Eclectic Prog
Canada
The Canadian band Hamadryad has released what may be the best prog album of 2001 (the copyright date is 2000, but it was actually released in March of 2001) for their debut. This album has everything you could ask for in a prog album, and if you are listening to something that you aren't thrilled about, just wait a moment and the music will change to something new that you are thrilled about. The diversity of music on this CD is tremendous, while some underlying style still keeps it cohesive as an album.
Take for example the opening song ... well, after a 49-second tape loop noise intro ... "Amora Demonis" is a progressive metal song, though a section with psychedelic sitars gives some indication of what lies ahead. But if you stopped listening after the first song, you would have entirely the wrong impression of this band.
The next four cuts really flow together to form a suite, beginning with the 23-second "Carved in Rust", an a capella piece reminiscent of Gentle Giant or Echolyn. This fades into part 1 of "Still They Laugh", which I can only describe as psychedelic, perhaps a bit reminiscent of The Flower Kings. The next part, "The Second Round" starts off with some cool leslied Hammond organ, then gets into a section which alternates between metallic crunching guitars and more Echolyn madrigal vocals. The last part, "Still They Laugh Part 2" gets extremely psychedelic, with a hypnotic super-flanged ending that makes you say "wow, man, is the CD doing that or am I just really stoned?" Know what I mean?
Well, I could go on describing and raving about every piece on this CD. There are Canterburyish parts, great fretless bass playing, lots of spacey chorale Mellotron, and guitar solos that sound like Allan Holdsworth playing speed metal. There's even a cut "The Second Coming" which could be off of a decent Jon Anderson album with its folky guitar picking and vocal styling.
Well, enough of descriptions and comparisons. This is a great album, and I recommend it highly. I've enjoyed the other releases of Unicorn Records also (Spaced Out and Mystery), but this one is by far my favorite. -- Fred Trafton
ALBUMS:
2001 - CONSERVATION OF MASS
Musicians
- Denis Jalbert / 6 and 12 electric and acoustic guitars, back vocals
- Jocelyn Beaulieu / lead and back vocals, 6 strings, electric & classical guitars
- Jean-François Désilets / bass guitar, lead and back vocals, Taurus & Midi bass pedals
- Francis Doucet / C3 Hammond organ, mellotron, MiniMoog, Roland synthesizers
- Yves Jalbert / drums, percussion, back vocals
1. Eternal Loop (0:49)
2. Amora Demonis (6:58)
3. Carved In Rust (0:23)
4. Still They Laugh (2:22)
5. The Second Round (4:31)
6. Still They Laugh Pt. 2 (2:25)
7. Shades Of Blue (5:26)
8. Action ! (9:39)
9. Nameless (10:24)
10. The Second Coming (4:23)
11. Watercourse Hymn (10:10)
Total Time: 58:00
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2005 - SAFE IN CONFORMITY
Musicians
- Jean-François Désilets / lead vocals, six string electric bass, taurus moog pedals, midi pedals, twelves strings acoustic guitar
- Denis Jalbert / six string acoustic & electric guitars, backing vocals
- Francis Doucet / B3 & C3 Hammond organ Mellotrons, Minimoog, Roland synthetizers
- Yves Jalbert / drums & percussions, backing vocals
1. Anatomy of a Dream (5:51)
2. Sparks and Benign Magic (1:04)
3. Self made Men (7:42)
4. Gentle Landslide (0:39)
5. 24 (6:28)
6. Frail Purpose (3:11)
7. Sunburnt (5:12)
8. One Voice (3:30)
9. Polaroid Vendetta (6:41)
10. Alien Spheres (5:59)
11. Omnipresent Umbra (11:42)
Total Time: 57:59
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2010 - INTRUSION
Musicians
- Jean-Philippe Major / lead vocals
- Jean-François Désilets / bass, vocals
- Nick Turcotte / drums
- Denis Jalbert / guitars, vocals
- Sébastien Cloutier / keyboards, vocals
1. Funk-A-Trunk (8:55)
2. Pray to My God (11:15)
3. Lap of Love (6:34)
4. Sentenced (6:12)
5. Here and Now (6:52)
6. In My Country (5:30)
7. Torture Zone (5:37)
8. Lost (5:11)
9. Liar (5:33)
Total Time : 60:19
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