Musicians Corner
Maya are a group of Hungarian musicians who have put their debut album Fading Tomorrows together. The album is a well crafted slice of Prog opening with Tomorrow, a typical slice of today's prog with symphonic chords and surprisingly bluesy guitar from David Fecske, a very melodic and laid back start.Falling is a very melodic track with echoes of several of Tony Banks’ finest compositions but the resemblance is in the sounds not the composition as a whole which remains uniquely their own. Mirror reminds me of latter-day Yes, a very clean and well produced effort with some exquisite guitar and keyboard work whilst Earth & Sky features and impressive vocal performance from Zsuzsa Garda whose vocals throughout the album are truly remarkable. Her range is impressive and as there aren't that many female prog lead vocalists around this makes it even more refreshing. The guitar refrain half way through echoes The Musical Box before the track moves into something else entirely. Wake Up has a very dramatic opening with rhythmic guitar and keyboards which lay down an undercurrent of menace - plenty of time signature changes here for all you prog heads before the album closes with You And I a truly beautiful effort with keyboards and vocals in perfect harmony, simple but stunningly effective. I'm not sure how long the band hav been together but musically this is as polished a performance as I have ever heard and it augurs well for future efforts, I love it!
Maya: Fading Tomorrows
Oskar Records 1150 CD.
Well, here it is, the new album from Nad. In various conversations over the last eighteen months or so, Nad had alluded to the fact that this one was going to be “different” heavier and more personal. He wasn't exaggerating! What is evident from the opening track is that Nad has finally broken out of his shell and the man can rock with the best of “em! Secret Lover takes no prisoners, lyrically or musically, an angry rant against those who steal into your life like burglars and rifle your emotions leaving you emotionally and physically bereft. Driven along by a guitar riff that would make the likes of Aerosmith proud this one really grabs you by the scruff of the neck and shakes you. An excellent start.
That's Not Me is an acerbic examination of the relationship between Nad and his father. If you have read the refreshingly honest notes which accompany the album, you will realise that this was no easy relationship and this song is so raw it hurts! Monte Carlo Priceless is another pungently brittle reflection on the relationship between Nad’s parents and himself and it does not lend itself to easy listening and I can't imagine that it was easy for Nad writing it either. Don't let the acoustic simplicity of it fool you, this one is as complex as the relationships which form its subject. Flowerland, the story of how Nad met his partner Anders. A chance encounter which has led to a lifelong romance. Its message is simple: ignore the haters, life is what YOU make of it. Wildfire is underpinned by some meaty bass lines by Nad’s former Hackett bandmate, Nick Beggs an intriguing song - fame seen through the eyes of a stalker. Make Somebody Proud has some brilliant lyrical word plays in this tennis themed analogy for the relationship between Nad's parents and their son with some fierce guitar work from Nad and David Kollar. I'm Stepping Out. Self explanatory really an amazing affirmation of Nad Sylvan as a human being, big, bold, sassy and a joy to listen to. A jaunty, celebratory romp. Monumentata is a hard listen. Seldom have I ever heard such a plaintive excoriation of the relationship between a father and son. Nad pulls no punches here! The mood lightens somewhat with the final track; the bonus track on the CD version of the album - Unkillable - a statement a celebration, whatever you want to call it. You can't keep a good Sylvan down!
Albums by Nad are always a delight, the delicious twists and turns of music and lyrics take you down paths you might not have expected. Here the approach is much more direct and the honesty is astonishing - bravo Nad, a classic, I love it!
Nad Sylvan : Monumentata
InsideOut Music 198028 957212
Debut albums are always fascinating. They are both an indication of what a band/musician has achieved and a statement of intent as to what is to come in the future.
Zen Orchestra’s debut has been a long time in the making - ten years in fact and while not quite a Peter Gabriel gestation length it nonetheless is a long time in the making. Finally spurred into action by the untimely death of a band member, here we have the debut which also serves as a tribute to said band member. From the outset it is obvious that we are listening to a group of accomplished musicians, totally in command of their instruments and we get off to a fine start with Minds, which to my ears has an Asia-esque feel to it before it goes to another level entirely with some soaring keyboards and guitar work. For some reason the vocalist here reminds me of Curt Cobain but that's nothing to be sneezed at. Musically and vocally a strong opening.
Faces shows the face (pun intended) of New Prog - all synth runs and changing time signatures definitely taking vintage Genesis as their model here I think but only in terms of style, the music is uniquely their own. Time gives us a slow burning build up to a passionate and dramatic performance, Mark Barrett’s vocal is impressive and there are echoes of both Marillion and Yes throughout this one. Billionaires gets off with a rhythmic start underlaid by some sparse piano/synth leading to a full on Prog jam with time signature changes that should come with a health warning - don't try this at home folks! Circles is replete with mechanical staccato rhythms almost like morse code but with a symphonic and celebratory feel. Heartless is both dramatic and sombre with a classic Hammond organ sound which I love - ELP meets Genesis - love it! Coda does exactly what it says on the tin, a rip roaring Prog romp which will leave you breathless and exhilarated. The album may have been a long time coming but that time has been well spent as the end result is a marvellous slice of new Prog with its roots firmly in the soil of Prog history.
More please!
