Money MachineBIGELF |
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Bigelf: Tracklist: In 1997 Bigelf released one of the strongest debut albums I've heard in recent years. It was a 6 track CD entitled "Closer To Doom", and it sounded like a blast from the past. Their music was a genuine mixture between Atomic Rooster, The Beatles (look for the black & white photo of The Beatles on the Marshall amplifier on the front cover), Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jellyfish, King Crimson and Uriah Heep, produced by Sylvia Massy (Red Hot Chili Peppers etc.). They were later signed to the Swedish Record Heaven label, where they released "Closer To Doom" as a 10 track full-length album (the 6 track CD + 4 bonus tracks). "Closer to Doom" has been spinning a lot in my CD player since then, and it has become one of my favorite albums (and my brother's too actually). We have been waiting for a follow-up for a long time, and now it's finally here, entitled "Money Machine". The new album follows the same musical direction as its processor. All the ingredients are here: the 60's-70's sound with lots of vintage keyboards such as Hammond organs, Mellotrons and Moogs, the Beatles melodies and vocal harmonies, the Sabbath-like riffing and the good compositions and arrangements. Right from the opening title track you recognize the Bigelf-sound, and you find yourself head banging and humming along with this heavy tune. It's followed by "Sellout" which is another great track. "Side Effects" are my personal favorite on this album. "(Another) Nervous Breakdown" has been released as a single from this album. "Mindbender" and "Ironheel" are two other highlights. There's also a great version of Atomic Rooster's "Death walks behind you". The closing ballad "The Bitter End" is another one of my favorites. Bigelf are one of the best bands in recent years. Get this one as well as the debut album into your record collection. Highly recommended! RECORD HEAVEN (RHCD28) -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- Bigelf Discography:
Contact: Record Heaven
website: http://www.recordheaven.net/
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Closer to Doom (6 track version)BIGELF |
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Bigelf: Damon Fox
- Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals Tracklist: This is a band that deserves to make it big. Bigelf are a group of four guys from Los Angeles who plays on old keyboards, like Mellotron, Hammond B3 and a set of green Vista-lite drums, Gibson Les Pauls, SG, Flying V's and a Rickenbacker bass. This is a perfect rock album with mostly 70's influenced rock, but with elements from both the 60's and the 90's. It touches Pop, Hard rock, Glam, Psychedelic and Progressive Rock. They have a very unique sound, which is there own, but also a mixture between Beatles, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and King Crimson. Damon Fox is a very good singer who sounds a bit like David Bowie, Brian Wilson or Syd Barrett. The music consists of heavy, fat, guitar pop riffs, harmonies and aggressive experimental passages that could have been arranged by Lennon/McCartney. Sylvia Massy, known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Skunk Anansie have produced the album, and it sounds very fresh, but with a 70's sound. The best track in my opinion is the Beatles inspired track "In The Void", but every track is a little masterpiece in itself. Highly recommended! -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- THIRD HOLE RECORDS THR70001 Closer to Doom (10 track version) BIGELF Bigelf: Tracklist: Bigelf are a group of four guys from Los Angeles. In 1997 they released a 6 track CD on the new label Third Hole Records in USA. Pretty soon they were picked up by the Swedish label Record Heaven where they released "Closer to Doom" with 4 bonus tracks. The music is built up by heavy Toni Iommi riffs, King Crimson Mellotron, a domestic Jon Lord Hammond B3 and melodies that could have been arranged by Lennon/McCartney. The 6 tracks that were on the Third Hole release are of course the best tracks on this album, but the 4 bonus tracks makes this release even more worth it's price. The first bonus track are "Theme One (from "An Instrumental Thing")", and as you can see on the title, it's instrumental. The second bonus track is "I, The Jury". It's previously released as a single in 1994, and in my opinion it should have been included on the Third Hole Release, as it's almost as good as my favorite track "In the Void". The third bonus track is "Fight", a demo from 1992. It reminds a bit of the title track "Closer to Doom". The last bonus track is "Baron Saturday", and it's recorded live at the Viper Room in February 1996. This is a very good song with a super cool riff that ends the album. "Closer To Doom" are one
of my favorite albums from 1997. RECORD HEAVEN (RHCD6) -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- |
