Exposé Online » Issue 22

Date : July 2001
Pages : 84
Summary : Nearfest 2001, McGill Manring & Stevens, Baja Prog 2001, Riho Sibul, Arti e Mestieri, Gatto Marte, Jeff Greinke Interview, Cartoon & PFS, Gary Parra & Trap + CD: Cuneiform Records 2001
Items found : 62

25 Years of Synergy —
The Larry Fast Interview

In 1975, Larry Fast, under the name of Synergy, released Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra, and jumped immediately to the forefront of electronic music. The album's title was a bit misleading, since the music consisted almost entirely of Moog synthesizers, not a rock band (or orchestra), but turned out to be a milestone. The Synergy albums that followed set the standards for electronic music throughout the 70s and 80s. In between his own projects, Fast found the time to record and tour with Peter Gabriel and many other artists. He has also stayed at the forefront of advancing technology, from new instruments to MIDI and digital watermarking.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

A Bass of Many Colors —
The Tony Levin Interview

For more than two decades, Tony Levin has been one of the most sought-after bassists in the world, both within the progressive genre and elsewhere. His work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel is enough to assure him a place in musical history, but there is so much more, from session work on pop albums to small-profile jazz projects. His résumé fills many pages, and even he can't remember every album he's played on.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis, Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Everywhere but a Cruise Ship —
The Jesse Gress Interview

Jesse Gress is the newcomer in the Tony Levin Band, lacking the twenty-year history the others have together, but he is the perfect addition to the group. His encyclopedic knowledge of music, great technical facility on guitar, and keen ear make it impossible to tell he is the new kid. As Tony mentioned, he's played with Todd Rundgren and is an editor for Guitar Player magazine. He's also got a book coming out called The Guitar Cookbook.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

From Caves to Concert Halls —
The Jerry Marotta Interview

Like Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta has long been a sought-after studio musician. His muscular drumming, which gave life to Peter Gabriel's second through fourth albums, has performed the same magic for many other artists.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

West Coast Progressions —
The Scott Brazieal Interview (Circa July 1995)

Editor's note: It's mid-1995 and keyboardist/composer Brazieal (ex of Cartoon and PFS) had just returned from a trip to Europe touring with 5uu's. This interview was intended to be quoted within a larger feature piece on Cartoon and PFS that ended up taking us seven years to complete, and in the end was very different than we originally envisioned it. The feature (which appeared in issue #22) ended up concentrating strictly on the music, and as a companion piece we ran a current interview with Scott's bandmate, drummer/percussionist Gary Parra. As a result, none of this interview with Brazieal was ever used in part or whole. Here it appears exactly as transcribed, warts and all. While it is seven years old and certainly not current, it does offer another perspective and is a working snapshot of his activities at that point in time.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Elton Dean / Mark Sanders / Roberto Bellatalla - Into the Nierika

Into the Nierika is saxophonist Elton Dean's first trio album with drummer Mark Sanders and Italian bassist Roberto Bellatalla. Sanders has a resumé which extends from his work...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Aka Moon - Invisible Sun

Invisible Sun is the tenth release by Aka Moon whose name derives from the band members’ experience with the Aka pygmies of central Africa. Invisible Sun is a part of Aka...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2001-07-01)

Apogee - On the Aftertaste

Apogee is the solo project of one Arne Schäfer, guitarist of Versus X. In past issues we have covered his two previous albums The Border of Awareness (

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Bill Rieflin & Chris Connelly - Largo

When two members of Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and Pigface get together, you probably don’t expect a quietly intense album of piano-based music. But if you’re familiar with Chris Connelly’s solo...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

C.W. Vrtacek - Fifteen Mnemonic Devices

Better known as the leader for the wonderfully tuneful instrumental trio Forever Einstein, C.W. “Chuck” Vrtacek also has a darker side. His solo album Fifteen Mnemonic Devices...

 » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Chris Cutler & Fred Frith - 2 Gentlemen in Verona

I have a tremendous amount of respect for both guitarist Fred Frith and percussionist Chris Cutler. They have both been involved in some tremendous music that dates from the Henry Cow days to...

 » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Christian Vander - Korusz

The driving force behind Magma’s music has always been the spirited drumming of Christian Vander, a very controlled yet complex jazz-infected rock style that supports the spiritual and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Clearlight/Cyrille Verdeaux - Rainbow Music: Best of Cyrille Verdeaux 1975-2000

From his debut in 1973 with Clearlight Symphony, French keyboardist and composer Cyrille Verdeaux has combined impressionistic soundscapes in the spirit of Ravel and Debussy with progressive rock...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Damo Suzuki's Network - Seattle & Odyssey

With all the recent activity surrounding 70s experimentalists Can, vocalist Damo Suzuki has come out with a spate of new recordings. Suzuki is a firm believer in the transitive nature of art, and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Dose - Dose

Not sure what to make of this one. Instrumental five-piece of guitar, bass, keys, and drums with flute and sax. All musicians very talented. No original compositions, just covers of Joe Satriani,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Finisterre - Storybook (Live at Progday 1997)

Let me open by saying buy this! Why? Well Finisterre is a great band and it would be great way to say thank you to Peter Renfro. This album has been released on Peter’s Proglodite...

 » Read more
(Posted by Dane Carlson 2001-07-01)

Garmarna & Hedningarna reissues

Over the last few years, I’ve had several occasions to gush about how wonderful Garmarna is, namely the release of each of their three American CDs (the first two on Omnium, the third on...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Gentle Giant - In a Glass House

[Note: This review was written upon the remastered release version of In a Glass House from 2000]

Having owned the re-issue of this album by the Terrapin Trucking Company, I...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!

Despite the recent hyped press, which this Canadian performance group has received, there is still a large dose of mystery, which surrounds them. In fact, after about three plays from start to...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Hawkwind - Atomhenge 76

A part of the Hawkwind Collector’s Series, this is Hawkwind at their best. Still reeling in dismay at the Live 79 this series offered, I am oh so pleased to report that Atomhenge...

 » Read more
(Posted by Dane Carlson 2001-07-01)

Hawkwind - Spacebrock

Is this ever going to stop? My first thought on this was it’s a Dave Brock solo record, but on further examination it appears to be a Hawkwind album. It opens with more re-recordings of...

 » Read more
(Posted by Dane Carlson 2001-07-01)

Holy Lamb - Salt of the Earth

What’s a prog band from Latvia doing on Mellow singing in fluent English? Looking for an international piece of the pie, I guess, and it looks like to some degree they may get it. I sometimes...

 » Read more
(Posted by Mac Beaulieu 2001-07-01)

Hugh Hopper - Parabolic Versions

Hugh Hopper is at that point in his career where he wants to clarify direction. He's been through a well-documented improvisational phase with Soft Machine and its offshoots. Presently he's...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Iconoclasta - La Granja Humana

Though I’ve been reading about them in Exposé for years, this is the first Iconoclasta I’ve actually heard. I’m going to leave aside the concept-album aspect of Granja Humana...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

JADE - Jazz Afro Design Electric

Musea has come up with an extremely impressive instrumental progressive power trio in JADE. The album is a delight for guitar fans as Olivier Freche’s wide variety of styles evokes everyone...

 » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Jeremy Cubert Project - From A to B

Back in Exposé #18, I reviewed the first Psycho-Audible release, Alpha Centauri by Zapotec. This Psycho-Audible disc features the same key players: guitarist Bill Curtis, violinist...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

John Greaves - Accident & Little Bottle of Laundry

Two additional albums from John Greaves' European catalog are now available from Voiceprint. Accident is his first solo album from 1982 and features literally a bizarre set of songs...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

John Serrie - Century Seasons

Fear not the ethereal, new-age looking girl on the front. This set is subtitled "The Space Music of Jonn Serrie," and that is an accurate reflection of this excellent retrospective. Gone...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Jon Rose - The Hyperstring Project (New Dynamic of Rogue Counterpoint)

I’m not even going to try to explain how this music was made – check out the web site for details. Just take it as given that Jon Rose has created a monster with violin ancestry, and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Joshua Charles - A Positive Flow

Hailing from New York City, Joshua Charles is the driving force behind this entire disc, compositionally as well as handling most of the instruments and the production. This is most definitely one...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2001-07-01)

Keller & Schönwälder - The Reason Why... Part Two

I already thought that The Reason Why from Keller & Schönwälder’s 3-CD box set was excellent. But then I kept reading reviews of people who had attended the show,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Kent Heckaman - Transitions

Tony Gerber of Spacecraft sent me this CD, and with it he continues to show me that I need to expand my musical horizons. I figured it would be something along space and ambient music lines,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

King Crimson - Heavy Contrukction

According to many accounts, the European tour for The Construkction of Light has been nothing short of a major success. A large number of gigs sold out across Germany, and women were seen...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Land - Road Movies

Jeff Greinke’s Seattle project has evolved from a small collective to a full ensemble taking on an entirely evolved format. This time out, there are smooth grooves and a forward outlook, and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Leo Kupper / Anna Maria Kieffer - Ways of the Voice

Leo Kupper is a Belgian musicologist and vocal theorist and with Ways of the Voice he furthers his 35-year study of the sonic capabilities of the human voice. His partner for this...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2001-07-01)

Lindsay Cooper & Charles Gray - Pia Mater

Lindsay Cooper has been well known for her obtuse compositions (including the acclaimed The Gold Diggers and Oh Moscow projects) as well as her groundbreaking work with Henry Cow....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Lutz Ulbrich - Kurzmusiken

Inspired by the success of Ash Ra Tempel’s retrospective collection, The Private Tapes, Ulbrich decided to mine his solo archives as well, and the result is this 2CD assortment....

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Markus Reuter - Digitalis

Reuter is a German Warr Guitarist creating ambient music of a very individual nature. This is definitely at the abstract end of the Hypnos catalog, a music whose sense of melody is unlike any...

 » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 2001-07-01)

Matching Mole - Smoke Signals

After leaving Soft Machine in 1971, drummer Robert Wyatt planned to record a solo album that featured his songwriting and singing talents. He then enlisted guitarist Phil Miller, Dave Sinclair (of...

 » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Mind over Matter - Under the Stars

Klaus Hoffman-Hoock is one of my favorite guitarist/synthesists, and this series of live recordings does little to dispel that perception. Recording either as Cosmic Hoffman or Mind over Matter,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Moe! Staiano - The Non-Study of First Impressions

Mr. Moe likes to bang on metals, and just about anything else he can get to sit still long enough in a room with him. There was a guy named Z’ev back in the 80s who perpetrated similar...

 » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ezzo 2001-07-01)

moe. - Dither

moe. returns to the studio to find a new collection of tunes, rejuvenation and even a notch forward into jam stardom. 1999 saw the band extend the grooves of their live stage persona about as far...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Mujician & The Georgian Ensemble - The Bristol Concert

Flashback to 1989: KeithTippett had traveled to the remains of the Soviet Union to recruit some local talent for the prestigious Bath International Music Festival. Little did he expect at the time...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Nobukazu Takemura - Hoshi no Koe

After working in fields as diverse as minimalism (on the Reich Remixed album), jazz, and techno, Nobukazu Takemura presents an album of music that fuses a wide range of styles into something...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Paradox One - Reality Quake

Scotland’s Phil Jackson is the man behind Paradox One, and this initial release has been crafted over a number of years, based mostly on themes from science fiction. He starts out with...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Paul Dunmall Octet - Great Divide

Tenor saxophonist Paul Dunmall has followed his acclaimed release from 1999, Bebop Stardust, with the next logical step, Great Divide. As a jazz composer, it's a challenge to...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Paul Ellis - Appears to Vanish

This is the first solo effort by Paul Ellis, one of the two brains behind Dweller at the Threshold. It’s immediately clear that this is a professional musician who knows what he’s doing...

 » Read more
(Posted by Roel Steverink 2001-07-01)

Phil Miller - In Cahoots - Out of the Blue

Guitarist Miller, no doubt best known for his tenure with Hatfield and National Health, continues his mission with his band “In Cahoots,” represented here by two distinctly different...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Plus - The Seven Deadly Sins

One look at the cover and it should be clear that producers Simon Napier Bell and Ray Singer (who also penned about six of the tracks here) were trying to capitalize on the look and feel of...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Polite Force - Canterbury Knights

Mark Hewins’s longtime jamming project released a disc in 1996 after many years of existence in local obscurity. The band had a floating set of players as wide ranging as Richard Sinclair and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Rainbow Serpent - Voices of the First Day

Rainbow Serpent has really caught on among Teutonic enthusiasts, and it’s easy to see why on their latest release, a great blend of pinpoint sequencing and strong melodies. Bright piano is...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Rick Ray - Guitarsenal & Living in an Insane World

When I first put on a Rick Ray CD (I don’t remember which one of these it was), my first reaction was, “Do I have to listen to the whole thing?” An endless series of fairly stock...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Sorten Muld - III

Back in 1999 I fell in love with Sorten Muld’s first NorthSide release, Mark II (reviewed in...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Steve Baltes / Harald Grosskopf / Axel Manrico Heilhecker - Viermal Drei (4 x 3)

Having been associated with the likes of Ashra and Klaus Schulze, these three guys decided to venture out on their own and see what they could come up with. The result forms a highly successful...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Talvin Singh - Ha

The emerging electronica scene has been a source of many innovative and progressive talents, such as Squarepusher and Aphex Twin, and one of the highlights of this scene would have to be Talvin...

 » Read more
(Posted by Sean McFee 2001-07-01)

Tranquility - Core

The release of Frank Makowski’s latest work under the Tranquillity moniker was originally anticipated last year. It was worth the wait until spring. Makowski presents a vast array of...

 » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2001-07-01)

Valinor's Tree - ...And Then There Is Silence

Sweden's Valinor's Tree has come a long way since their last album, Kingdom of Sadness which I reviewed in #19. The quartet still walks a high wire between balls-out modern hard...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Van der Graaf Generator - The Box

I've been wading through this four CD monster for months, marveling at the scope of an English band that has never been readily accessible. Most certainly this group was not a kindred spirit to...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Various Artists - Thousand Days of Yesterdays - A Tribute to Captain Beyond

For most of us, Captain Beyond is a sort of footnote in the history of progressive rock, having achieved little apparent success or recognition for the three records they released between 1971 and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Various Artists - Un Voyage en Progressif Vol. 5

We all know that one cut off of a sampler can’t possibly give an accurate picture of a band’s full breadth and quality. But if the purpose of a sampler slot is to shine positive light...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2001-07-01)

Värttinä - Ilmatar

With Ilmatar, the Finnish band Värttinä enters a third phase of their career. The switch to NorthSide puts them in the company of many like-minded Scandinavians. Like Sweden’s Hedningarna...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Wendy Carlos - Digital Moonscapes & Beauty in the Beast

One of the shortcomings of electronic music is that no matter how sophisticated the hardware and software have become, it can’t approach natural instrumentation for the wealth of detail in sound and...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)