wire (2007) -- The latest album. The Author said, this is a compilation of "side B" tunes, that didn't fit to previous albums or needed remastering -- I think, this self-depreciation biased judgement of some reviewers of this album, as I think, from all the three this one is the best. From the very beginning: rash me is readily recognisable tune; still noxed wins my heart by passionate guitar solo; Abyss and fresh are attracting with experiment on sound and editing, where ammoniac is a bit psychedelic in harmonies and sounds ("meow!"). The closing tune, jim, takes us back to the minimal setup know from album psychopathetic: drum machine, bass and guitar -- but this time with brief vocal samples. Will we have a bit more of it in the future? Overall: another Must-have on the shelve. I'll give nine stars! => Once again, after Robotnicka in 2004, French female artist has left me stunned. I allow my self to paraphrase words from Robotnicka's Spectre en vue review by Franklin Bruno. Grace --You do, what the French are conventionally thought incapable of: You rock.
PEAK~ (2006) -- next in line. This one uses more sequencing and electronic gear, and is overall more aggressive (than "psychepathetic"), yet still the main quality is perfect harmony of sound and surprising the audience with new klang. As the Author herself commented (at least what was left from it after machine translation: my understanding of French limited to 20 words) -- she makes music, she would like to hear -- and I think, this is the best way for every artist: on DMFA forums once somebody said to the Author (Amber Williams): "You're Your most important audience, it is good as long, as it is fun for You" -- that we can have fun also, is only a by-product. But back to the album: the choice of instruments a bit determined the overall mood and purpose. This album is more ambient, but also more experimental -- with small excursions to musique concrète; it lacks hummable tune or a catchy single, but is a perfect as a whole. Overall: Seven stars.
psychopathetic (2005) -- the first compilation. ID3 tags in the tracks say, it was mastered in 2005, although publication to Jamendo was made June 2006. The album opens with title piece -- quite unique mix resembling a bit CASIO keyboard demo song, until the guitars kick in: it is hard to distinguish, whether guitar is played live or looped -- but who cares? The final effect is good. We can hear more of it in the next piece: today after peculiar harmonies of opening tune now we enter mild, multi-layered sound carpet, resembling distantly Mike Oldfield's late works. So is next in line november MMIII, which adds also some radiophonic effects at the end; them leading naturally to the powers of the herb, which bears strong influence of middle east harmonities, though tailored into tonal restrictions of western music. little ball, which closes the record, is little different in mood than the others -- for me the mood is a bit nostalgic, up to mild depression. The feeling of nostalgia is especially brought by the vinyl noise in the background. Overall -- a nice thing, good both for ambient sound background and for relaxing evening alone with Your stereo -- but why so short?. Eight stars.
We've been waiting for it. The fourth album from Tapewolf Pancace ferret (it's sticky and now it can fight back!). When I first downloaded this title and gave it a try, =I've had mixed feelings: maybe I was not quite in the mood, but it sounded a bit odd to me. And then my S1 player looped around the playlist... And again... And I found myself humming the lyrics. Once again I got wrapped in the peculiar carpet of sounds, and let my mind wander through the Artist's concepts. My favourites? My wicked life with the Hattifatteners -- It's purely coincidence, that this is the only entire instrumental piece on the record, though the Author says in workshop note, that some vocals could use some improvement. I tend to agree -- I hear nothing wrong with the singing, (sans one or two technicalities), but I've got this general impression, that the mastering was done in kind of rush -- maybe if the tapes were left to linger for couple moths, then mastered, and maybe some tracks redone, there would be much improvement in general quality. Maybe. But it is provided "as-is" and it's good enough. One off-topic reflection: tracks Apocalypse in 4/4, princes of Dreams and Sheep are satanic I'd like to hear in arrange for clasic rock band. Summing up? I'm not disappointed (as it was with paniq's new release) -- J.P.M seems to be still in good shape. I'll give six: not because this album is weak, but because it's slightly inferior to the previous ones, but this is the risk, when one is compiling pieces that didn't fit in concepts for previous records. Worth hearing atleast (but not limited) to hear the way Sam cannot say 'soy' :).
Another one: "Mythical Creatures Exhibition", the last but not least work, and candidate for my private Album of the Year 2007 internal award (though lost by hair to Rafał Blechacz's "Chopin's preludes and nocturnae"). This is truly matured work: Joseph has found his own sound, and does not need to replicate radiophonic techniques from late sixties, as he now has his own way. Just like "Songs for the Wild..", this one is also divided in two parts, like old-fashioned vinyl record; side A providing set of catchy songs, concluded with more epic "The Dark Revenge of Jakob Pettersohn" (by the way, I work in Denmark with an individual called Jakob Pettersen). The side B of the record contains only single composition "Project: Dragonsong". People reading DMFA or attending Lost Lake forums may discuss, whether is it a requiem for Dragon race, after Destania's plan is brought to the sunlight, but fan-fiction speculations aside, the piece, which may even aspire to the name of symphony, is utmost beautiful.
I didn't want to re-hear this album with my S1 and headset -- I waited, until I had free evening alone, so I decided to hear it from beginning to the end when I'm on this company trip to Kopenhagen. So, relaxed, with a glass of Tuborg Julebryg in my hand I've immersed in peculiar garden of sounds. And when it came to second, or maybe third movement of "Dragonsong", I suddenly felt all the distance to my home, and almost bursted into tears... This rarely happens, as I'm kind of numb when it comes to emotions. And this, dear Tapewolf, earned You extra star: I put eight-and-half (rounded here to 9) on "M.C.E",
I found out, that DOUG the Eagle has finished his album, "Songs for the Wild-At-Heart". The credits say, it was mastered in 2006, but I don't remember, whether whole album was published -- I'd rather say, only the "DMFA" related part was put on site, while the Author was seeking for decent label to print his record. Anyway, It's release date to the public that counts. As for the music -- Do You remember the double vinyl album "War of the Worlds" (1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne)? It was an audio play of some sort, like radio broadcast story, but on solid record; all made using state-of-the-art radio editing techniques, with music in strongly 'electronicized' progressive rock genre. So are the "Songs for the Wild At Heart". What was composed at first as mere instrumental passages, became background soundtrack for "DMFA Radio shows", then, with use of recorded dialogues, was re-mastered into side B of the album. Those of You, who are already familiar with "Daniel Ti'fiona -- A Warrior for hire", based on Amber (Panyko) Williams's script, will find all the beautiful music themes, and once again immerse in old-school sound textures. This part I have known before, the new thing was side A: Author songs and ballads by the composer, Joseph P. Morris; barely connected with each other, but sharing the same mood and sound quality. Also the texts are worth longer glimpse: They're not 'lyrics' in spe as they tell an 'epic' story, and always are concluded with a moral, which connects the works (though distantly) with rennassaince tradition of masters like Erasmus of Rotterdamm. This record is different, than the sound pulp the radio feeds You usually, it is professionally recorded and has a concept. Any drawbacks? some tunes might use improvised solo, but it really doesn't impare the works. Final rating: seven stars out of ten: a must-have on the shelve.
A music album "A day at people factory", Released as of late 2005. The author himself refers to it, as 'reverse engineered PinkFloyd stuff' -- and indeed, the opening song, entitled just like the album, sounds almost as a prelude to "The dark side of the Moon", with bouncing echoed bass and cascades of VCS-like synth solos. As the other album, (Songs for the Wild-At-Heart), this one also is not only the tunes, but also a concept. Some of the concepts eludes me, as I didn't read some books or didn't play certain games, or (as in case of the closing composition "The Quest of Sacred Jaguar") I do not know some legends, but at least trying to understand, I searched the net to find the context -- and comparing how lazy I am, this is really something. Any flaws? I don't like the excerpt from "Per Gynt", maybe because I don't like the original tune, but it seemed to me that it doesn't match all the other content of the record (though indeed, laboriously and beautifully crafted). Final rate? Tough task: I gave seven to "Songs for Wild at Hart", and giving "..People Factory" a six would be unfair, so weak, but deserved seven.
Go, go, JPM!
▼
