by:
Keith Menser
This album is a concept project of renowned bassist Andy West, well
known by many for his past works which included holding the title as
original bassist for the Dixie Dreggs among countless others. And with
Rama he strikes back as a solo artist, but "Rama 1" is by no means the
typical soloist bassist recording and for that matter even typical. The
music is all extremely experimental focused into grooving abstract
instrumental pieces. With the exception of one vocal tune entitled "Old
Meat Frame", which features it's screaming distorted *vocals and deep
lyrics.
The cd features a massive line-up of star
players of todays scene including the following on drums we have Mike
Portney, Jonathan Mover and Rod Morgenstein. The Guitar work offerings
of Mike Keneally (also Keys, Synths & *Vocals), Toshi Iseda. Keyboards
are fingered by Jens Johansson, T Lavitz, Kit Watkins. And of course Mr.
West himself on Bass, Keyboards & Synths.
Andy locks down his bass lines tight in
every song and also uses different keyboard lines as well to create his
sound in mind. Again if your seeking the bombastic solo bass record this
may not be your thing, however what "Rama 1" offers is a musical
collaboration in every sense of the word. Conceiving various sounds,
styles and influences together with various talented musicians to make
RAMA.
Great progressive hard rock meets
instrumental fusion over shadowed at times by a heavy industrial
influence throughout the disc. Each and every musician on the project
shines out to fill "Ram 1" with distinct completion. The guitars hold so
many wild adventurous textures and dark technique to really make for a
different array, together with excellent 6 string soloing work. While
layers of various synths sounds, loops and solos take a front line
appearance to build the walls of atmosphere. Intense drum work to pull
it all together in a strong time changing, signature playing to the
point of solo section skin beating skills.
"Mad March" kicking right in a full groove
mix, with a heavy rock in' edge and cool collaboration to start this cd
off. Stepping into a more relaxed atmosphere centerpiece with
"Meetings", which trips into it's heavy fusion movements. It keeps you
moving with the songs changing tempos & meetings with wicked soloing. In
fact the entire cd hold tons of up-front soloing to cover the melodies
the songs would otherwise lack being instrumental cuts. The soloing
makes for walls of enriched sound landscaping. With the featured list of
musicians one would get the impression that this cd holds intense
musical ability and "Rama 1" delivers without question a unque listening
experience. You can count on a great deal of outstanding arrange-ments
throughout the 9 songs, a sound that mixes so many influences into one.
From happy tempos to very dark moments,
"Rama 1" stays more on the harder rock side of the progressive world.
But does kick off the hints of heavier styles especially in songs such
as "Bloomsday" and "Memento Mori" among others, where the doomy industry
fair. "Old Meat Frame" not only offers odd vocals, but a kicking' Rod
Morgenstein drum solo bridge section. "Resonate" offers a beautiful
piano solo to really make the song hold it's own. Loops and samples are
present throughout the entire work, but tastefully placed for the most
part to complete the aimed sound of mind Andy West was searching for in
"Rame 1". Overall a fine effort to say the least, a sound that just may
further infleunces of todays experiemental movement!!? The abstract
cover artwork of artist/ Bill Ellsworth raps this debut RAMA release in
perfect portion.
© 2003, BBHrdRpt
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