Rickter Scale Show 179 - Matraz, White Willow, Natural Science, Jelly Jam

[Rick and Roll]

airing Sunday, May 18 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday, May 19 from 1-4 PM EST

Insanely busy this week (what else is new)...so I'll try to keep the info to a minimum. This week continues the spotlight on some of the fine CD's I picked up at Rosfest. There will be one or two more of these shows, which should take us to out Nearfest preview show(s).

Matraz - Gritare (2004)

Gritare
endenciom
REM
Sangre Derramada
Trazma
Condor
Sobreviviente

My good buddy Chris Lamka (Of Sound Mind) recommended this band. He's steered me to Amagrama (Argentina), Flor De Loto (Peru), Blezqui Zatsaz (Brazil), and several other great South American bands. Now it's time for Chile to get some love. This disc moves seamlessly from heavy prog to almost jazz. It's a tight record with a great female singer. To my knowledge, this is the only CD they have done - the guitarist I believe maintains the website through his other projects, but I have not had a chance to fully investigate. I've brought this in for Jim to listen to - I'm sure it would make a fine addition to the incredible Aural Moon library. Don't miss this, if just for the fact you can hear me butcher the song names!

White Willow - Sacrament (2000)

Anamnesis
Paper Moon
The Crucible
The Last Rose of Summer
Gnostalgia
The Reach

Moving on to Norway..Have seen White Willow at Nearfest, and with a modified lineup at Summers End in the UK, but had never bought a CD until now. Another female singer (coincidental being played with the Matrax CD). Very spare sound, and beautifully done - mixes the quiet moments nicely with the more aggressive ones. This one's already in the library.

Natural Science - This Side of Paradise (2004)

On My Own
Just Before Dawn
For Better Days
This Side of Paradise
Match Made Up...
Meltdown Marvin
May You Live In Interesting Times:
In Our Times
Soundbite Symphony
Men At Arms
Novska

And on to the Netherlands...I don't remember exactly where I heard of this band - maybe myspace, could have been anywhere - but it was well over a year ago. I'd forgotten about this until I saw it in the bin - took a flyer on it and and glad I did. Also up for Jim review...it's good progressive metal with a minimum of yelling and bombast. Clean, enjoyable music - especially the middle tunes.

The Jelly Jam - from the Jelly Jam 2 (2004)

Drop The Gun
Empty
She Was Alone

Again from 2004 (maybe I should have saved the White Willow and stuck with one year)...The Jelly Jam is Ty Tabor (King's X), Rod Morgenstein (Dregs), and John Myung (Dream Theater). I have the first Jelly Jam and it is a superior record (we've heard it all here about 6 months or so ago). This one is not as good, and certainly less prog, but has some nice moments. Here are three such moments. Each song displays a different sound - "Gun" is mostly instrumental, and builds through soundscapes to a full jam. "Empty" is heavy balls-out rock, and "Alone" is a jumpy rocker, full of the syncopation that Ty Tabor is known for writing.

Plenty more next week, thanks for listening!

[podakayne]

hope to catch the show ...looks like a keeper!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by podakayne

hope to catch the show ...looks like a keeper!

and I hope to catch you tonight...will be a bit late in shout, towards the end of Matraz...