City Of Sound

March '97

Anthology 1969 - 1976

JASPER WRATH
ANTHOLOGY 1969 - 1976
OXFORD CIRCUS OXF 001
5

Jasper Wrath were a band who featured the early talents of James Christian (House Of Lords) and Jeff Cannata (Cannata/ArcAngel), as well as Cannata's songwriting partner Michael Soldan. They released 2 albums in the early '70s and a single in '76 before going there seperate ways. This double CD pulls together album tracks, demos and live renderings from their time together as well as rounding off the set with present day solo material from the main players. The first CD features tracks from the eponymous debut and the single, the style is very much in the early '70s progressive rock school with references to Yes and Jethro Tull being very prominent. It's weird, to say the least, to hear James Christian sounding almost like Jon Anderson. Only one track has any real parallels to Cannata's subsequent solo direction and so it's 'Follow Me Down' that standouts for me, the harmonies, structures and melodies have that distinctive ArcAngel/Cannata ring to them. A great number in fact. CD2 collects together demos, live tracks and new solo material. Of the latter James Christian provides the ballad 'Where Does Love Go' from his Now & Then album 'Rude Awakening', Jasper guitarist Bob Gianotti gives us the interesting 'In The Moment', heavily programmed it has a vague Marc Jordan feel. Best of the bunch though is Cannata's 'Big Life', a great new number, which exudes pure class. Pounding drumming leads the way into a more moody and progressive direction than Jeff has shown on recent solo material. Just imagine his 'Watching The World' material with prog extensions (this track clocks in at a, for Jeff, hefty 7 minutes). As I'm not a big '70s prog fan much of the material is rather heavy going for my ears, but it's still interesting to hear where Cannata and Christian were actually coming from all those years ago. One for collectors and prog anoraks I think, hence the rather low mark.
Contact: Email: JasprWrath@aol.com

Dilba

DILBA
DILBA
STRAWBERRY/WEA SWEDEN 0630-16785-2
7

More weird and wonderful female fronted stuff from Sweden. Dilba writes in a style not too far removed from Mai Britt Normann or Tori Amos, although without the overt Kate Bush-isms of either, and with the addition of some more contemporary Tina Arena/Jane Child-like soul/dance grooves. 'Keep A Promise' is a real laid back, almost trip hop, opener with strong drum and bass work. 'I'll Catch A Star' is smart pop/soul with almost gospel backing vocals. Before you all start wondering what Dilba is doing here the next track 'I'm Sorry' should sway any doubting Thomas's when the gentle acoustic intro soon gives way to a phenomenal rock crescendo. 'Not Directly' is similar to the soul/pop of Trine Rein and Tina Arena with some Seal-esque harmonies and a nice hook. 'Could It Be' retains the Trine Rein comparisons and 'Passion' adds more dancey grooves and 'No Room For Love' goes off in a more Jane Child sounding direction. Admittedly not an album to suit every taste but it still has something strangely addictive about it, perfect late night listening in fact.

Under These Rocks And Stones

CHANTAL KREVIAZUK
UNDER THESE ROCKS AND STONES
COLUMBIA CK 80246, CANADA
8

Yet another Alanis wannabe? Well 'God Made Me' gives that impression but it's still a great number and serves it's purpose in grabbing the attention. The remainder of the album takes more influences from Tori Amos, with Chantal's keyboards and pianos taking the lead, 'Surrounded' takes the piano based melodies and vocal qualities of Tori and adds more powerful arrangements and a few quirky Sarah McLachlan-isms. Songs like 'Believer', 'Hands' and 'Co-Dependent' while boasting lots of rocking guitars (from former Orphan main man Chris Burke) sound more like a heavier Tori Amos than Alanis, and at least we don't have to suffer any bloody harmonicas! My favourite track has got to be 'Wayne' which has a tremendous hookline, and fragile Fiona Flanigan sounding vocals. 'Imaginary Friend' and 'Actions Without Love' are simple piano led pieces, while 'Green Apples' and 'Boot' explore a bluesier area. For fans of strong modern female singers this is another one for the shopping list.

All Good Weeds Grow Up

THE MISCELLANEOUS
ALL GOOD WEEDS GROW UP
MEGAPHONE MCD 08, SWEDEN
7

A truly weird collection this. Swedes The Miscellaneous combine many opposing elements but somehow manage to pull it off with songs that are both catchy and very tuneful. 'Bunker Pew' opens precedings with tons of melody and a slight indie influence. Next up 'Redemption' is heavier with pounding bass lines and powerchords, plus snarling Dave Mustaine-like vocals from Stef Loy. 'Gray Matters' is great power pop with Loy's vocals back to normal, on 'Cando' he teams up with the bands female vocalist Sooi Groeneveld van der Laan for something a bit more west coast tinged. 'Horizon Blue' and 'Me' are more laid back and moody with droning organs. 'Miracle' is back into power pop territory with great hooks, while indie meets hard rock on 'The Medium' and Stef's Mustaine-isms are on show once again, but for some reason I'm also reminded of Pendragon's Nick Barrett! 'Weather So Sublime' continues the prog connection sounding not unlike Mr So & So in arrangement, and as Mr So & So now use a female backing singer the comparison is even more marked, another good song. 'Echo' builds to a fine crescendo and rounds off an album that deserves investigation by the more open minded among you.
Contact: Megaphone, Gammelgardsvagen 38-42, S-112 64 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tel +46(0)8-618 0030,
Fax +46(0)8-618 00 55.
Email: agw@algonet.se
http://www.algonet.se/~agw/the_miscellaneous

Fields

PAULA HEDVIG
FIELDS
PURE RECORDS / NEXT STOP DISTRIBUTION PURECD001, SWEDEN
7

Mellow, largely acoustic/piano based songs are the basis of Paula Hedvig's debut. The songs are mostly sparce and piano led, but filled with great vocals with lots of excellent hooks permeating the record. No one really comes to mind comparison wise but think; less quirky Tori; less folky McLachlan etc and you'll be on your way. A fine debut.
Contact: Pure Records, PO Box 23149, 104 35 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tel: +56 8 33 44 70
Fax: + 46 8 33 76 70

Glow

THE ESSENCE
GLOW
CNR/ARCADE 2002530
7

Imagine a weird combination of The Cure, U2, Hotel Hunger and Tomorrows Child given a large It Bites-like prog rock twist. That sums up what's on offer from Dutch foursome The Essence. Like It Bites the material is compact and catchy, delivered with strong musicianship. From upbeat pop rockers like the opening 'Taking On The World' and 'Only For You' to the moody, melancholy of 'Gone' (fine guitar work from singer Hans Diener) the songs are accessible but with enough underlying technique to keep open minded proggies happy. Chiming guitars pervade the U2 meets Robert Smith sounding 'Mary My Prayer' and 'Up', Mark's lush keyboard strains underpinning the prog foundations. 'Right Or Wrong' comes on like Hotel Hunger meets For Absent Friends and the keyboard work on 'Crack' is so reminiscent of Hotel Hunger's debut album, powerchords then come in and lend added weight to the chorus. Of course by adopting such a modern, and genuinely "progressive", style The Essence run the risk of greatly alienating potential fans in the prog rock world, but it's the ludites loss. Those with a sense of adventure should make a point of searching this out.
Contact: The Essence, PO Box 84238, 3009 Ce Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The Plutonium Cathedral

VACUUM
THE PLUTONIUM CATHEDRAL
STOCKHOLM RECORDS 533752-2, SWEDEN
8

Recommended to me as being like a more synth-ish Big Money the debut album from Sweden's Vacuum explores the same quirky left field vein as their fellow countrymen. Big Money's mainman Vasa helps out on a few tracks and leaves his mark well defined. Tracks such as 'Rise And Shine Olympia', 'Illuminati', 'Prussia', 'Sign On The Skyline' and 'Closer Than The Holy Ghost' could all have sat easily on Big Money's brilliant 'Moonraker'. The weird mix of pop, rock and dance has a much more pompous sheen to it than, for instance, someone like Republica who also mix up those styles, and at times moves in the same areas as Sparks and Stabilizers. Singer Mattias Lindblom has a rich voice similar to Paul Engemann (Device/Animotion) and shines on the opening euro-pop of 'Parallel Universe', Donna Summer meets Device anyone? A catchy hook and some well placed guitar licks midsong make this a great song. The reggae tinged 'I Breathe' has a trippy little groove, which mixed with the fine arrangement makes for another good tune, 'Science Of The Sacred' and 'Atlas Shrugged' have similar grooves but the vocals and other musical ideas give them a much more pompous feel (trip-pomp perhaps?). 'Tin Soldiers' is more upbeat in a Device sort of way. With their heavily programmed approach 'A Woman Named America' and 'Shape Of Things To Come' bring to mind Hi Tech AOR acts like the Stabilizers. Not for the narrow minded AOR fan, but for those more adventurous souls this is as close to Hi Tech AOR as the 90s will probably get.

Firefly

TNT
FIREFLY
NORSKE GRAM AS EKGCD 73
8

This is a very different TNT to the one that split up after the disappointing 'Realised Fantasies'. Tony Harnell, Ronni LeTekro and Morty Black reunite under the TNT banner but have taken the admirable step of actually moving the bands' sound into the 90s. The opening title track makes this immediately clear, the riff is big and dark and has, initially, a very Alice In Chains feel. With Tony Harnell's vocals being lower pitched than in the past, and with a few effects added to them the AIC comparison actually narrows down to one of fellow Norwegians Jack In The Box (less ironic when you figure out that JITB leader Frode Hansen is the guest drummer on the album). Look deeper though and the old LeTekro/TNT melodies and nuances are still there. 'Angels Ride' has a modern upbeat groove and darker tones but is still TNT at its core. 'Tripping' is more in the vein of Vagabond, with its quirky little melodies. 'Daisy Jane' is one of my favourite songs on the album. The guitars are maybe a bit more TNT-ish, LeTekro's end solo is sublime and the chorus is wonderful. 'Somebody Told You' has a funky little groove but harks back to TNT of old in structure. Acoustics lead into the laidback 'Month Of Sundays' which builds up to a fine Francis Dunnery sounding solo. 'Only The Thief (whistles at night)' is one of those silly little pieces that TNT have made a trademark and leads into the more familiar TNT style approach of 'Heaven's Gone'. this could easily have appeared on either of the last couple of TNT albums, notwithstanding the groovy drum work. 'Moonflower' is I'm sure one of those songs that people will either love or hate. I love it, but then I also love Vagabond (probably more than I've ever loved TNT to be honest), with Ronni taking the vocal lead it simply reeks of Vagabond and it's co-writer the totally brilliant Mai Britt Normann. Exquisite guitar lines overlay a laid back soundscape that brings to mind the way someone like Marillion can just gel around an idea. 'Sunless Star' has that Alice In Chains feel once again but without the dirginess. Ronni takes to the mic once again on 'Cool It' giving that Vagabond feel by default, still I like it, although I'd love to hear Jorn Lande singing it. 'Soldier Of The Light' is for me the weakest track on the record. It sounds like an outtake from 'Realised Fantasies' and sounds out of place amongst the up to date recordings (it's not from the same sessions). A typical power ballad, with an admittedly decent solo but Harnell's vocals are far from perfect. I for one am glad this is not the style they chose to pursue for the entire album and more often than not I will simply stop the CD before the song begins. This is a very good album (though not as good as the classic "Intuition") and I would recommend everyone to hear it, but be aware - it is different and it does take a while to get into. I don't know how permanent the reunion is (I have heard that they may well do another record) but speaking for myself I would rather have another Vagabond album before another TNT one.

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Peter Sims
Last update 31st March 1997
Created 7th February 1997 © Peter Sims