Eclectic Vibes - February 2009
by Andrew Frey
Fermata caught Live at Frequency in Madison in January 2009 - photo by Andrew Frey
FIRMLY FERMATA
We were treated to a totally packed room when we arrived at the Frequency on Friday, Jan 30. Fermata was just taking the stage, so we finagled our way forward as much as possible, which wasn’t very far. The crowd hardly budged during the set, making it a bit claustrophobic at times, but the band was as enticing as ever. As this night was the release party for their CD “Only Ghosts Remain” the set list was permeated with selections from the disc, but they did manage to interject at least one new song. They were as captivating as entertaining and for that brief moment while they were playing, the tales they spun, transported attentive audience members to the mystical musical gothic chamber pop realm where they dwell. A splendid place indeed: one which we hope to visit again soon.
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- UnFunkTikular thru 10 –JammerTastical
Casanatra - Death Ride
Casanatra
Album title: Death Ride
Record Label: Blue Worm Records
Rating: 8
Two guitars and a drummer from St. Paul blasting out plush, post-grunge, groovy hard rock complimented with multiple melodic vocals and warm fuzzy tones. This band sounds better all the time!
(3952) Page Views
Casanatra online:
• Website
From The Inside - Visions
From The Inside
Album title: Visions
Record Label: Blistering Records
Rating: 7
Heavily influenced by his recent acoustic slot opening for Journey, this studio brainchild of Danny Vaughn (ex-Tyketto) is overflowing with well written, well produced, radio friendly, melodic rock.
(3558) Page Views
From The Inside online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Visions from Amazon
• Purchase Visions on Amazon
Larkin Grimm - Parplar
Larkin Grimm
Album title: Parplar
Record Label: Young God Records
Rating: 9
Elements of folk, electronica and ultra eclecticism race like wildfire to stoke the pyres of originality and imagination with astounding results. Her ribald lyrical whit slaps the listeners as sharply a whip and the rhythms worm deliciously into your brain. A real wild one!
APPEARING LIVE 2/17 at The Frequency in Madison; 2/19 at Stonefly Brewery in Milwaukee; 2/20 at Turf Club in St. Paul, MN.
(4065) Page Views
Larkin Grimm online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Parplar from Amazon
• Purchase Parplar on Amazon
Steven Halpern - Relaxation Suite
Steven Halpern
Album title: Relaxation Suite
Record Label: Inner Peace Music
Rating: 8
Sound and vibrational healing techniques were pioneered by Halpern, the worlds leading composer of healing and relaxation music. This time he has chosen to funnel the healing energy mostly through a piano, with a number other choice instruments woven in. Blissful.
(3448) Page Views
Steven Halpern online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Relaxation Suite from Amazon
• Purchase Relaxation Suite on Amazon
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Live! (DVD)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Album title: Live! (DVD)
Record Label: Heads Up
Rating: 7
The amazing harmony acapella vocals of this group have been heard the world over for over 30 years. Filmed in Akron, Ohio in 2008 this DVD puts recent faces to the voices. 14 songs plus an in-depth interview with the group’s founder, leader and musical director Joseph Shabalala.
(3534) Page Views
Ladysmith Black Mambazo online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase Live! (DVD) on Amazon
Merlot - Insipid Emaciation
Merlot
Album title: Insipid Emaciation
Record Label: Barbarian Records
Rating: 5
With drum beats so fast I had to laugh, this bleak black metal vision, spewn from some undisclosed Illinois location, buzzes and hums with discordant maneuvers of rhythm, tension and noise. The vocals are choked, scraped and scourged against the manic noise-scape tundra and left to fend for themselves. Wow.
(4237) Page Views
Merlot online:
Sugar Red Drive - Sugar Red Drive
Sugar Red Drive
Album title: Sugar Red Drive
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 4
As this young band heartily strives to dip into the commercial hard rock pop mélange, they have fashioning a non descript sound featuring post Seattle style vocal crooning and an unimpressive set of sappy rhythms and grooves that get gummed up with overproduction and lack of originality. Sugar overdose?
(3805) Page Views
Sugar Red Drive online:
• Website
Volbeat - Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Volbeat
Album title: Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Record Label: Mascot Records
Rating: 8
A Danish group that has refined their Misfits meets Pantera musical style to include a stronger punk-a-billy attitude with more gang vocals while still maintaining their hep cat swagger and stance. Slick, resourceful and fun.
(4703) Page Views
Volbeat online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood on Amazon
Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate - Seventy Five (75)
Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
Album title: Seventy Five (75)
Record Label: Heads Up
Rating: 8
Deep reaching double live disc recorded in Lugano, Switzerland culminating the 75 year career of Joe Zawinal who passed on Sept 11, 2007. This world music with a smooth, intricate and innovative jazz backbone also highlights a wide variety of performers and instruments with wide reaching influences.
(3879) Page Views
Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Seventy Five (75) from Amazon
• Purchase Seventy Five (75) on Amazon