ELECTRUM |
| Electrum are : Joe Musmanno on Acoustic and Electric Percussion Dave Kulju on Guitar and Synthesiser Gino Foti on Bass Guitar and Synthesiser The tracks are : 1. Ascension 2. Reverie 3. Measure Of An Unmade Grave 4. Frames of Mind Part i: Cognitive Synergy 5. Frames Of Mind Part ii: Dialectic 6. Desolation 7. Voices i: Conversation ii: Disagreement iii: Oratory 8. Inertial Dampers Off-line 9. Portal To Arcanum Progressive rock seems to have been around since the dawn of time, well ever since I have had an interest in music anyway from the early Yes and Genesis albums through to the more techno-rock sounds of Rush. Progressive music has always been there, although probably not the most popular form of rock music. And with the ever growing popularity of bands such as Dream Theater, Ftaes Warning, etc, progressive music is enjoying a second coming. Electrum's instrumental album 'Frames Of Mind' is a fantastic 63 min long piece of music from the very first note right up until the last. It's one of those albums once you have played it the first time you just have to keep putting it back on. The thing that is hard to believe is that this BIG sound that is coming from my speakers was made by just 3 guys. So you must be asking yourselves why is this CD so good, well the answer is two-fold, firstly this is an instrumental CD, but without any of the old cliches that used to dog this field of music, no drum solo's, no over elaborate keyboard solo's, no overlong guitar parts that sound as though the guitarist is tuning up. Just very well structured songs that are very well written and played that makes the listener feel at ease from the very first note. Secondly the pieces of music on offer are so well constructed with each track flowing effortlessly from one to another and yet so diverse in places that you find yourself waiting in anticipation and excitement for the next track. This CD is crying out to be listened to. The wonderful thing about instrumental music is that it's open to the listener's own interpretation of events. Let me try to explain. Take the opening track 'Ascension', with it's wonderful classical keyboards work and it's powerful rhythms, setting the scene for whats to come, drawing the listeners attention from the first note it kind og grabs you, wanting you to and believe me you will listen, oblivious to the outside world for just over an hour to the wonderful songs that make up 'Frames Of Mind'. 'Desolation' reminds me of a funeral, not your standard 10 people round a grave affair, but a good old Victorian funeral with it's almost endless procession of horse drawn carraiges and both men and women dressed in the finest clothes. 'Voices' well that could mean almost anything, but to me with it's lovely jazz intro, frantic guitar parts and keyboard works reminds me of a confused state of mind of somebody always searching for something, but that something is always just out of reach. The power and passion of 'Disagreement' sums up perfectly two people falling out and them making up or how about the first part of 'Frames Of Mind'. 'Cognitive Synergy 'with it's powerful rhythms puts me in mind of my favourite Rush album of long ago 'Moving Pictures'. My interpretation, yours or anyone else's of 'Frames Of Mind' , may not necessarily be in some ways the same as Electrum's interpretaion, but because of it's style and instant accessability it allows the listener if you like to create there own 'Frame Of Mind' and if that is the case Electrum have done there job very well indeed. If your idea of good music just runs to 3 minute bursts of aggression based around sex,drugs and rock'n'roll then steer clear , but if like me you fully appreciate quality thought provoking music played by musicains of outstanding ability then this CD come very highly recommended. One of the quality CD releases of the year so far!!! Frames Of Mind Is self released by Electrum Contact Info : Website :http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~tomservo Email : tomservo@nh.ultranet.com |