AVANT GARDEN - MAELSTROM - 2001

And a very large and sounding WOW to this impressive album!!!
What words will fit such demonstration of brilliant powerful musical chain reaction? Take my word for it when I say no words will perfectly describe the amazing energy that Maelstrom is able to infuse in the incautious listener. What we have here is an overflowing experience, where no dead moments can be found, as the music continues in its high rotation ever staying in the verge of explosion.

As the instruments furiously interplay and the track swirls and changes in almost light velocity, I am recalled of the thickness of the heaviest King Crimson moments, the exquisite flute playing of Ian Anderson, Ozric Tentacles capacity to inflict adrenaline rhythms, Sax/Guitar duels borrowing the attitude of VDGG's Jackson, fusion and folk intrusions à la Azigza, and the list goes on for ever...
With only but a few calmer exceptions (like some parts of Oceania and Into the Maelstrom), the album almost seems to be picturing the energy released with the Big-Bang (just take the overwhelming Dragon Feed as an example).

The dynamics shown here, plus the players quality and the convincing music structures have completely hooked me and made me strongly believe that this is one of the best 2001 recordings...if not the absolute best!
Get Avant Garden and prepare for a sonic trip of controlled mayhem.
So to those who say Progressive Rock is fading away...wait till you get a load of this!
http://www.proggnosis.com


Don't be put off by the name. This is a high-energy album of fiery playing. An all-instrumental effort is what we have here from this California quartet's debut release. Five lengthy tracks, served up with some blistering guitar, sax and flute solos. While they "jam", they are in no way a "jam" band. There is a strong sense of melody present amongst all of the ripping. I'm hard pressed to say they sound like this or that, but if one were to make comparisons, one might say that they operate in the same area as Spaced Out sans the keyboards, although there is less of the fusion slant apparent. Maybe a less quirky version of Boud Deun, with sax and flute replacing the violin, would be a better starting point. I'm also reminded a little bit of later Kraan.

They kick the album off with a couple of stellar numbers, "Dragon Feed" and "Archemedes Tub". Both of these songs kick it into high gear right away showing that band has chops. The playing is tight and energetic all the way through both of these tracks.

They do take a breather here and there, like at the beginning of the third track "Oceania". Some nice rolling guitar and flute give way to a subtle intensity that builds up to a melodic guitar solo. The song finally breaks forth into mayhem and a nice guitar solo interspersed with sax flurries only to wind down into a nice percussive outro, featuring none other than Mr. Ambient himself, Steve Roach.

They close out the album with an 18-minute tune, "Path Of The Farwinds". This is another track that starts off with some nice guitar and flute interplay. Shades of Gong creep in with the addition of some glissando guitar work, though it soon breaks into the speedy breakneck pace that drives a lot of the album.

All in all, there is some great, tight playing, with enough variety to keep you interested for the duration of the disc's 60 or so minutes. I like it. ]
http://gnosis2000.net