REVIEW: PHILIP GAYLE / RICHARD CHOLAKIAN - HUD PES

 

PHILIP GAYLE / RICHARD CHOLAKIAN - HUD PES (Yabyum Prods., 2000)

Produced by Philip Gayle

Recorded live by Marco Saenz at Aztlan Recordings

Tracks: CD 1: 1- Sick Bones, 2- OK (part 1). CD 2: 1- OK (part 2), 2- Available Jones

Amazing duet improvisations of this two great musicians !! Philip Gayle is joined here by percussion master Richard Cholakian for a serie of duets. Here we hacve in two CDs four extreme and spontaneous tracks. Some called this intuitive music and I think this is a great term top classify the music that Gayle and Cholakian make. It is increedible to see howgood this two guys interact. It seems like there is a mental conection between them. They explore their instruments in all the possible ways. Experimentation at its best. Favorite tracks: "OK" (thius track is the best...is divided in two parts, one on each CD and the total duration is almost 78 minutes)Contact: www.philipgayle.com

REVIEW: PHILIP GAYLE - SOLO LIVE 98

 

PHILIP GAYLE - SOLO LIVE 98 (Yabyum Prods., 1998)

Produced by Philip Gayle

Recorded at different live shows

Tracks: 1-Otoko No Tsuwari, 2- Uvula Pipe Cut, 2- Sic em Slobber, 4- Bibimbap Statement, 5- Paboya No Papparapah..., 6- Hagishiri, 7- Keguri Pulgbnluh, 8- Uppii to Pepe Monogatari, 9- Santoki Pnmbmna, 10- Easily Inquisition Trial, 11- Chlebulah Blhnbnlhnjhnha, 12- Narunun Kohttakchi

This is a Cd where Gayle shows his improvisations and spontaneity in a live environment, for example in some radio shows that he did. The music here is really improvisational and the same time there is a feeling of intimacy. There is only Gayle and his instruments (here he uses mandolin, 6 string guitar and a modified 3 string toy guitar). He is always playing with dissonant sounds and bordering extrema cacophony but he seems to always remain under his own control without making the dissonance sound bad. In fact I think this guy can be compared to excellent musicians in the same vein like Eugene Chadbourne, Derek Bailey or the guys in The Vertrek Ensemble. I would love to see Phillip collaborating with other musicinas in some weird improvisational project. Favorite tracks: "Uvula Pipe Cut", "Santoki Pnmbmna" and "Easily Inquisition Trial". Contact: www.philipgayle.com

REVIEW: PHILIP GAYLE - KEGURIBAP

 

PHILIP GAYLE - KEGURIBAP (Yabyum Prods., 1997)

Produced by Philip Gayle

Recorded by Birgrumbacher

Tracks: 1- , 2- Pustular Eruption, 3-, 4-,5-,6- Gambrinous Sapcicle Scuddies, 7-, 8-, 9- Billy Homemade Paste, 10-

Here is another Cd with Philip Gayle´s amazing improvisation. As you may have seen here I only put some of the name of the tracks. That is because many of them are written in japanese charachters and I didn´t want to make awful mistakes trying to put them. On this recording Gayle uses a lot of different guitars, mainly the 4 string and 5 string guitar, and some banjo too. The songs have really demential parts and others that are extremely melodic and harmonic. Also he experiments in the realm of sounds and noises adding a lot of variations to his improvisations. For people who like musicians that try to break boundaries always. Favorite tracks: "4", "Billy Homemade Paste" and "7". Contact: www.philipgayle.com

REVIEW: PHILIP GAYLE - PNBNA

 

PHILIP GAYLE - PNBNA (Fleece Recs., 1998)

Produced by Philip Gayle

Recorded at Aztlan Recordings

Artwork by Tricia Moreau Sweeney

Tracks: 1- Leaning Tower of Dust Bunny, 2- Onion Smoke, 3- Crescent Moonflower, 4- Gallinule Legs, 5- Arasha Korosha, 6- Flower is a Pinata, 7- Lenvoy Lirp

Philip Gayle´s main goal on this recording is experimentation. And he has chosen to do it here through many different instruments: mandoline, 12 string guitar, cello, waterphone, just to name a few of the many that he uses through all this recording. The music contained on this recording is extremely spontaneous (they are solo acoustic improvisations) and boundaries breaking. In fact Gayle is constantly exploring new paths with his instruments in the search for the ultimate sound. Lovers of improvisation and experimentation will surely like this album that while melodic in many places is constantly surprising the listener with new sounds. Favorite tracks: "Crescent Moonflower", "Flower is a Pinata" and "Onion Smoke". Contact: www.philipgayle.com

REVIEW: ONTARIO BLUE - SHINE

 

ONTARIO BLUE - SHINE (Fluttering Dragon Recs., 2000)

Produced by Stephen Pennick

Recorded at Enlightment House

Artwork by Stephen Pennick

Tracks: 1- New Beginnings, 2- Chant of the Forgiven, 3- Mara´s Daughter, 4- Lost City, 5- Change, 6- Shadows, 7- Don´t Weep for Me, 8- Memories of Tomorrow, 9- This Mortal Coil, 10- Kali in Mine Eyes, 11- Rise

Stephen Pennick, the man behind Ontario Blue (main composer, arranger and musician on this CD) is a great artist and here he delivers this album called "Shine". In fact, the music contained here is really atmospheric and full of keyboards (some parts reminded me of some new age artist, some Kitaro and others). The tracks here are small ompositions like small classical pieces done with heavy use of keyboards and electronics. There is also a dark celtic flavor in some of the tracks. Pennick´s vocals are similar to the ones that make Brendan Perry in Dead Can Dance and you will feel some shades of that band in Ontario Blue´s Music too. Those who like this style will surely enjoy this recording. . Favorite tracks: "Mara´s Daughters", "Don´t Weep for Me" and "This Mortal Coil".

REVIEW: OLIGARQUIA - NECHROPOLIS

 

OLIGARQUIA - NECHROPOLIS (Destroyer Recs., 2000)

Produced by Ciero and Oligarquia

Recorded at Da Tribo Studios

Artwork by Wanderley Perna and Gregor Osipoff

Tracks: 1- Hiroshima, 2- Reflections of Death, 3- Induction, 4- Real Nightmare, 5- Enslave! Synonym of Money, 6- Correction, 7- Voices, 8- Agony, 9- Crucial moment, 10- Blood Streets, 11- Ecstasy

This is a climatic band...their music is death metal with some melodic parts and some hyperfast riffs that can be listened in black metal bands, also there are some parts that are slower almost doom, some rocking riffs (Carolina Parada does not play the riffs that one expects and that is really great). The vocals are guttural and fit the music really well. I would like a mix a little bit better, specially on the drums cymbals and hihat which are a little bit buried in the mix. The main factor here are the guitars with great riffs that sometimes are simple and sometimes more technical (like the ones in "Real Nightmare"). I feel a certain thrash metal influence in some of the parts. The result is this really good album !! Favorite tracks: "Reflections of Death", "Enslave ! Synonym of Money" and "Crucial Moment". Contact: www.destroyer.com.br

REVIEW: OCULTAN - REMEMBRANCES OF EVIL, THE CRUCIFIXION

 

OCULTAN - REMEMBRANCES OF EVIL, THE CRUCIFIXION (Evil Horde Recs., 2002)

Produced by Ocultan and Ze Renato

Recorded at Phonovox Studios

Artwork by Michel R.

Tracks: 1- Supremo Mal, 2- Eterno Poder Obscuro, 3- As Sete Caldeiroes Do Inferno, 4- O Orgulhoso Exu Belzebuth, 5- O Sangue, a Maior Oferenda, 6- Vossas Damas, 7- Lembranças do Mal, a Crucificaçao, 8- A Matança

This is music that is full of hate against christianity!! Yes, black metal in its rawest form!! The tracks here are incredibly fast and the guitar sound is really raw (as are the drums too). The guitar riffs are extremely fast and there are a lot of arrangements in this ultraspeed riffs that make the tracks more atmospheric while full of hatred at the same time. The sound of this recording is good (I would like maybe the bass and snare drum mixed a little bit louder). Also the packaging of this CD is great with a booklet really well printed with pictures and drawings and all the lyrics (which are in portuguese). This is pure black metal from Brazil / South America for the world !!!! Favorite tracks: "Eterno Poder Obscuro", "As Sete Caldeiroes Do Inferno" and "Lembranças Do Mal...". Contact: www.evilhorderec.com or http://www.geocities.com/ocultanblackhorde

REVIEW: OBTUSE - PROMO 2002

 

OBTUSE - PROMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Obtuse

Recorded at Blalsdell Studio

Artwork by Obtuse

Tracks: 1- Retrospect, 2- Wrong Place, Wrong Time, 3- Close To the End, 4- Questions, 5- Preacher

Judging by the cover art you would not guess what kind of music this band plays. In fact they play brutal death metal with extremely crushing riffs and tempo changes. In fact the brutalitty of this band is inmense and they make interesting arrangements in the tracks with excellent riffs like the one at 0:10 in "Wrong Place". The tracks are short but totally energetic and full of power. In fact, longest track within the five contained here is "Questions" that is three minutes long. The main thing here besides the brutality of the music are the interesting riffs that the guitarist creates. I would like to listen a full length from this guys really soon. Favorite tracks: "Retrospect", "Close To the End" and "Questions". Contact: www.obtuse.nl

REVIEW: OBSCENITY - COLD BLOODED MURDER

 

OBSCENITY - COLD BLOODED MURDER (Morbid Recs., 2002)

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- The Arrival, 3- Caught In Life, 4- My Dark One, 5- Alien Hand Syndrome, 6- Sleepwalker, 7- Blessed By Nature, 8-Soulpain, 9- Cold Blooded Murder

Brutal death metal directly from germany. The first thing that caught my attention (besides the brutality of the tracks) was the quality of the lead guitar player....he is really good and reminded me of great musicians like Alex Skolnick and James Murphy in some of the guitar solos. Then another thing: despite being extremely brutal the tracks have hooks !! Yes, the riffs are catchy in many places and the way the vocals are done (guttural) gives some extra rhythm to the tracks. The sound of this release is extremely good, specuially on the drums (killer double bass !!) and the guitars (an amazing wall of sound). This is a band that achieves greater brutality through really professional musicianship and doing really good compositions with different parts and technically difficult passages. A must !! Favorite tracks: "The Arrival", "Caught in Life" and "Sleepwalker".Contact: www.morbidrecords.de

REVIEW: NIGHTSKY BEQUEST - OF SEA, WIND AND FAREWELL

 

NIGHTSKY BEQUEST - OF SEA, WIND AND FAREWELL (X-Rated Recs., 1999)

Produced by Andre Mateew

Recorded at Graffitti Studios

Artwork by Emil Saparevski

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Windsymphony / Reflection of Lost Years, 3- Your Sun / If I could Wipe this Dust Off My Eyes, 4- Green eyes, 5- The Moon is Waiting for its Song, 6- To Sing a Song / Just Life is Left, 7- Shadow of Myself / A Silent Bird...

Spectacular release !! Nightsky Bequest is a really climatic and dense band whose music is at the same time enchanting and deppressive. The female vocals dominate the songs here contrasting with the deeper male ones. There are passages where the heavy guitars enter but most of the time the music is full of keyboards parts that are really well composed and designed to cause different feelings in the listener. There are great guitar solos in some tracks and a lot of interesting ideas flowing through all the tracks. If you want quality musicianship, great melodies, amazing atmospheres, enchanting vocals and great compositions that will leave your sense hurting and asking for more, then check Nightsky Bequest. Favorite tracks: All the CD. It is a great masterpiece. I loved it.. Contact: http://xrr.musicpage.com