PROGRESSIVE ROCK REVIEWS


From The Caves Of The Iron Mountain
STEVE GORN,TONY LEVIN,JERRY MAROTTA

 

This album was recorded in the Widow Jane Mine, Rosendale, New York.


The music on this CD was recorded binaurally by Tchad Blake using his unique technique of putting microphones in his ears. Its full effect is best heard on headphones. The sounds of footsteps, distant Geese and Crickets are the ambience of the cave and should not be mistaken for digital noise.


The Tracks are : 'Approaching The Cavern', 'Man Walking from A To B', 'In The Caves Of The Iron Mountain', 'Drumming On Water', 'Devil's Kitchen', 'Shakers In Fire', 'Glass Beads', 'Joyous Lake', 'Catskill Gallery - The Abandoned IBM Plant; Woodstock, The Indian Burial Ground; Swimming The Ashokan Rooftops; Overlook Mountain', 'Shepherd's Song' ,'Catacombs', 'Magic Meadow', 'The Widow Jane Mine', 'Squeezebox'


'Approaching the Cavern', the opening track in which Tchad, the recording engineer enters the mine and Steve is playing soprano sax in the distance.


'Man Walking From A to B', Jerry plays the Taos Drums while wearing shakers on his wrists, Tony plays the Chapman Stick and Steve plays the clarinet.


'In The Caves Of The Iron Mountain', in which Steve plays the Bansuri Indian Flute and Tony plays a NS Upright Bass.


'Drumming On Water',  Steve starts on Double Ocarina, Tony the NS Upright Bass and Jerry on shakers. Then Steve picks up the Bansuri Indian Flute as Jerry wanders out the cave playing with brushes, Jerry ends up drumming in the water at the edge of the caves lake.


'Devil's Kitchen', begins with a quiet Steve and Tony duet on soprano sax and stick, when Jerry joins in on drums, Tchad moves around the cave and among the players with the microphones in his ears.


'Shakers In Fire', Jerry starts playing shakers, Tony drums with Funk Fingers on the NS BoxBass and Steve plays Bansuri.


'Glass Beads', Tony plays the stick, Steve on Bansuri then Piccolo Bansuri and Jerry plays some quiet percussion.


'Joyous Lake', Jerry's drumming begins, Tony plays the stick and Steve plays clarinet.


'The Abandoned IBM Plant', Tony bowing on the NS Upright.


'Woodstock, The Indian Burial Ground', Jerry plays percussion, Tony moves to stick.


'Swimming The Ashokan Rooftops', Steve joins in on Bansuri.


'Overlook Mountain', quietens down to just drums then a Stick theme similar to Overlook this time with Bansuri.


'Shepherd's Song', in which Steve plays Bansuri, Tony plays the stick and Jerry plays drums.


'Catacombs', Tony on stick, Steve plays Bansuri and Jerry's drums enter loudly in the middle.


'Magic Meadow', Steve starts on Bansuri, Jerry and Tony enter with Tony playing the BoxBass.


'The Widow Jane Mine', in which Jerry plays percussion, Tony the NS Upright and Steve does some harmonicovertone chanting.


'Squeezebox', in which the sounds of packing up are mingled with Jerry playing the Squeezebox he had smuggled into the cave midst his percussion.


Overall, I found this CD a very much inspired compositional piece of music with lots of influences ranging from all over the world especially India and American Indian Influences too. The playing by Jerry, Tony and Steve are exceptional and the recording is just amazing. You really do have to listen to a CD like this to appreciate the music and sounds within especially if you listen to it on headphones. I think this CD will appeal to most Progrock fans and lovers of ambient music.


This CD is Available at most record shops or from :
DISCIPLINE GLOBAL MOBILE. P.O.BOX 1533, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE,SP5 5ER. ENGLAND. TEL:+44 1722 780146.     FAX:+44 1722 781042.
Email: DGM@disciplinegm.demon.co.uk


OR FROM:


DISCIPLINE GLOBAL MOBILE, P.O.BOX 5282, BEVERLEY HILLS, CA 90209-5282. U.S.A.
TEL : (1) 213 937 3194.     FAX : (1) 213 937 9102.
EMAIL: PossPROD@aol.com
WEBSITE:DGM: http://www.discipline.co.uk
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