| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label | My Gnosis Rating |
| 1 | Aka Moon | Spiritualisation (K'ien) | Invisible Sun | 2000 | Carbon 7 | 12 |
|
Invisible Sun appears to be the 10th release by this Belgian avant-jazz
ensemble. The core line-up is four musicians playing drums, bass, piano,
and saxophone with all compositions written by saxophonist Fabian Fiorini.
The band is joined on this incredible complex album with a plethora of
wind instruments. The arrangements bring to mind American jazz giants
like Charles Mingus and Miles Davis with Gil Evans. I am reminded
somewhat of Miriodor.
Carbon 7 Aka Moon | ||||||
| 2 | California Guitar Trio | Caravan | Rocks the West | 2000 | Discipline Globile Mobile | 11 (Alan's) |
|
"The California Trio is Bert Lams, Paul Richards, and
Hideyo Moriya, none of whom are from California ;-).
They are all veterans of Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft
school, and all play very tight acoustic guitar
together and have great interplay. This album was
recorded live last year at a few venues, one of which
was the nearby (for me) Boulder Theater. Tony Levin
plays on many of the tracks since he toured with them.
Bill Janssen also plays guest saxophone on a couple
tracks. The song is their arrangement of Duke
Ellington's "Caravan". " - Alan Mallery
California Guitar Trio Official Website | ||||||
| 3 | Theta | Tasgare no Nakade | Seeds of the Dream | 2000 | Musea | 9 (Alan's) |
|
"Theta is a new Japanese symphonic group, and this is
their debut album. The lineup consists of keys, bass,
drums, vocal/flute, with guests on other instruments
such as violin which is featured on many of the
tracks. Vocalist Yoko Royama was formerly the
vocalist for the group Vermillion Sands. The album is
pleasant, but not earth shattering. A group with
potential. " - Alan Mallery
Theta Home page | ||||||
| 4 | Boo | Augen | Boo | 1999 | Indies Records | 8 |
| Boo is a new Czech band that combines members of Metamorphosis (show #103), Dunaj and Deep Sweden. The style sounds more like a noisy alternative-rock style than overtly progressive. The music is generally up-tempo with distorted guitar, cello, bass, and violin as the main melodic instruments. The vocals are a bit hard to take. | ||||||
| 5 | Projekct X (King Crimson) | Six O'Clock | Heaven and Earth | 2000 | Discipline Global Mobile | 10 |
|
Projekct X is an instrumental version of the latest King Crimson
incarnation, consisting of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Pat Mastelotto,
and Trey Gunn. For me, this is the most enjoyable of the Crimson albums
from recent years, although I have not heard all of the Projekcts.
Discipline Global Mobile Elephant Talk Rich Martens' Discographies | ||||||
| 6 | XII Alfonso | Message 95 | Odyssees | 1999 | Musea | 10 (Alan's) |
| "XII Alfonso is a band/project from France, and this is their second album. Their music has a range of new age and world music influences mixed in with their brand of spacious laid back prog. A good cd to relax to or play in the background, that is still interesting." - Alan Mallery | ||||||
| 7 | Sound | Diaphonus Trails of Narcotic Vapour in Translucent Caverns of Fitful Slumber | Drunk on Confusion | 1999 | Tekito | 11 |
|
Sound is a new band from Texas featuring Joel Zoch,
of Jethro Tilton, and ex-Vas Deferens Organization
artists Eric Lumbleau and Jim Edgerton.
This music does not fit well into any categorization,
and is a testament to it's originality. At times
there are some very moving psychedelic space-rock
excursions, ala early Pink Floyd, which then slowly
morphs into sound collage which brings to mind Faust
or early Mothers of Invention in the more humorous
moments. As with all of Eric Lumbleau's material,
the music is heavy on studio manipulation and
electronic experimentation. What is most impressive
is that the artists never stay with any particular
idea for very long. Each passing moment has new
sonic ideas which makes one marvel at the active
creativity it must take to create such an album.
Beatamous Loaf Recordings Tekito History of Rock Music - Vas Deferens | ||||||