Music Machine
from Houston, Texas based Stride is a progressive instrumental
effort that is not easily pinned down to one particular style or
genre of music. There are elements of progressive, instrumental
rock, neoclassical, shred, and metal that are all present in
varying degrees at different points of the album, though the
neoclassical dimension seems to be the foundation of the sound.
But, despite that it is not easy to categorize the style of music
on Music Machine, it is
easy to qualify the quality of the music because these four guys
from Texas have put together an awesome collection of
instrumental tracks that cover a wide range of territory in
musical exposition. Though complex, the compositions are easy to
grasp, absorb, and relate. The arrangements are predominantly
theme-centric which gives them a stable center around which the
explosive soloing and leadwork is conducted. The motifs and
themes are highly accessible, as well as satisfyingly expressive
with strongly conveyed emotional content that has an epic feel to
it. The entire album has an epic, larger than life feel to it as
well, probably due to the colossal guitar work, intensive
instrumentalism, and relentless drive.
Though all instruments
contribute in a meaningful manner and at times excel each in
their own right, the music on this album is built primarily
around the virtuoso guitar work of GIT graduate, Joel Gregoire.
Gregoire's playing spans a wide range of technique with equal
emphasis put on articulated speed, and well-fealt melody lines
and themes. The diversity of guitar technique in Gregoire's style
is impressive. He is careful not to overdue his lethal speed,
keeping the compositions and his soloing well balanced in regard
to the dynamics of his playing speeds. This careful balancing of
techniques and their relative speeds causes Gregoire's blazing
speed to impact the listener with far greater effect when he does
apply his stifling fast runs, sweeps, and sequences. For
instance, out of the midst of some easily flowing sequences, he
unleashes bursts of furious speed that strike the entranced
listener like lashes from a whip that wake them from the hypnotic
themes and development sections. In other places, Gregoire
chooses to sustain the speed with overwhelming effect in sections
that just blister from the heat of the fury with which he
traverses the fretboard. And, to keep things interesting,
Gregoire goes outside with his harmonization in some of the
speedy runs and developmental sections, even imparting a touch of
Frank Gambale fusionistic chord phrasings in places.
Perhaps Gregoire's most
notable accomplishment on this album is that he is able to frame
his amazing guitar work into comprehensible, accessible
compositions with clearly stated musical vision, direction, and
emotional content. The purpose is clearly to construct meaningful
music and not to just go off on a venture into egotistic guitar
technique demonstration, as some technicians are apt to do. And,
it is this very focus on the creation of musical coherency with
his extraordinairy guitar mastery that makes Gregoire's guitar
heroism all the more impressive.
Fans of progressive music,
this is what it is all about... leading edge instrumental
excellence combined with complex structuring that has easily
tangible and satisfying musical content. On the scale of "into
it", I give this one two thumbs up and a "very
into it". This effort has carved out a niche with its
distinctive style that should appeal to fans of guitar-centric
progressive music. This album, Music Machine,
is highly recommended for fans of progressive and neoclassical.
| Players: |
|
|
| Joel Gregoire |
|
Guitars |
| Matt Kanzler |
|
Keyboards |
| Marcus Johnson |
|
Bass |
| Rick Flores |
|
Drums |
|
| Tracks: |
| 1) Borrowed Time |
| 2) Mental Floss |
| 3) Travesty |
| 4) Boogie Man |
| 5) Carousel |
| 6) Elevated |
| 7) Moonroof |
| 8) N. S. A. |
| 9) Laboratory |
| 10) Eargasm |
|
| ~ Christopher
Ruel ~ www.ChrisRuel.com ~ Chris@ChrisRuel.com ~ October 2003 |
