New Reverberations From The Happy Graveyard Orchestra

Warm greetings fellow progheads! Winter continues to keep a firm grasp on the thermostat but  I am hopeful the needle will soon start moving to the right.  In the meantime I am stoking the prog fire for a little extra heat...with that thought and a desire to relax a bit carrying me through the week, I am
re-visiting some old friends--Ivan Perilli and The Happy Graveyard Orchestra.

There is always something underfoot with this band; Ivan is a musician who refuses to take himself too seriously...but don't let the footloose, nutty exterior fool you--there is plenty of serious musician underneath all the frivolity.  The Concert Closet traveled to London twice last year specifically to spend time with this prog/avant-garde band; first in March and again in April when I was fortunate enough to interview Ivan and the band.  

The Happy Graveyard Orchestra are to prog today what Pink Floyd was in the late '60s; a shot of different.  Theirs is a unique approach to progressive music at a time when so many bands are
hell-bent on identifying with the standard-bearers.  Happy Graveyard Orchestra refuses to march in lock-step with the masses--they prefer instead to keep their own beat--which just happens to be one inconsistent half-step behind (or ahead of) the sound everyone else seems to be dialed into.

So let us march right up to that buffet and check out the latest release from Happy Graveyard Orchestra, "I'm the Waitress."  This is a two-song EP, so being logical-minded (sorry Ivan) I am starting with the title cut.  The bass line hits you first...then the vocals...then some drumming...then some more vocals...and suddenly a beat comes out of nowhere sounding like a jazz guitar improv session, and I realize this is just par for the course with HGO.  Peel back the layers of this song; go under the vocals, past the pulsating bass; dig below the drumming and you discover something serious going on behind the mask of absurdity.  Happy Graveyard Orchestra has packed so much into less than four minutes you need more than one listen to capture and appreciate it all.  Horns float through the piece like cotton candy strings caught in a breeze; I feel Andy Mackay being channeled through my headphones, and there are top notes of Talking Heads wafting in the air.  

Moving down the line, I bump right into the other slice on this release, "The Moon Rabbit."  The opening is very reminiscent of earlier Happy Graveyard Orchestra work, right down to the oboe. Happy Graveyard Orchestra starts down the ambient path with this tune and then veers right as they give in to their inner Ebn Ozn, put everything in a Cuisinart, and pour the concoction out like so much hot fudge on an ice cream sundae.  

I am intrigued by Happy Graveyard Orchestra's minimalist approach to the prog genre.  There are no multi-layers of over dubbed sound, nothing ornate. The music is laid out for you the listener to simply experience for yourself.  Like a dry wine, Happy Graveyard Orchestra is best savored in small sips at first..rolled around on the tongue and ingested intentionally.  Watch the music slither back down into the glass when you are done swirling it around...

Liner Notes...Happy Graveyard Orchestra has expanded its membership since my last writings.  The band still consists of Ivan Perilli on bass and cryptic vocals, Debbie Teo on oboe and pitched percussion, Saif Ur-Rehman on steam punk guitar, and Pablo Verez Vich on drums.  Joining this quartet are Kasjusz Lipkowski on saxophone and Gabriella Graziano on vocals.  Happy Graveyard Orchestra is now a party of six haunting the local scene in and around London.

Check out the Happy Graveyard Orchestra website http://happygraveyardorchestra.co.uk/ to learn more about the band and what makes them tick.  You can find their music for sale here, on
Spotify https://play.spotify.com/album/7jxe20LmovyoNIDcLTBDUK?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open
and iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/album/id980752981.  Happy Graveyard Orchestra has  a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HappyGraveyardOrchestra/ where you can find links to songs and other band information.  Of course, you can always follow them on Twitter for the latest rants, thoughts, musings, and other assorted randomness @HappyGraveyardO

OK fellow progheads, we are just about one-twelfth of the way through 2016.  Despite the absolute disbelief at how fast time seems to fall off the calendar, I am pleased with what the Concert Closet has unearthed thus far.  The prog garden is rich with fertile soil and continues to expand on its crop. Walking the rows I see many off shoots of the genre that have helped shape the garden into what is best described as a melange of sound.  Artists like Happy Graveyard Orchestra push the boundaries while never really leaving the couch--using minimalist ideas and expanding on Jamie Muir's ability to pull music--not just sound--from any inanimate object.

In my never ending search for all things prog, Happy Graveyard Orchestra represent an important part of the life cycle of the prog garden because they don't allow themselves to be hemmed in by someone else's definition of what prog is.  Instead, HGO expands on the theme and pushes the limits, taking you two steps past the imaginary safety net you erected...

Yes, prog is alive and well and my search for all things prog marches on...until next week...

Mechanical Man

Greetings from the cozy confines of the Concert Closet fellow progheads!  The mercury suddenly fell out of the thermometer after climbing to record highs recently...but as they say, you can only be disappointed--never surprised!  After watching the weather report these past several days I packed the Concert Closet with blankets and heavy wool socks as the search for all things prog took me to previously uncharted territory...Russia!  As if it weren't cold enough here in the states, I decided to follow my ears and expand my prog metal horizons as I listen in on the sounds of Mechanical Man...

Mechanical Man plays progressive metal...kinda vague but enough to make me want to get ears deep in some rough and tumble sounds.  Let us wander over to the metal offerings at the prog buffet and check out what Mechanical Man is serving up...part of their claim to fame is having performed with Dream Theater, Leprous, and Blind Guardian...

...and taking that as a tip-off for what to expect, I approach said buffet prepared to do some heavy
carbo-loading.  I start with a piece of music that is a bit surprising, "Wonderful World."  The song opens with a melodic guitar and keyboard riff that floats like fog across a meadow early in the morning...then rough-edged vocals creep in and begin to define the irony of the song title.  Dark colors emerge on the canvas as the fog gives way to storm clouds and heavy rain.  Mechanical Man emits more top notes of Transatlantic and Spock's Beard on this cut, but I am definitely walking through the section of the prog garden framed with wrought iron fencing...

Making my way back, I find a morsel from an earlier album release called "White Out."  The tempo builds as smoothly as trust between warring nations--the BOOM comes at you full throttle and you are powerless to stop it or step out of the way.  The vocals on this piece cut more like glass than a dull knife and penetrate in deep swift thrusts.  Mechanical Man has a swagger that is a bit unusual for a group in its youth--but they back it up quite well.  Each member of the band is pushing the needle toward red as the song comes together like Hulk's fist to the cranium...you saw it coming and yet you feel pleasure in the pain.

Liner Notes...Mechanical Man has given me the opportunity to place a new push pin on my prog map; first visit to Moscow Russia.  I am assuming that even Vladimir Putin is a fan of this band, consisting of Alex Zefiridis on lead vocals, Serj Danilov on guitar, Alexander Lee on bass, Evgeny Komarov on keyboards, and Vitaly Ostrov behind the drum kit.  Mechanical Man formed in 2012 and released their first album in 2013.  Their complete resume now boasts two full length albums and a single EP.  Not bad for a quintet from behind the iron curtain...although I doubt that curtain is still hanging on the rod Stalin put up all those years ago...

My final serving for the week is an eerie piece that keeps you looking over your shoulder; a haunting tune called "Nightmare Master."  The song opens with a Liquid Tension Experiment feel; you know something is lurking behind the door--and as much as you want to see it--you aren't quite sure if you're ready.  Everything about this song is ominous; the canvas is dark and foreboding as the mood goes deeper into an abyss you thought was previously unoccupied.  Don't flick the lights on just yet however; Serj rides his guitar hard and fast and Evgeny follows him straight into the den of the beast followed by Alex, Vitaly, and Alexander as they wrest sanity from the jaws of utter madness. Mechanical Man leads you across the battlefield laid out from eardrum to eardrum and gets you safely to sanctuary...but oh the emotional war that was fought in between!

Mechanical Man is not afraid to get knee-deep in the marshy end of the prog garden; but at the end of the journey they drop you in neutral territory. Learn more about Mechanical Man at  http://mechanicalmanband.com/ and  https://soundcloud.com/mechanical-man-1.  You will find their music ready for purchase at iTunes and Googleplay as well as their website.  Of course in keeping with the times the band also has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mechanicalmanband so you never have to miss a beat.  Twitter will allow you to stay current with all their musings, rants, and whatnot, @mmband_official.

The clip below is taken from a live performance in Moscow of the song "Madhouse."  Assuming the "female voice of approval" that hits you as the song opens and carries throughout is just an overzealous fan, the sound quality is actually better than expected.  Mechanical Man commands a stage and can seemingly swim in the deep end of the pool.  C'mon and take a stroll through the dark section of the prog garden...

                

Once again fellow progheads we have reached the end of an extraordinary week. Mechanical Man did more than test the boundaries of the Concert Closet's GPS and  expand my search for all things prog, it proved that progressive music has no boundaries; the music is its own lifeblood.
Progressive rock-- be it metal, neo, classic, retro, alternative, ambient, or any other prefix someone cares to slap on on the genre--is fully capable of surviving on its own merits.  Mechanical Man is just confirmation of the obvious; progressive music continues to thrive the world over.

Of course to drive that point home I must continue the quest the Concert Closet has been on and further the search for all things prog...until next week...

Gekko Projekt

Welcome back to the closet fellow progheads!  Unusually warm weather we are having--but I am certainly not complaining!  Twelve days into January 2016 and the ground has yet to freeze in these parts, which means heating the Concert Closet has been quite economical thus far...I can deal with that...

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...

Falling Edge...Convergence at Fossil Falls

Welcome to 2016 fellow progheads!  Seems like forever ago when we last got together...and now that gifts have been opened, food and drink consumed, decorations packed away, the tree mulched...here we stand--seven days ahead of schedule--on the precipice of 2016.  Anxiously we stare into the abyss, holding our collective breath, anticipating the  bountiful harvest the prog garden will yield over the next twelve months.

My search for all things prog 2016 starts out almost where it began.  Loyal followers may recall I took the tangent road marked "All Things Prog" back in August 2013 and reviewed a prog  quartet called Falling Edge in November of that year.  I was quite impressed with the band's ability to forge their own style while paying homage to the standard bearers of the genre.  I am happy to report that in November 2015 Falling Edge released their second album, "Convergence at Fossil Falls." Seeing as how "the search for all things prog" has become my mantra and Falling Edge has withstood the tests of time, adversity, determination, and talent, I am opening 2016 with a review of said album as the Concert Closet heads due north to the friendly tundra known as Ontario, Canada...

The album opens with an intriguing number called "Minstrel in the Corner."  A melancholy opening painted with a dark brush, the mood slowly moves away from the edge of despair, clinging--albeit a bit loosely--to a settling of sorts, as if all is right with the world if this is all the world has to offer. The guitar work picks up and proceeds to tear through the center of the song like a chainsaw slicing a wedding cake.  Now that the floodgates are open, the drums carry the weight perfectly, highlighting keyboards that begin with a "Twilight Zonesque" darkness and ultimately accentuate a feeling of hope and excitement...yes it is good to be back!

Being a sucker for title cuts, I move a little further down the playlist, allowing the laser to spew forth the sounds of "Convergence at Fossil Falls."  The song opens dark and somber; true to the title. Keyboards begin their ascent across the top and slowly...deliberately...the light seeps through. Vocals pierce with a painful outcry as you feel the guitar effortlessly wrap itself around the entire piece trying to shield its innocence.  Falling Edge emits top notes of Jethro Tull and a vapor of early Genesis...music spills across the canvas like so much snow on a cabin tucked deep in a lost hollow.  A taste of The Strawbs coats the vocals like the molasses in Grandma's home made cookies. The music draws you in almost hypnotically; your emotions are numbed into a sense of calm foreboding until the end, when you realize the roller coaster ride dropped you on the other side of serenity.

Liner Notes...Falling Edge continues to be a conundrum.  Founded in 2004 in Chatham, Ontario and led by founding member Chris Rupert, Falling Edge follows the how-to manual written by Yes for going through personnel changes.  Players have left, returned, left again, come back again...and fortunately the music does not suffer.  The line-up responsible for "Convergence at Fossil Falls" is the aforementioned Chris Rupert on guitars, keyboards, and lead vocals, playing alongside Matt Broadbent on bass and vocals, Steve Kubica on keyboards, and Kevin Tetreault on drums, percussion, and vocals.  Andrea McColeman is credited for the dark keyboards on "Minstrel in the Corner."

In my previous review of the band I wrote that Falling Edge was a testament to fine craftsmanship and will be mentoring up-and-coming prog bands, and I still believe that.  "Convergence at Fossil Falls" is a statement album--this is a band that defies labeling by the masses, occupies its own acreage in the prog garden, continues to pay homage to the masters while redefining and growing the genre, and simply refuses to give up.  By blazing their own trail through the prog garden, Falling Edge cuts a path other bands can choose to follow or tangent off from to forge their own avenue. Yes, prog is alive, well, and so ready to change the 2016 landscape!

My final song for review from the album is a stronger, more direct-hit of a piece called "Dark Matter."  From the onset you feel up-ended by powerful guitar and keyboards.  The music strikes fast and grabs your frontal lobe as you are taken on a haunting ride through an emotional forest...and falling Edge knows all your hot buttons.  The light flashes you see are not only fear, dread, and trepidation; you are also given an adult dose of excitement and exhilaration.  Careful what you wish for...

The track posted below is another affecting piece called "The Sniper, the Piper, and Me."  As the song opens I feel as though I am in an old jazz lounge after hours...listening to Keith Jarrett or Thelonious Monk play to a crowd of one...and then the tension builds...and explodes.  Falling Edge paints you into a corner here and then proceeds to highlight the only path out...or is it just a thinly disguised ruse wrapped in Syd Barrett logic?  As goes the storyteller, so goes the story...listener beware...

Learn more about the ever-changing world of Falling Edge and purchase your copy of this captivating album in the medium of your choice at http://www.fallingedgemusic.com/.  You can also purchase "Convergence at Fossil Falls," their self titled debut album, or individual songs on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/falling-edge/id643889640.  For those who opt to delve deeper below the surface there is  Twitter @FallingEdgeband, Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Fallingedge/?ref=ts, Myspace https://myspace.com/fallingedge, and Reverbnation https://www.reverbnation.com/fallingedge.  Lots of links so as to eliminate  excuses for not checking out a sound worth listening to...

Well fellow progheads, the journey into 2016 has begun and what a ride it promises to be!  Falling Edge is nothing short of a brilliant lead-in as the search for all things prog continues on.  Surviving more than a decade on determination, talent, and the absolute refusal to fold the tent, Falling Edge continues to burn bright where so many others have faded. The prog garden is in dire need of bands with roots this strong.  While it feels great to be back at the search for all things prog, the emotional rush rises to a burning zeal to find more prog gems in the garden...until next week...