From: borella@cs.ucdavis.edu (Mike Borella)
Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive
Subject: Some reviews
Date: 11 Oct 1992 22:29:41 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Iconoclasta - La Rencarnacion de Maquiavelo
===========================================

This is the recent release from Mexico's premiere band.  However my first
question, after noting that the band is now ten years old, was, "Have they sold
out yet?"  Seems like all the best do eventually.  I'm happy to say that La
Rencarnacion de Maquiavelo is *not* musically compromising at all.  They may
have lost a bit of an edge over the years, but not enough to warrant any
complaints.  In fact, this release is very much in the same style of the rest
of their albums.  That is where I have a problem.  While Iconoclasta remains
one of the best instrumental ensembles recording today, their style is no
longer fresh.  When they released their debut in 1983, in was an innovative,
adventurous and unique departure from the dominant sound of the time.  In 1992
they sound largely the same.  While this is better than a commercial sell-out,
it is still stagnation.  But La Rencarnacion is a very good CD to add to your
collection and I recommend it, especially if you've heard and enjoyed earlier
Iconoclasta releases.  As for personnel, the band is now a four piece, with
former guitarist Ricardo Moreno taking the keyboard chores his sister Rita used
the handle.  While Ricardo is a very accomplished musician, he lacks Rita's
virtuousity.  Not to mention that it sounds like he's playing a casio on most
cuts (get a Moog, Ricardo!)  Bassist Nohemi D'Rubin performs spectacularly as
usual.  I'd vote her in as top female bassist anyday.  Her vocals grace the
only non-instrumental track on the CD.  The band is rounded out by guitarist
Ricardo Ortegon and drummer Victor Baldovinos.  Baldovinos is key in the jerky
time changes that makes this band so likeable.  While he falls back on
the double-bass more than he used to, he remains a quality percussionist.
Overall, I give it a thumbs up.  


Maxophone - Maxophone
=====================

Ah yes, yet another great Italian band.  The closest comparison that I can make
is with Locanda delle Fate, but that doesn't quite describe Maxophone.  While
Locanda was a full, rich seven piece that composed some of the most beautiful
multi-instrumental counterpoint I've ever heard, Maxophone uses a full, rich
complex approach with a heavy guitar and some occasional harshness.  Not only
do they layer complex harmonies with ease, the point that pleased me the most
when listening to this CD was the sudden, surprising changes of tempo and
style.  They switch from virtuouso classical piano melodies to mid twentieth
century jazz between measures.  Not only that, but with metalish guitar leads
in some tracks, they move to gospel style vocal overdubs in others.  This is a
feast for those of you who like the 70's Italian bands or contradicting mood
changes.  Unfortunately, the CD was mastered off a record and loses it's
excellent sound quality occasionally on the high-end parts.  But don't let that
stop you from enjoying this masterpiece.  Even at the import price, it is well
worth the money.  Highly recommended.


Eris Pluvia - Rings of Eartly Light
===================================

I bought this because of Alan Freeman's Audion review, not because of the corny
title ;-).  Again I'll have to disagree with Freeman's opinions.  While he is
often very accurate when describing re-releases and older material, he grades
the modern bands too easily.  While Italy's Eris Pluvia is a step above most
neo-progressive, it still isn't anything special.  It's nice.  Just nice.  Not
wonderful.  Nice.  Their influences are many but obvious: Reniassance,
ELPowell, and Minimum Vital, among others.  They are largely based around
acoustic guitar strumming and low-to-mid level rhythm complexity combined with
recorder, keys and guitar leads.  Another comparison that comes to mind is the
extremely obscure Fireballet (anybody else like them?)  The music is pretty,
the vocals pleasing but too straight ahead to keep my interest.  But they
aren't bad either.  Their combination of styles is unique, though every time
the sound changes I sit there thinking, "This sounds so much like...who?"
There's a familiar tune or feel around every musical corner they turn, but none
are concrete.  Unlike other Italian contemporaries such as Men of Lake and
Nuova Era, Eris Pluvia has a modern sound, but they lack the majesty of the
former and the technical prowess of the latter.  Worthwhile for those looking
for a melodic, mellow and even thoughtful CD to buy.  Otherwise, don't run out
looking for it.


Steve Roach - World's Edge
==========================

Upon recommendation of some friends and a few netters I picked up another Roach
CD.  So far I like this one the best of what I've heard from the LA based
electronic musician.  I have a feeling that in ten years Roach will get the
respect that pioneer Klaus Schulze does now.  Roach has taken the sound of
Schulze, mid-seventies Tangerine Dream and early-to-mid Ash Ra Tempel and
blended them with a large dose of originality and ethnic influences.  His style
includes lush multi-layered keyboards and sequencers topped off by aboriginal
and tribal percussion.  It works.  The end result is beautiful, peaceful music,
perfect to relax to.  I appreciate the way I can listen to the CD(s) several
times and every time hear something new.  There is a *lot* going on, though
some sounds are ominously low in the background and almost subliminal.  World's
Edge consists of two CDs in a single CD package.  Both are 60 minutes or more
in length (which sort of explains the extortionary price I got this for).  The
second CD is *one* track timing in at exactly 60 minutes.  However there is one
thing about this release that is a major pain in the ass (for me, at least).
Some of those low, ominous, almost subliminal sounds that I described earlier
hit at the natural frequency of the walls of my apartment.  This causes
everything to resonate like hell even at low volume!  I ended up having to turn
the bass bandwidths on my equalizer all the way down to avoid this.  Other than
that, I strongly applaud Roach's efforts.  You'll be hearing about this man in
years to come.


Mike Borella
borella@cs.ucdavis.edu