Mixed by Fabio Trentini (produced i.a. the Guano Apes), the songs are presented in a magnificent sound which pushes, but still leaves some air to breathe.
As a pure instrumental album, freed of traditional song structures, there is no limit to creativity. Especially because of the guest musicians, it is not only an album for guitarists, but also for bassists, drummer or just people who are interested in extraordinary rock music.
American guitar heroes of progressive rock (Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Lukather, maybe a little bit Zappa or King Crimson) can superficially be used as comparison, though a (maybe European?) style of its own cannot be dismissed. It is always the song standing in the foreground, not the guitar solo. With brilliance and ease the various musical influences are realized – sometimes it is funny, sometimes melancholy, sometimes aggressive, and sometimes it simply rocks. Exotic and beautiful melodies give a personal touch to every song, and provide the soundtrack to every listener‟s personal mental cinema.
Intelligent twisted compositions like 'Timestamps', 'Pull It Out' or 'Spanish Race On A Devil's Highway ' tie a rhythmic knot in the brain, which is only dissolved after repeated listening, while songs like 'Deadman' or 'Red Room Nine' go straight off.
To attach notes to one another, and send fast guitar runs into the sky like rockets is one thing, but to create music with meaning and to share deep personal feelings is what really matters. When listening to a singer you can immediately observe how serious he is. In contrast, an instrumentalist always has to overcome the barrier „instrument‟ first to be able to open up to the listener. In atmospheric songs like „Alive‟ this obstacle is taken with ease and the song „Father‟ seems to come straight from the soul: it is a musical form of coping with the emotions you have to deal with after losing a loved one.
The journey is the reward – guitarist Hans Platz worked on this album for about 4 years.
The actual starting shot was the acceptance of New York bass legend T.M. Stevens to contribute the bass part for the song „Freak Sauna‟. Then it had to continue.
Without constrains to subordinate to a particular band style, Hans had all the time in the world to let his creativity run free and use the complete emotional spectrum. When in the end musicians like Wolfgang Haffner or Marco Minnemann played a part on the album, it was the accolade for Hans.
As musician, Hans has many years of studio and live experience with several bands. For some years now, he plays in the band Feuerschwanz„, with whom he was already able to celebrate chart successes. He had lessons, among others, at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and learned at seminars from musicians like the gypsy jazz guitarist Joscho Stephan, Peter Wölpl or the Swedish guitar wizard Mattias IA Eklundh, who also contributed a guest solo to the song „Deadman‟.
The guest musicians:
Wolfgang Haffner (drums)
One of the most famous jazz and funk drummers in Germany. Played and plays among others with Klaus Doldingers Passport, Metro, Nils Landgren, Till Brönner, Dominic Miller (Sting). Winner of the Echo Jazz and Culture Award Bavaria. His solo albums are very successful and he tours the whole world with them.
Marco Minnemann (drums)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Minnemann
One of the world‟s most sought-after rock drummers. In 2013 he toured with Joe Satriani, the Acristocrats and Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), on whose most recent album „The Raven That Refused to Sing' he also played the drums. In addition he did recordings and tours with Paul Gilbert, Kreator, Necrophagist, Adrian Belew, Nena, Udo Lindenberg, Mike Keneally, Gianna Nannini and many more.
In October 2010, he was invited as one of seven drummers, to audition for the band „Dream Theater‟, who searched for a successor for Mike Portnoy, who had left the band in September 2010. The bonus DVD of the 2011 published “A Dramatic Turn of Events” contains a film about the rehearsals and the audition.
Wolfram Kellner (drums)
Good friend and drummer from Nuremberg in the band „J.B.O.‟ from Erlangen.
Simon Michael (drums)
Drummer of the band ‚Subway to Sally„.
T.M. Stevens (bass)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._M._Stevens
Bass legend from New York. Amongst others, live and studio musician of James Brown, Joe Cocker, John McLaughlin, Tina Turner, Steve Vai, Cyndi Lauper, Little Steven und Billy Joel. He had been a permanent band member of the „Pretenders‟. A larger audience might know him due to his bass riff at the beginning of the song „Unchain My Heart‟ (Joe Cocker). His real breakthrough as a musician came due to James Brown. In 1985 he sang along „Living in America‟ and throughout the whole album „Gravity‟ T.M. Stevens‟ voice can be heard. As fusion musician he worked with Miles Davis, with whom he also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Pete Griffin (bass)
Bassist from Los Angeles. He played at ‚Zappa plays Zappa„, the project of Dweezi Zappa (Frank Zappas‟ son), with whom he also won a Grammy in 2008. In addition he played with Dethklok, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Danny Carey (Tool), Hanson, Frank Gambale, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Jean-Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson and many more.
Fabio Trentini (bass)
Producer et al. of the Guano Apes, H-Blockx, Sasha and Bass player et al. of H-Blockx, Sasha.
Mattias IA Eklundh (guitar)
In the guitarist scene a very well-known Swedish guitarist, known for his band „Freak Kitchen‟ and his participations at the „Jonas Hellborg-Trio‟ and „Art Metal‟, He published several solo albums under the name „Freak Guitar‟, which have been released at the Record Label of Steve Vai (Favored Nations).
http://www.hplatz.de - http://www.jesspr.de
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
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