Keeping with the "Warm-in-the-Winter" theme, I decided to take the Concert Closet to California for a little rest, relaxation, sunshine, and some prog time with Gekko Projekt, a band I have been listening to for a while now and enjoying what I have been hearing. So many aromatics, top notes, and essences I am not sure where to begin...so let us touch down in Orange County--the "OC" to the outside world--and let the music take us where it will...
The buffet opens with a tune that spreads across the prog garden like so many mushroom spores on a breezy afternoon. I am struck by the simple complexity of "Particle Dance." The guitar hits you first; subtly of course--in a Roine Stolt kind of way. Gekko Projekt leaps off the disc at full speed yet manage to pace themselves. The tempo flows like flotsam and jetsam, leaving the listener comfortably unsure of where the next bolt of energy will come from. A scent of Transatlantic and Be Bop Deluxe permeate the room as the song burns deeper into your temporal lobe...
Moving farther along the serving line I discover a piece of music reminiscent of an early Alan Parsons Project jam session; "Cognitive Dissonance." With top notes of Yes wafting through the headphones, the music is smooth as icing on a birthday cake. The members of Gekko Projekt flow perfectly together on this cut; everyone sensing the other's emotions and playing to them. I get a Ronnie Laws '70s kinda vibe...all I need now is a black light and my night is complete.
Liner Notes...Gekko Projekt hails from the warm confines of Orange County in southern California and is comprised of Peter Matuchniak on guitar, Vance Foster on keyboards and vocals, Rick Meadows on bass, and Alan Smith on drums. JoJo Razor has also joined the band and sings vocals on their latest album. Gekko Projekt formed sometime around 2010, releasing their debut "Electric Forest" in 2012. These first two cuts for review were taken from that album, an outstanding work that intertwines vocal pieces with instrumental gems quite beautifully. Their second--and
latest--release, "Reya of Titan," hit the streets in 2015.
With but two albums on their resume, Gekko Projekt may seem like relatively new growth in the prog garden--au contraire! These artists have been fine tuning their progressive rock skills patiently and skillfully, with past connections to Mach One, The Coot, Evolve IV,and WZMG. Like a fine wine, Gekko Projekt has matured with time, reaching a level of distinction yet not quite at the
apex--there simply must be more in the making...
My final selection for review this week is from the aforementioned "Reya of Titan," a deep, astral piece called "This Is Now Our Home." The scent of maturation is immediate and profound; Gekko Projekt has expanded their universe and elaborated on a theme. The mood and tempo swing from graceful and serene to fast-paced and energetic, and they volley back-and-forth over a ten minutes plus cruise through your cranium. Gekko Projekt has strong top notes of Yes and Genesis with a hint of early Jethro Tull in the music here; I feel a pull in the back of my mind, drawing me inward...to the more elaborate and ornate section of the prog garden. This is a band for those who miss the old FM radio days, when an hour of uninterrupted music consisted of three or four cuts from great prog masters...
You can learn more about Gekko Projekt and find links to purchase their music at http://www.gekkoprojekt.com/index.htm More music can also be found at Reverbnation, https://www.reverbnation.com/gekkoprojekt as well as Spotify. Follow the band on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GekkoProjekt.music/?fref=ts and catch the latest updates and musings on Twitter @gekkoprojekt. Whatever your technological preference for social media and downloading, get yourself an adult dose of Gekko Projekt, sit back, sip a warm beverage, and just let all the tension go...
The cut posted below is from a live performance in 2012 called "Avatar Jones." Go deep...beyond the video and focus on the music--you won't be disappointed. Vance handles the keys and vocals quite nicely as you are immersed in a jazz fusion sound a la Weather Report, followed up by some lightning fast guitar work. Of course, Gekko Projekt just toys with your spinal cord and auditory canals as they run through the prog garden stirring up all kinds of growth...enjoy...
OK fellow progheads, time to surface for air. Gekko Projekt is to progressive rock today what Atomic Rooster was to progressive rock in the 1970s; consistently playing at the top of their game, finger on the pulse of the genre, and able to keep up with the best of them. This is a band that moves through the garden with precision, having the ability and talent to hit all the right notes in all the right places. Southern California has much more to offer than jammed freeways and smog...prog rock is doing just fine in the Golden State, and Gekko Projekt stands in the forefront.
Time once again to continue my search for all things prog. Depending on the weather I will pack the Concert Closet with blankets and parkas...or sunscreen, T-shirts, and a cool pair of Ray-Bans...until next week...
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