Wild Mountain Mystics – Fire & Honey

Wild Mountain Mystics – Fire & Honey

Blackbird – SED197020

California duo Wild Mountain Mystics comprised of vocalists/multi-instrumentalists Rick Deering and Lisa Miller continue to help define what Americana is all about. “Fire & Honey” is a wonderful blend of Asbury Park folk, red dirt country, Appalachian bluegrass, and even a bit of early rock and roll. The title track kicks things off with a comforting up-tempo groove graced with lush harmonies. “If You Can Bluff” transports you to an old school smoky honky-tonk with sawdust on a fight brewing at the poker table. “Just Lay It Down” is trippy folk at its finest, twisting both pop hooks and ear-opening musicianship. Laced with their home-spun lyrics, excellent music abilities and enthralling vocals make for a wonderful ride here. -MW

https://wildmountainmystics.com

Tu-Ner – Rendezvous Rodeo

Tu-Ner – Rendezvous Rodeo

7D Media – B0H2K86Y5B

Calling the third CD by this prog project brilliant falls a bit short. Recorded live, the trio of King Crimson alumni Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn, and Stickman guitar wizard Markus Reuter unleash a masterful mosaic of e-imagined King Crimson “covers” from both the early era and when Gunn and Mastelotto were in the band, along with a few originals. I put “covers” in quotation marks as you shouldn’t expect tribute-band versions of the songs, but KC fans do not despair. They tribute the essence of the classics but use their own prodigious talents to make them highly enjoyable. Even though it is near the end of the disc, try “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part 4” first if you doubt me. “The ConstruKCtion of Light” from the Fripp/Belew/Gunn/Mastelotto line-up of KC has a mesmerizing groove laced throughout with stunning musicianship. An original from this trio “The Mechanical Bride Wore Static” takes more twists and turns then a mountain pass road, revealing beautifully intricate passages around each bend. These three are obvious musical geniuses who are very adept at weaving their amazing talents together so that you can experience their abilities both individually and collectively, thus making this a progressive rock lover’s delight. – MW

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John Palumbo – R U Science

John Palumbo – R U Science

Iconoclassic – B0GQ545YNT

“Here they come, here they come, their coming for me.” The first lines of the song “Iceman” from Crack The Sky vocalist John Palumbo’s latest solo effort “R U Science” gives you a microcosm of what to expect on this album. John pulls no punches about his passion for the troubling things happening these days. “For Dear Life” boils a lot of his feelings down succinctly, powered by an intoxicating prog groove. John tackles issues including AI, religious fanaticism, propaganda, war and other subjects dear to his heat. While the subject matter is an obvious focal point, John and his cohorts also make it very accessible. There is excellent musicianship throughout, some very similar to what he has done with Crack The Sky. but with other elements of styling as well. There is obvious attention paid to interesting song structuring and John’s gritty Bowie-esque voice carries the messages with wonderful aplomb. It is not cliché that this is an important album in these times, and of course not everyone will like it because of what he is saying. However we all know we have to keep fighting and he is doing that so if this music reaches even a few people who may have previously not agreed with the subject matter, that is a victory and reason to be hopeful.  – MW

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Blind Revolution – Far From The Sun

Blind Revolution – Far From The Sun

Deko Entertainment – SKU: 784668899229

Something is cooking at high temperatures in Italy and it is not pizza or Mount Vesuvius. Six years after releasing their debut album, Italian/Sicilian rockers Blind Revolution unleash their sophomore effort with volcanic power here. If you will excuse what some of you may label as hyperbole with the prior statement, listen to the lead/title track and I defy you to not be blown away! Intense rock with fabulous musicianship and soaring vocal work with prog sensibilities similar to Dream Theater’s early work. “The Gang” shows they are also comfortable creating more hook-heavy songs, feeling a bit like Journey with a deeper potency. “Break Free” has that sort of European pop-metal vibe with a comforting yet full-throttle vibe. The lyrics (yes, in English) are also thought provoking and even deep at some points but not pretentious, enticing the listener to absorb the stories or meanings. Plain and simple, these guys are extremely talented and obviously love to rock. If they would come to the states, I would love to hear how this music translates live, and it deserves to be heard far beyond the center of the Mediterranean.  -MW

https://www.dekoentertainment.com/inthesquare/blind-revolution

Rob Bonfiglio – The Over Under

Rob Bonfiglio – The Over Under

Rob Bonfiglio, originally known for membership in Wanderlust and touring with Brian Wilson and others, has long established his credibility as a prolific songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. “The Over Under” is his eighth solo album and it is very apparent he still has a deep pool of creative talents to pull from. No matter the subjects of the lyrics, the songs just have a feel-good vibe, with catchy hooks and ear friendly grooves that showcase his talents without being pretentious. His subtle use of various influences is also prominent. “Monsters” for example feels like the British Invasion landing in Seattle in the 90’s with a wondrous melding of grit and pop sensibilities. “More Power Then Gold” feels like it could fit on rock radio in any decade from the 70’s through the 2000’s, with an undeniable potency but hooky retro groove. Rob is also adept at ballads, with mosaics of soulful folk to Americana twang to jazzy crooner, prevalent in songs like “Fade Away” and “Like A Drug.” Playing all the instruments, handling all vocals and then gracing the songs with thought provoking lyrics, this CD is a great microcosm for anyone who has not yet experienced Rob’s pure talent. – MW

https://www.robbonfiglio.com

John Masino – To The Stars And Back

John Masino – To The Stars And Back 

You can talk about the Midwest work ethic. You can talk about a musician not slowing down. You can talk about John Masino in both of those cliches, but they are not cliche with him – rather they are a driving force that keeps him busy recording and performing excellent original music. The latest effort from the Wisconsin native once again features John performing all the instruments and vocals, showcasing his deep well of talents as he also produced the CD. This one also feels more personal as he dedicates it to the memory of his mother as well as musician friends who have passed. While talented in all aspects of music, John’s guitar work has always been his focal point, and he certainly does not disappoint in that aspect here. He kicks off the CD with “Antisolar Point,” a bit of a funky groove morphing into a Satriani-esqe vibe. “Playing All Night” and “Baby Don’t You Worry” features a complimentary punch of lyrics and mind-stretching guitar riffs ranging from bluesy to hard rocking. And speaking of rocking, wait until “Synthetic Tilt” tears your head off with its wicked but still subtle hooky power. The ethereal vibe of “Down To Earth” features intricate passages woven into a wonderful mosaic graced with some of John’s more emotive and powerful vocal work. “If I’m Never Gonna See You Again” has a radio-friendly pulse intertwined masterfully with gritty power. This CD seems very personal to John, and he has obviously reached into the deep realms of his songwriting and musicianship pool to produce a CD where the word “excellence” seems not quite adequate. – MW  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482012095286377

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Rick Wakeman – Melancholia

Rick Wakeman – Melancholia

Madfish – B0FP5D7QDX

Maybe there are a lot of people who don’t think they could listen to an entire CD of nothing but solo piano work. This CD will destroy that preconception, although when the master at the 88 keys is someone named Rick Wakeman you can understand why. No, you will not hear solo piano versions of Yes tunes here, but what you will hear is an absolute piano maestro showcasing another section of his many talents that he often did not have a chance to in the confines of a band. Yes, he has done solo keyboard albums before, but this one just seems more personal and, in many ways, more beautiful in its talent-infused simplicity, And just because it is all piano work don’t think for a minute that it all sounds the same. On the contrary, there is extraordinary depth to the variances – sometimes subtle, sometimes prominent and sometimes within the same composition. Even the most mellow of the tracks here will entrap you with the intricacies and the wondrous flow that will both sooth and entice your soul. This is not something, of course, that you will rock out to, but it is absolutely a great way to relax and appreciate the stunning musicianship of one of the greatest keyboardists in history, I can picture Beethoven in heaven listening to this with his eyes closed, nodding in approval. – MW https://www.rwcc.com/notices/melancholia.php

The Far West – Everything We Thought We Wanted

The Far West – Everything We Thought We Wanted

Blackbird – SED105216

The tapes and equipment for this recording were almost lost in one of the devastating L.A. area wildfires a couple years ago. They survived though and it is not hyperbole to say that this music is scorching! The third CD from this alt-country/Americana rock outfit grabs you right off the bat with the snarling intensity of “See For Yourself,” and continues to get its hooks into you throughout the dozen tracks. Folksy songs like the western tinged ballad “These Lies”, smokey ballad “A Soft Place to Land” are interspersed with the eerie blues vibe of “Hope I Don’t Bleed” and the snappy hook-driven “Happy Now.” “Meet Me Where We Parted Last” is like the Stones meet John Hiatt for a few beers and a good jam session. The lyrics have humor and heartbreak sprinkled into homespun tales laden with introspective, and the nasal anti-croon of vocalist/bassist Robert Black is the perfect vehicle for them. The talents of this band are always at the forefront and there is no reason why they can’t be widely popular with fans of multiple genres springing from the Americana tree.  https://www.thefarwestofficial.com/

Dave Bainbridge – On the Edge (of what could be)

Dave Bainbridge – On the Edge (of what could be)

Open Sky UK –  ‎B0DWPJ627Y

Don’t call this progressive rock…because it goes far beyond that pigeon-hole. Master composer, guitarist and keyboardist Dave Bainbridge, brainchild behind UK’s Iona, has created a whole new musical realm with this, his 5th solo record. Yes there are prog rock elements in it, but there are almost too many other subtle genres to name, and it all meshes wonderfully together, creating songs that draw you in and keep you intrigued throughout this double CD. The musicianship is beyond stunning throughout, and if I wanted to get liberal with describing the song structures, maybe if you threw Alan Holdsworth, Keith Emerson and Mozart and Loreena McKennitt in a room with a plethora of instruments, you could have something like this. You may hear a classical passage graced with a Celtic choir one moment and then some full throttle guitar shredding the next. It would be too cliche to keep pace with what is going on here in the simple words of a CD review. And even though it may also sound cliche, this is absolutely something you just need to experience on your own – to feel music created with pure passion, talents and a beyond open-minded approach to song crafting.  

https://www.davebainbridgemusic.com/

John Surge & the Haymakers – Maybe You Don’t Know Me

Trouble Doll Music – SED165326

If you don’t know John Surge, then you should. Hailing from L.A. but recording this five song EP in Texas, John shows he can comfortably fit in the middle of the modern, classic and American country realms, and carve out a signature sound that is both catchy and edgy. The quasi-title track kicks in a smoky honky-tonk vibe with power rhythms, tried-and-true country music embellishments, and home-spun but emotive vocal work. “Barstool” is just a feel-good song – a two-stepper with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. He also spins a fantastic cover of the John Stewart nugget “Gold.” But the four original songs are the stars here, with John proving you can use country roots from several eras and still make it sound fresh. – MW  https://johnsurge.com/home