raising the bar in terms of composition. Indeed, for his sophomore effort, Watson seems to have gone for a more laid-back mood, allowing for frequent tempo changes but never pushing too hard on the accelerator. Balance and restraint are the name of the game – something that is often conspicuously absent in the work of many modern acts.

Watson’s first love, the keyboards, are the undisputed protagonists of Imposing Elements, creating rich layers of sound and seamlessly sparring with the guitar (which on this album takes on more of a supporting role).  The whistle of the synths has been decidedly toned down this time around, while organ and piano (both electric and acoustic) frequently step into the limelight. Watson even brings in the iconic mellotron to add a touch of symphonic lushness, especially evident in the soothingly meditative “Pendulum”. The drums, with their surprisingly organic sound, lay down intricate patterns that have elicited comparisons with jazz-rock luminaries such as Bruford or Cobham.

Instrumentally speaking, however, the biggest improvement is the presence of a real electric bass, especially effective in the dramatic “Of Age” (which is the closest the album gets to the prog-metal mood of the previous release), as well as stately, evocative opener “Past Present”. Watson also shines at creating rarefied atmospheres, as in slow-burning closer “New Resolution”, hovering between a loose, jazzy texture and a tighter, brisker pace, or the electronics-laden “Depth Charge”. Percussion shines in “Push Too”, bolstering the exertions of synth and guitar; while “16 Feet Below” and “Underpass” run the gamut of tempo and mood changes – the latter displaying an intriguingly funky swagger.

With tracks between 5 and 8 minutes, and a total running time of 52 minutes, Imposing Elements never outstays its welcome. While a lot of jazz/fusion may come across as formally impeccable but rather emotionless, Dean Watson’s music possesses a thoroughly human dimension, revealing the artist’s dedication to his craft. I am sure that Watson’s compositions would transfer effortlessly to a stage setting, although the current music scene makes it increasingly difficult for musicians to perform live, therefore encouraging studio-only projects. However, even if this never happens, Imposing Elements remains an outstanding release, highly recommended to fans of progressive fusion and instrumental music in general.

Links:
http://deanwatson.bandcamp.com/album/imposing-elements

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deanwatson12

http://www.myspace.com/deanwatson2

http://www.roneady.com

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