Reviews roundup – Allen/Olzon ~ Chris Haskett ~ Chardeau ~ Black Cat Bones ~ Christopher Esse ~ Kern Pratt
ALLEN/OLZEN
Worlds Apart
Frontiers
They managed to keep this one quiet for nigh on a year but the latest project album from Frontiers features Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) who has form with this sort of thing and vocalist Anette Olzon (The Dark Element / ex Nightwish).
The songs are from Magnus Karlsson who, to my ears, has been well off the boil since the first Freefall album. But he seems to have pulled some special songs out of the hat for this one. As you would expect it’s firmly in the world of symphonic meets power metal with more than a hint of trying to get some of that Ayreon / Avantasia market. And it should because it’s a very strong release.
Of course, in the world of modern recording there’s no need for musicians to ever actually meet. Which is a shame but we’re dealing with professionals here so although they may have been thousands of miles apart there is still a cohesiveness to the material that has been mixed so you can’t see the joins. It’s not actually an album of duets as both vocalists get a couple of solo turns to display their wares. But it’s when they do actually combine that it all works best. So it’s a shame that the record starts with an Allen solo turn. But once they get the harmonies and dual vocals chapping it’s a treat.
Karlsson throws some excellent guitar work into the package and along with the impressive songs this is definitely worth hearing. It’s just a shame that like so many project albums that no-one will ever get the chance to experience them live. Best of the bunch for me were ‘I’ll Never Leave You’ and ‘No Sign Of Life’, songs worthy of a large audience. Buy and enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/anetteolzonofficial / https://www.facebook.com/SirRussellAllen
CHRIS HASKETT
Insufficient Necessities
Den City
I’ve actually seen Chris Haskett live. Not that I could pick him out a lineup as it was a Rollins Band gig and I had done a shitload of things that you needn’t bother yourself with.
Since then he’s kept busy with more low key collaborations although I suppose popping up on the ‘If I’m Dreaming My Life’ track on the David Bowie “hours” album doesn’t really count as low key.
But, despite the western swing artwork, on his own he seems to want to be Jeff Beck around about 1976. Or at the very least Max Middleton. Because he’s mining that jazz meets funk meets fusion thing that serious musicians really, really like. And the rest of us can admire without ever bursting out into bouts of idiot dancing.
There is no doubt that he is an extremely talented musician and I enjoyed this four track EP with ‘Ivy City’ containing my favourite guitar parts and ‘Hoof-Deee!’ my favourite melody lines. Will it replace my beloved copy of “This Way Upp”? I wouldn’t think so but if that 70s vibe puts you in a groovin’ mood, then dance your troubles away and give it a listen.
Video note “Of all the instrumental guitar rock psychedelic videos I’ve made that feature painting a live eel, I reckon this is one of the better ones. No drugs were harmed in the making of this film.”
CHARDEAU
In Terra Cognita? The Music Of The Rock Opera “Magical Musical Man”
L Records
It’s rock opera time!
So what’s it all about then? Well, deep breath; “When his on board computer fails Magical Musical Man learns that he will crash on a planet reportedly inhabited by Degenerates, called Earth. In a panic he sees only one salvation: calling God the great alchemist-creator of the universe to his rescue. Thus appears God but He has no memory of the human kind. He only remembers a quarrel between the first couple of humans about an apple… So God agrees to accompany Magical Musical Man to Earth to find out what happened to human kind!”
Of course it is and with added Kalinka and some rather well known names from the world of prog and beyond. That would be Brian Auger, Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Danny Seraphine & Jason Scheff (Chicago), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Mark Andes (Spirit), John McFee (Doobie Brothers), Michael Sadler (Saga) and my homeboy Alex Ligertwood (Santana) amongst others.
Jean-Jacques Chardeau has been at this for a long time now but regards this as his Mona Lisa so he must have been well chuffed when it was staged in November 2019 with the help of Alan Simon, someone who is no stranger to these pages. The songs themselves take you on a journey around the world with appropriate musical motifs popping up, hence the Kalinka in ‘Dream In Moscow’. Without the benefit of the visuals it’s impossible to say how this works on stage which is what it was designed for but if you like orchestrated progressive rock then you’re going to enjoy this.
However, I would point out that because of the diversity of music on offer I didn’t really get to grip with the concept but some of the tunes are just delightful with the Michael Sadler enhanced ”The Last Rockaway’ a real treat as was the patented Martin Barre guitar work on ‘Farewell Lhassa’. But as an album of world spanning prog it works a treat.
https://www.chardeau-officiel.com/en-itc
BLACK CAT BONES
Tattered & Torn
independent
Calm doon, it’s no a long lost release from the pre Free outfit.
This Black Cat Bones were formed in 2004 with vocalist Charles Pitts and bassist Jeff Daniels still in situ. The former also writes and co-write most of the tunes.
They’ve put out a few records over the years since their live debut “Firecracker” back in 2006 and this is their latest offering of hard edged blues/rock. They cite the likes of Johnny Winter, Savoy Brown and ZZ Top as influences and it’s easy to hear. They’re fond of hard riff and some boogie. Something that will engender no complaints in this parish.
The guitars of Richard Rivera and Gary David are actually the best part of the record regardless of whether they’re fired up or slowed down. Some of the solos are an absolute delight. Obviously I like it when they get down and dirty on the boogie like ‘Dead Broke Blues’ and it’s ilk but they also throw in a few slow, soulful blues as well. I must admit I’m not the biggest fan of the vocals but it’s sort of his band so what can you do. But he can carry a tune, I just wanted a wee bit more grit.
But if you’re in the market for a hard driving bar blues band performing all original material then feel free to check them out.
https://www.facebook.com/blackcatbonestucson/
CHRISTOPHER ESSE
Resonance Part 2: Digital Rain
independent
“I fear we are steadily losing the power of free will. Think about it. Are the choices we make really our own? Who decides what news we see on Facebook, what we watch next on Netflix or YouTube, what we buy on Amazon?” Hear, hear! Which is why I deleted my personal Facebook page and cancelled my Netflix account. Although I’ll probably succumb once the new series of the Last Kingdom airs. But Mr Esse is right about a lot of things.
This is the second part of a quadrilogy but don’t worry, if like me, you missed out on part one. The themes are broad enough so that you’re not missing out on an important story arc by arriving here. It’s basically keyboard driven modern prog rock with Mr Esse taking care of the keys and the vocals as well as writing all the music.
I’m glad he’s got a band backing him, though, as real guitars and solos make all the difference in lifting something from a bedroom project into the realm of a proper album. As a bit of background the first album was a commentary on the inherent flaws of the US capitalist system and offers a possible way to transcend them. This second part addresses the toxic flood of information that drowns out rational thoughts and actions. Again, you can’t argue with that.
Musically, it touches on later Pink Floyd and even on into the world of Steven Wilson. It’s an ambitious conceit and one to be admired.
KERN PRATT
Greenville, MS…what about you?
Endless Blues Records
Is it really five years since I last heard a Kern Pratt record? It’s been a long, shite haul since then, let me tell you.
That album (“Broken Chains”) had a tune called ‘Greenville Mississippi Blues’ and he’s obviously so proud of his home town that this time around he’s named the album after it. Either that or it’s so bad he had no choice but to sing the blues. I’m half Leith / half Breich so I’ve lived the blues.
It’s mainly covers with seven of the ten tracks coming from other writers but he’s not picking from the Great Blues Covers Book. Instead he’s cherry picked songs I certainly haven’t heard before, bar the closing Bobby Rush tune ‘Chicken Heads’. He’s an excellent guitarist and singer but knows what’s needed to lift a song up. Hence the guest slide guitar on ‘Loving That Feeling’ and the organ on ‘Hard Working Man’. And if you’re looking for a slow blues to end your days to then ‘Baby’s Got Another Lover’ should be enough to push you over the edge.
Of his own songs, the smouldering ‘Torn Between Love and Hate’ is the best while the closing ‘Chicken Heads’ with additional guitar from Jeff Jensen reminds me of why I loved blues rock since I was a callow 13 year old being groomed by the auld fella in the Oldies Museum. A cracking album.
https://endlessblues.com/artists/kern-pratt/
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The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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