I took the Concert Closet on a coast-to-coast journey this week...perhaps the best time to search the prog garden for hearty bounty; something that can stand up to--and raise the heat on--the cold weather creeping in. A visit with Gaillion was just the remedy and all the warmth I needed for these past 168 hours. The band's latest album, "Renewal and Release" made its debut in October. Gaillion recorded one new song while remixing and remastering four previous single releases and putting them together on one EP. The result is some very polished music and a most outstanding waltz through the prog garden. But enough talk; headphones on...
Moving away from my usual way of doing things, I open the buffet with the final slice from this gem, "The Focal Point." This is the new single Gaillion put on the album and it is brilliant. The song opens as though the sound is coming through a poorly tuned AM radio--deliberately and just for a few seconds. Gaillion then picks up the tempo and hits you with strong guitar and drum work. There are top notes of Dreadnaught mixing with The Aaron Clift Experiment wafting through the headphones. The vocals lay on top, riding on a heavy foundation and cutting through with the finesse of a jackknife slicing through rope...as Goldilocks would say, just right...
Scanning the balance of the buffet laid out before me, I sample a remix of "Letters From the Skipper." This time around the drums seem cleaner, much more succinct as they draw the piece together. Todd's vocals are once again the unpolished diamond this music needs to bring out the oomph...wrapping this music in silk would be akin to applying the proverbial lipstick to a pig; a mismatch that improves nothing. Gaillion heats the branding iron and then applies it in doses just long enough to leave a mark but not a scar...soothing and penetrating.
Liner Notes...Gaillion the band is as much a testament to perseverance and determination as is this newest EP. The band consists of Todd Howard on vocals, bass, and keyboards, James Vasquenza Jr. on guitar, and Don Gunn on drums and percussion. Three bandmates, three hometowns; Seattle, NYC, and Ventura CA. I detailed the specifics in a previous blog (June 2015), but suffice to say this trio has spent a lifetime building this band.
Having gone to school together in CT, they released their first full length album "Admit One" in 1989. Traveling in separate circles but always keeping in touch, Gaillion reunited in a technological sort of way and has been releasing singles since 2015...hence their latest project. "Renewal and Release" brings all their work from the past two years together, allowing you to purchase it as one EP. The name alludes to their thought process, in a prog sort of way...
One last listen and I want to make it count...so of course I laser up "Lorelei." The opening mood is almost sinister, as though someone is about to come up from behind and cut you off at the knees. Quickly the tempo picks up as one more time smooth drum work leads the sound parade right down into your auditory canals. James' guitar work is stellar as this remixed version has smoothed out the rough edges and left the listener with a clean firm sound.
Learn more about the journey Gaillion has taken at their website Gaillion. The new album can be purchased at Gaillion iTunes and Gaillion Bandcamp. For those so inclined, Gaillion can be found on social media at Gaillion Facebook, Gaillion Instagram, and Twitter @gaillionband. You will find their full music library so take your time and walk slowly through the aisles...you wouldn't want to miss anything...
I chose "Backslide" for the clip-of-the-week to give you musical insight and a glimpse inside the remix/remaster work Gaillion has done. Three people working in two time zones provides its own challenges, but Gaillion makes it seem elementary. The bass on this song leads the guitar and drums through a labyrinth that spins you 'round and just before you lose your sense of direction, lands you firmly on your feet...well done...
And as per usual, our time here in the prog garden this week has flown by much too quickly. Gaillion is a bright spot in a multi-layered arena as they hit hard and fast but never seem to lose sight of their desire to enjoy themselves. The band moves through the prog garden deftly, focusing on the acreage where the sound is full and the colors thrive. Gaillion attempts to fill each five minutes of music with ten minutes of sound...every song bursting with energy.
And even more as per usual, the search for all things prog continues on. The end of 2017 is beginning to appear on the horizon and before you know it will be in the rear view mirror. So The Closet Concert Arena marches onward in the never ending attempt to bring as much new and as-yet-undiscovered prog music to light...until next time...
No comments:
Post a Comment