Retro prog
Latest release: Creation of the Humanoids (2014)
---UMR notes
Creation of the Humanoids (2014)
10 years after their debut, Boston's Eccentric Orbit returns with another fine retro prog effort. All instrumental, the group goes through lengthy and complex tracks that never sit still too long. Great analog instrumentation such as woody bass, Mini-Moog, (faux) Mellotron, and violin make for a very pleasant listen throughout. There's no guitar but the guitar synth gives us a facsimile of the sound. About the only thing holding this back from the higher echelons is that it's not very - umm - eccentric. Rather this is a well studied release. Nothing meanders and each space has a purpose. It's not the reckless abandon of amateurs that propels the all-time greats. This is prog rock made by prog rock fans. If I were to create a progressive rock album, it would probably come out something like this (though not near as accomplished). It's difficult to be uniquely creative this far along in the process. But if you love progressive rock from the 1970s, this is an album you're going to want to hear and likely own.
Attack of the Martians (2004)
A long time ago, I reviewed a then new album by the Israeli group Trespass for Gnosis. The review basically states that if you like keyboard trio proggy prog circa 1972, then you must own Morning Lights. Well... same deal here. Maybe less similar to the Dutch group Trace and more like the Japanese virtuoso Motoi Sakuraba, but this still delivers the goods all day and all night. With some added and varied instrumentation, these guys could create that extra dimension similar to how Pochakaite Malko did on Laya. Special recognition to bassist Bill Noland, who likes to rip out some fuzz bass from time to time. Fuzz bass + mellotron = me like. Opener and closer are the definite highlights, as the aggressiveness plays well for Eccentric Orbit. This album drew almost straight 10s from the Gnosis rat pack (of which I'm part of), and I'm guessing that’s more a reflection of the nothing new assessment. But I tend to be generous to these kind of musical cheeseburgers and grade it a point higher. Big League stuff from the next iteration of Pye Fyte, itself a much neglected late 90s winner.
2006; 11/2/14 (new entry); 9/10/23
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