The Baking Research Station / Cranium Pie: A Visit to Newport Hospital (2012)

Released in June 2012, "A Visit to Newport Hospital" is one of the steadily increasing number of releases by enthusiast vinyl only label Fruits de Mer Records. This production is one of their regular ones: A 7 inch vinyl single featuring remade versions of two compositions from ye olde age of psychedelic rock. Egg's A Visit to Newport Hospital and Arzachel's Queen St. gang are the classics given a contemporary visit on this occasion, by The Baking Research Station and Cranium Pie respectively.

And if this reworked take on A Visit to Newport Hospital is anything to go by, this isn't a place you'd like to visit unless you really, really had to. Opening with an introduction consisting of organ amidst fragmented sounds, voice and machine effects and a rather chaotic soundscape, this song moves on to a gentle organ and vocals theme that comes close to lounge music in expression, but with a resonating effect applied as well as most of the sounds from the opening sequences. The end result may be described as demented lounge music I guess, the kind of track you'd expect to find amidst the back catalogue of artists such as Magical Power Mako.

Cranium Pie's take on Queen St. Gang is a nice companion piece. Opening with a gentle organ given some eerie effects treatment it then stabilize for a bit, and a massive dark toned guitar dripping psychedelic undertones from here and down to Australia somewhere is added to the proceedings. Until a sudden shift replace everything with a dark drone beneath dampened voices and voice effects that is, and while we're given a revisit by the organ and guitar theme a bit later another interception follows, this time more freaked out in character with sounds and voice effects and even a dampened manic laughter that you might suspect comes directly from the deeper vaults of Arkham Asylum.

A very nice release for the right crowd, and as all 800 copies have been sold out by the label at the time of writing I suspect that the crowd in question is a good-sized one too.

My rating: 70/100
Track list:
1. The Baking Research Station: A Visit to Newport Hospital
2. Cranium Pie: Queen St. Gang

Switch Opens: Joint Clash (2012)

Swedish foursome SWITCH OPENS have been around for a good dozen years by now, although for the first 8 of these cycles they were known as Fingerspitzengefühl. Switching (sic) names in 2008, they have released two full albums under their current band name. "Joint Clash" is the most recent of these, and was issued by Swedish label Transubstans Records in early 2012.

I presume that this is a band that will have quite a few critics, hacks and music journalists scratching their heads ever so slightly when they are going to place this act and their music within a frame of reference. Doom metal and psychedelic rock are bound to be mentioned, the more avid and concentrated of the lot will surely mention post rock too, but as far as possible influences are concerned I suspect I'll not be alone in coming up short. Bands like Soundgarden, Electric Wizard, Hawkwind and even Celtic Frost came to mind for me, and I'll toss in Mastodon too on pure suspicion, but I'm not sure if any of them are direct sources of inspiration. Of course, those who are much more well versed in the metal scene than I am might find this task to be much easier, but personally I'll have rest on this list of possible indirect influences to establish a frail contextual reference.

But whatever you call the music and however you place them within a stylistic framework, the end result is an engaging and fairly innovative one. Thundering bass guitar is the key element throughout, creating a massive theme foundation on top of which a dual set of guitars hammer down riffs and the drums serves of energetic and frequently rather refined rhythm cascades. But that only cover half the story. The guitars aren't actually hitting into the dark and brutal riff universe that often, instead maintaining something of a vintage 70's hard rock and metal expression just as often. That is, when they aren't hitting melodic harmony solos with distinct psychedelic flavouring, textured post rock swirling solo motifs or otherwise engaged in adding a psychedelic sheen to the proceedings that is a trait as defining for this album as the downtuned and at times brutal bass guitar is.

And just about when you thought the band had revealed all their secrets, from the massive grunge and doom on opening track Square to the doom metal ballad going brutally psychedelic on the brilliant Pompous Pumping Heart to the gentler psych tinged going massive doom metal and back trek of Like Fire, then we're provided with The Reunion. Blending some variety of folk-tinged psychedelic excursions in the vocal parts with doom metal instrumental interludes, and then taking a sharp left turn and heading for outer space Hawkwind style, bringing us down to Earth again with a repeat of the opening instrumental doom metal theme. This elongated feature then followed by a frail, folk-tinged psychedelic effort which just happens to be the title track, briefly inserting some thundering moments prior to drifting out on a gentle, psychedelic breeze. It's a hell of an interesting journey, and the most inventive doom metal production I've encountered in quite a while.

Defining a target audience for this production is just about as difficult as placing this band within a frame of reference, so I'll limit myself to something of a repeat performance in this case. If psychedelic doom metal sounds like an interesting description, this is an album you might want to investigate. And I suspect that a good many fans of bands like Soundgarden, Electric Wizard, Mastodon and Celtic Frost will enjoy this disc, and possibly some of the more open minded followers of Hawkwind too.

My rating: 88/100

Track list:
1. Square
2. Mirror Man
3. Pompous Pumping Heart
4. Chemistry
5. Freak Sect
6. Like Fire
7. The Reunion
8. Joint Clash

Nebuleyes: From Earth to Nebula (2012) EP

French project NEBULEYES is one of the creative vehicles of French composer and instrumentalist Xavier Boscher. The EP "From Earth to Nebula" is the fifth production to be released under this moniker, following two years after the full length production "The Universal Being". As with most of Boscher's other material, it has been released on Boscher's own label Orfeo-Labs.

While Nebuleyes' previous CD took an operatic variety of symphonic progressive metal, this time around the band has taken a back to basics approach to their compositions. Songs that by and large have a straightforward nature to them, relatively simplistic in terms of construction and revolving around cyclic theme constructions and repetitive elements. To the point of being borderline heavy metal and power metal at times, depending on the pace and intensity of the instrumentation.

The music isn't without charming qualities however, as Boscher and his compatriots manage to construct hypnotic, pleasant atmospheres with relative ease. And the combination of chugging riffs and dampened piano on one hand and dampened synths and church bells on the other that makes up the most contrasting features of second track Sky makes for a good and intriguing combo.

Final track Nebula is another high point, a multiple themed creation that venture from regular to extreme metal followed by a gentle, dampened symphonic interlude, a formula repeated with minor variations throughout. The use of light toned effects vocals paired off with growls another contrast on this compositions which works quite nicely to maintain nerve and tension.

Existing fans of Nebuleyes will most likely be intrigued by this new EP as well, even if it does mark a shift in stylistic expression. Others curious about this item can easily discover what this is all about, as samples and tracks are widely available on the label website as well as on standalone band websites linked to from there.

My rating: 68/100Track list:
1. Earth
2. Sky
3. Stratosphere
4. Hyperspace
5. Nebula

Humi: Live in London (2008) DVD

The third and final instalment of productions released by multinational project Humi, consisting of bassist Hugh Hopper and keyboardist/vocalist Yumi Hara Cawkwell, was a limited edition live DVD-R, presumably planned sold at a tour in Japan that never came to be due to Hopper's health failing him in 2008. It is now available through Yumi Hara Cawkwell's website.

It is a relatively brief affair, clocking in at 53 minutes, covering material issued on the studio album "Dune" and the live CD-R "Parallel Dune". As such one doesn't get to hear any additional material from this duo if purchasing one of the 99 copies that were made of this DVD. What you get is footage from two concerts, one from 2007 and one from 2008, the two sets rather different in quality.

The older footage suffers from poor video quality, with grainy picture quality, relatively poor resolution and low quality colour reproduction. Captured by a decent quality video recorder presumably, but without the bells and whistles that enables high quality footage from challenging surroundings. Some simple effects have been applied for variety, superimposed images and black and white effects most notably. Hopper and Cawkwell both gets a fair amount of standalone footage, and I would guess some will find the most interesting parts of the material the shots that focus on Hopper's instrument skills.

The footage from 2008 is better in general quality, and while sharpness is still somewhat of an issue visible grains in the images are non-existent and colour reproduction as well as sharpness is of a fairly decent quality. Some form of collage effects is used extensively, especially on the first of the two tracks from this concert, presumably due to several cameras being in action. Most of the shots taken from different angles are of relatively poor quality however, the main camera heaps and bounds better in quality.

Audio quality is of generally good quality from both concerts, and if it is due to the lower quality speakers in my TV-set or due to the images enhancing the audio experience, my experience with the audio footage was that it was sharper and less dampened in nature than on the live CD issued at the same time.

The music as such is better described by me and others elsewhere, for me that part of a live DVD is actually of lesser importance when describing it to others. I presume that any buyer of a live DVD will be familiar with the music on it already, but in the case of this being otherwise my brief summary of these excursions are that they are of a minimalistic nature, performed with an improvisational and avantgarde approach, residing somewhere within the jazz universe. Bass and piano or bass and vocals are the main ingredients, and the performances explore the dynamics between these in a minimalistic and often repetitive manner.

But it is the image and audio quality combined I emphasize on when summarizing towards a recommendation for this production, and my overall one is that this is a DVD for the specially interested. Existing fans of this duo who know and love their music have this as their sole opportunity to see them performing live, and as long as that is a matter of interest this DVD is the proverbial it. Some bassists may have an interest in seeing Hooper perform too I gather, but other than that I suspect most others will have a stronger interest in assessing Humi's CD's before contemplating purchasing this DVD.

My rating: Partially recommended
Track list:
1. Nowaki (Wind That Divides the Wild Field) / Egasumi (The Shape of a Haze)
2. Seki no Gohonmatsu (Five Pine Trees of Seki) Integral Version
3. Scattered Forest
4. Seki no Gohonmatsu (Five Pine Trees of Seki) UEL Version

Humi: Parallel Dune (2008)

HUMI was a collaboration between the late bassist Hugh Hopper and Japanese vocalist and keyboardist Yumi Hara Cawkwell, who in one year recorded and released one official studio album, a limited edition live album and a live DVD also issued for a select audience only. "Parallel Dune" is the limited edition live album, and was released in June 2008.

And 2008 was probably planned to be some year for this creative duo. I surmise that this limited edition CD-R had been planned in conjunction with the Japanese tour Humi had planned, a tour that was cancelled due to Hopper's medical condition. It is still available however, but now from Yumi Hara Cawkwell's website.

Musically we're dealing with a sister production of the studio album "Dune", rather unsurprisingly. The CD consist of three unedited studio takes, two from a live performance held in London in 2007 and four excerpts from Humi's MySpace page. The latter actually the most intriguing for me, as the shortened length means that the ideas explored on these excerpts never becomes repetitive.

And the latter word is one that very much describes this disc, alongside words like minimalistic, avantgarde and jazz. Hopper's bass guitar accompanied by Cawkwell's powerful vocals, the piano and on some instances an organ. With a few effects and percussion details thrown in for good measure.

All of it excellently performed as far as I can tell, their skills as instrumentalists and vocalist never one to be questioned by me nor others presumably. But the context and compositional framework they utilize does end up with a final result that is for the specially interested.

Innovative bass lines and piano wanderings, improvisational in nature with free form tendencies, and music that relies on the simple contrast between bass and piano, bass and vocals or bass and organ. All along dampened in intensity, even when they hit off on the occasional pacier filled run. Dissonant more than melodic, emphasizing mood and atmospheres throughout.

In the same manner as I concluded with "Dune": Opinions will be divided on this production. If ambient, freeform tinged music of a jazz orientation sounds like an enticing description to you, this is a CD you probably should investigate further. If not, this is a production that most likely won't make a grand impression.

My rating: 47/100
Track list:
1. Dune
2. Awayuki (Light Snow) Original version
3. Hopeful Impressions of Happiness
4. Nowaki (Wind That Divides the Wild Field / Egasumi (The Shape of a Haze)
5. Seki no Gohonmatsu (Five Pine Trees of Seki) Integral Version
6. Shiranui (MySpace Version)
7. Awayuki (Light Snow) MySpace Version
8. Dune (MySpace Version)
9. Seki no Gohonmatsu (Five Pine Trees of Seki) MySpace Version

Humi: Dune (2008)

HUMI was a collaboration between the late bassist Hugh Hopper and Japanese vocalist and keyboardist Yumi Hara Cawkwell, who in one year recorded and released one official studio album, a limited edition live album and a live DVD also issued for a select audience only. "Dune" is the first of these collaborative efforts, and was released by US label Moonjune Records in 2008.

And it is an album that quite clearly will have a limited appeal to a niche audience, despite Hopper's involvement and that this is one of the latest recordings he appeared on prior to his illness and subsequent passing away. This due to the nature of the music explored, which combines several stylistic expressions that each on their own generally appeals to a limited audience.

The foundation for these proceedings may arguably be described as jazz. Hopper's bass, loops and electronics and Cawkwell's vocals, keyboards and percussion tend to be improvisational in nature, and while subtle and careful we're dealing with a free form variety of this style here. Not that any of these compositions ever comes across as traditional jazz in any manner whatsoever, but in terms of style and expression the 10 pieces explored have a closer relationship to jazz than to any other genre I'm currently aware of.

But rather than being dramatic, flamboyant instrument performances Hopper and Cawkwell both opts for a dampened, careful approach. If there is anything such as new age or ambient freeform jazz, this CD is a very good example of just that. The performances emphasize moods and atmospheres, and the developments are careful and frequently in slowly developing circulating patterns. And as an additional flavour is the use of electronic sounds and effects, more often than not in the shape of dissonant sounds, noises and drones. Adding a distinct experimental electronic tinge to the proceedings, and in transporting the totality of this production into some sort of avantgarde musical universe. Albeit one of a minimalistic rather than truly challenging nature.

What strikes me most when getting familiar with this production is that many of these pieces would work fairly well as soundtracks. Haunting, ghostly sounds are frequently employed, in particular in the sequences featuring bass and piano alone. But there's some kind of otherworldly, alien atmosphere throughout. Not of a kind and character that will interest any audience to speak of I suspect, but for a select few this production will undoubtedly be regarded as an effort bordering the brilliant. Personally I'll readily admit to not being that charmed by this disc as a standalone musical experience. Circular Dune is a strong atmospheric creation however, and Long Dune another effort that works fairly well, but the remaining tracks is, in my opinion, much better suited to be atmospheric background music in a movie of some kind. With an old fashioned ghost movie or a dystopian exploration as the type of film production I believe this material would be best suited for.

Opinions will be divided on this production, of that there is no doubt. If ambient, freeform noisescape flavoured music of a jazz orientation sounds like an enticing description to you, this is a CD you probably should investigate further. If not, this is a production that most likely won't make a grand impression.

My rating: 40/100

Track listing:
1. Long Dune
2. Shiranui.
3. Seki no Gohonmatsu
4. Circular Dune
5. Scattered Forest
6. Hopeful Impressions of Happiness
7. Awayuki I
8. Awayuki II
9. Distant Dune
10. Futa

Wappa Gappa: Gappa (2004)

Japanese band WAPPA GAPPA was formed back in 1992, and over the next 12 years they would release a total of 3 studio productions before either splitting up or entering a state of hiatus. As news from the band stopped sometime in 2004 it's uncertain what the real status actually is. "Gappa" is the bands third and so far last studio production, and was jointly released by Intermusic and Musea Records in 2004.

And it is a fairly innovative creation we're dealing with in this case, and a rather sophisticated entity to boot. It is also a testimony to the fact that challenging, creative music doesn't need to be hard on the ears and the brain, as this band manage to craft accessible compositions without losing the innovative edge and groundbreaking features.

Their style is perhaps the part of the proceedings hardest to describe in an accurate manner, although a word like eclectic does come to main rather quickly when listening through this CD. There's a subtle but distinct jazz orientation to their endeavours, with bass guitar and to some extent drums catering for this part of the total package. On the other hand, the keyboards and organ used throughout adds a symphonic sheen to the proceedings, while the guitars ventures closer into an expression fans of early 80's King Crimson might recognize.

Of course, it's the manner in which these different instruments are assembled and utilized which makes this special. And the compositions all share some features. One of them is that some parts of each composition is of a fairly accessible nature. More purebred symphonic oriented with a firm hold on harmonies most often, occasionally with a fusion orientation for these passages. Other parts are fairly challenging in nature, combining the diversity previously described in challenging movements, where differing levels of intensity and tonal range utilized see to it that the different stylistic expressions somehow does manage to combine into a whole. And a major asset that manage to assemble the various musical details at odds with each other into a contextual whole are the lead vocals of Yamamoto. Her distinct, melodic delivery adds a smooth coating to the proceedings that is a vital ingredient in this peculiar mix.

The end result is a rather unique blend of challenging art rock, symphonic progressive rock and fusion. With a number of nuances and details catering for the challenging aspects, while the latter two tends to be somewhat more up front and thus leading to compositions that retain an accessible nature despite seeking out new musical grounds to cover. And as such a production that merits a check by those who are fond of innovative progressive rock as well as by liberal minded symphonic art rock and fusion enthusiasts.

My rating: 77/100
Track list:
1. Kyoei no ichi
2. Ido Uuenchi
3. Ranja
4. Taiyo no kin np ringo
5. Heishitachi-e
6. Gokujo no yuuutsu
7. Escher
8. Etranger

Jaime Rosas Cuarteto: Viajero Astral, Live in Brazil (2008)

Jaime ROSAS is a Chilean composer and instrumentalist, whose solo career kicked off in 2003 with the release of "Virgo". A further three studio albums have so far been issued in the under his own name, as Jaime Rosas Trio or Jaime Rosas Cuarteto, the most recent "Flashback" from 2011. Rosas also have one live album to his name, "Viajero Astral: Live in Brazil". This CD consists of live material recorded back in 2005, and was jointly released by Rock Symphony and Musea Records in 2008.

Musically we're dealing with a slightly perplexing band here. The keyboards are at the heart of the matter at most times, and one can easily understand the references to ELP as an important influence. When it comes to swirling, challenging and technical abilities at the tangents Rosas knows very well what he's doing, and appears equally at ease playing gentler keyboard passages, bombastic organ sequences or tightly paced keyboard excursions with more of a shredding character to them. Harmony constructions tightly interwoven with the guitar another strong presence, as are the keys used in a more subservient manner when the guitar is given the limelight.

In expression this is a band that roams most corners of the symphonic art rock universe. Even gentler, atmospheric passages, although they are in a clear minority. But tight, energetic performances with a certain bombastic tendency are plentiful. Often harder edged, occasionally verging on progressive metal in style. And while guitars and keyboards dominates throughout, bass and drums puts up a firm and solid foundation. Occasionally reminding me of the rhythm section of 70's Camel in style, but more intense.

The vocal passages of these songs can be a so-so affair, but whenever this act hits an instrumental section to explore they are generally at their best. The two epic compositions both worth mentioning as positive assets in this regard, and even more so the four selected pieces from their "Breve Pieza Rockera" series of tracks, most of which are delightful experiences.

By and large a good quality live production, documenting a strong performance by one of the harder edged symphonic progressive rock artists. A production worth considering of you tend to enjoy material of this nature, and especially if you enjoy listening to them performed live obviously. The recording quality is of good quality too, in case someone might wonder about that.

My rating: 77/100
Track list:
1. Viajero Astral
2. Odisea
3. Despertar
4. Gravedad
5. Creciendo
6. Lluvia
7. Un Volcán en las Nubes
8. Breve Pieza Rockera III
9. Breve Pieza Rockera IV
10. Breve Pieza Rockera X
11. Breve Pieza Rockera VI
12. El Mito del Eterno Retorno

John Duva: John Duva (2012)

Swedish quartet JOHN DUVA have been around for a good few years from what I understand, limiting their endeavours to band rehearsals where the members can release built up frustrations from their everyday lives into music. They were discovered and quickly signed by Swedish label Transubstans Records, who released their self-titled debut album on the Troglodyte imprint in February 2012.

And what we're dealing with here is a good, old fashioned band that have a clear emphasis on high energy rock and roll. Dirty and grimy, but also with a few tender touches and passages that documents a band with good instrumental skills. But at the core of everything there's energy and aggression. With high octane, at times almost frantic drum patterns giving the bassist a good run for the money as the busiest instrumentalist of this foursome. I might add that this is a band fond of a loud drum sound too, cue a band like The Who. The guitarists provides the main parts of the variation at hand, providing hammering staccato riffs and easygoing circulating riff patterns with ease, but when it's time fo an instrumental passage they'll frequently adds some more polished touches to the proceedings, adding melodic, harmonised layers on top of the high energy rhythm foundation. As well as dampened, gentler psychedelic oriented sequences on a few occasions.

Then there's the lead vocals, and in this case this is a like or loathe aspect of this band's performance. The lead vocals are shouted, and in a manner that documents quite nicely that passion and aggression is far more important than melodies and staying in tune. Punk is probably a key word here, if you really enjoy punk music and punk lead vocalists then this will be a perfect band to explore, if you can't stand it then John Duva isn't an act that will interest you.

The end result is an album filled with high energy material, with stylistic roots that can be tracked back to good, old The Who, following the line of development that encompasses garage rock and punk rock. Aggressive, deceptively primitive in expression, with a few touches of instrumental class that makes me suspect that this quartet also know a fair bit about bands like Turbonegro. And comes recommended to those who feels that this is an enticing description.

My rating: 64/10


Track list:
1. The Wind
2. Om Du Älskar
3. Gå Till Sjöss
4. Vi Drar Vårt Strå
5. In My Head
6. Heart/Soul
7. Arbetsnarkomaner
8. Åkkke
9. Guds Hämnd Är Satans Smör
10. Chains