Perihelion – Hold

Perihelion _RingMasterReview

With their last album, Zeng, still luring keen attention since its release last October, the Debrecen hailing Perihelion now immerse ears and imagination in further emotively and atmospherically fuelled landscapes through a new EP. The four track proposal of Hold, the Hungarian for moon, provides three new ventures into the band’s striking fusion of post rock/metal and their haunting take on Sycamore Trees, a track from the soundtrack of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me originally sung by jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott. Together they captivate and lure the listener into shadowy avenues and epic landscapes of sound and emotion; provocative pastures seemingly expanding and becoming more enjoyably fascinating with every listen.

Formed in 2014, though apparently the band had been active well before then in a different guise, Perihelion released their first EP in 2014, Nap fele néz sopon followed by a self-titled album that same year. As mentioned, Zeng pushed the band towards greater awareness last year while revealing the increasing growth and boldness in the band’s sound and a maturity which has been honed even further within Hold.

The EP opens with the seriously thrilling Feneketlen and straight away keys warmly hug the senses. An initial melodic jangle stirs ears as provocative enterprise and suggestiveness courtesy of guitarists Gyula Vasvári and Krisztián Szabados equally wraps the listener in melodically and emotionally enthralling expression, their descriptive prowess matched by the former’s instantly impressing and rousing vocals. Melancholic and beautiful, atmospherically majestic and intimately plaintive, the track seduces ears and imagination with ease with the bass of Balázs Hubicska just as gripping while adding a dark contrast to the sonic elegance around it.

Cover _RingMasterReview Setting the pinnacle of the release straight away, the outstanding opener is followed by the equally dramatic and emotionally fired Szárnyakon. Its climate is far muggier than its predecessor and carrying volatility which infests everything from the tenacious and inventive rhythms of drummer Barna Katonka, through the poetic yet clamorous invention of the guitars, to Vasvári’s heart flamed vocals. Again ears and thoughts are quickly and eagerly involved, continuing to be so as the song evolves into the EP’s quieter title track. It is calm in voice and tone though it also has a simmering tempestuousness to it with escapes midway to challenge and equally excite the senses and appetite, even if the absorbing track does not quite ignite the passions to the heights of the first pair.

Sycamore Trees retains all the mystery and dark theatre of the original while bathing its crooning roar in thicker post rock atmospherics. It is a fine way to finish off the EP, the guitars replacing the brass bred jazziness of the soundtrack version with their own emotively empowered sonic imagination as Vasvári again vocally captivates.

Hold is one of those proposals which you fear might miss the depth of attention it deserves but it certainly be a big step in the breakthrough of Perihelion towards those intense spotlights. There is something different and special about the band’s sound which differs from most other post rock and post metal proposals; that is reason enough to give their EP a real go.

The Hold EP is released on CD and digitally May 20^th via Apathia Records @ https://apathiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/hold

https://www.facebook.com/perihelionofficial

Pete RingMaster 20/05/2016

Milton Star – Things Fall Apart

Jun15

Like for most a sound to riot too is a treat, music to change or ignite the day essential, but just as potent and thrilling are compositions which invite you immerse deeply into their depths so you can conjure your own emotional and visual experiences. Music to get truly lost in is the forte of UK duo Milton Star as evidenced by their previous two-song offering Salvation/ Storyville. Now the Scottish band returns with new single Things Fall Apart and arguably their most immersive and provocative embrace of sound yet. It is enveloping, it is sultry, and it is powerfully mesmeric; simply the track is a sinister fever of dark country romance to chill the bones and ignite the passions.

Milton Star consists of Alan Wyllie and Graeme Currie, two songwriters/musicians whose history together encompasses numerous projects and collaborations going back to the early days of post punk and most notably The Thursdays and Fast Records. The pair also understands the potency of fusing cinematic suggestiveness with atmospheric aural imagination, and indeed as evidenced by their singles how to achieve such fusions. Creating their music in a converted church in Fife which is also Wyllie’s home, Milton Star is the riveting equivalent of Nick Cave, Helldorado, and Mark Lanegan awash with the craft and vision of an Ennio Morricone and David Lynch, but with their own identity.

Straight away their new single has ears and thoughts engrossed, as a deep throaty tone resonates from within guitar, bass, and just the whole ambience of the piece. Things Fall Apart is an immediate seduction, its sombre gait and melancholic air a mesmeric croon on the senses reinforced by the grainy but vibrantly toned vocals. Whereas the band’s previous single had a slight mischievous essence, certainly to one of the songs, which reminded of Tombstone Three, this new proposition has an intimacy and drama which imposes itself on ears and appetite with more solemn intent. Its melodic prowess though brings smouldering warmth too, guitars and keys a haunting, at times almost regal caress inflamed with exotic hues that further enthral and spark the imagination.

The song is pure cinema, and pure aural temptation. Every listen increases its potency too, and from being a powerful successor to its stronger predecessor, Things Fall Apart has grown and evolved into the bands finest most pungent and thrilling incitement yet. Here is hoping an album is on the cards or at least a fuller adventure of an EP next.

Things Fall Apart is available from June 15^th via Stereogram Recordings @ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/things-fall-apart-single/id991360030

https://www.facebook.com/miltonstar http://www.miltonstarmusic.net/

RingMaster 15/06/2015

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Guano Padano: 2

Aug23

Like a soundtrack to a disturbed world drawn from the imagination of Sergio Leone, David Lynch, and Robert Rodriguez, 2 the glorious new album from Italian band Guano Padano, lights up every aspect of the body. The release awakens the senses, incites thoughts and imagination whilst using feet like a puppeteer with their contagious heated sounds and rhythms. The album is outstanding, a release which fits nowhere but has a feast of delights for all.

The new album follows the 2009 self titled debut album from Guano Padano which had a limited release in Italy. Released through Ipecac Recordings, 2 gives the band a needed and deserved wider canvas to recruit from and it is hard to imagine their following not increasing dramatically as the album reaches many more ears. The trio of guitarist/multi-string instrumentalist Alessandro Stefana, Danilo Gallo bass/piano/organ and Zeno De Rossi on drums, unleash a series of cinematic instrumentals which evoke individual moments and lives within this golden world which dazzle and transport thoughts to new yet familiar soundscapes. Musically the band combines the fine flavours distilled from jazz, bluegrass, surf rock, country, folk, rock and more, to conjure a smouldering journey with a spaghetti western film noir breath. To be honest it is wonderfully hard to explain but very easy to immerse within and enjoy to the full.

The album opens with the short Last Night, a piece of music which is emotively elegant but comes with a blistered background and increasing intensity as it moves into the waiting heat of Zebulon. The second track gallops into view with an eager swagger and shimmering spaghetti western melodics. You can feel the heat sliding off the atmosphere which wraps the music and visualise sceneries of sand and bristling activity. There is also a slight surf spice to the composition which wakens the taste buds for the full flavour a little further on within Gran Bazaar.

The track is stunning, a sultry presence within the ear and a seductive temptation for the senses. With guitars either picking at notes to find their limits before snapping or sending flames of sharp melodic passion through the air, the track is an insatiable infection offering a fluid feast of Middle Eastern promise and surf romance within its mesmeric world. It is a near wanton tease which no one can or would refuse.

The album as each track passes into the imagination, shows fully eclectic sounds and ideas, the likes of the slow pacing Gumbo with its pulsating jazz whispers and evocative melodic showers, the excitable hoe down Bellavista, and Miss Chan with its hypnotic oriental kiss, all offering new detours and experiences within the expansive journey. The last of the three starts off with a scratchy mesh of oriental radio voices and the plunking of traditional eastern strings before erupting into another sizzling fire of surf and Japanese sounds veined with acidic sonic guitar manipulations. As seemingly everywhere one is transported into an enveloping weave of picture telling emotion and sonic sights soundtracked by great provocative sounds.

2 is an album with every track leaving nothing but deep pleasure in their wake but as always personal tastes finds ones which stand out from the crowd and alongside Gran Bazaar there are two which ignite the fullest fires. Firstly there is Lynch, a track borne from the dark shadows and empty solitary street corners with just a lone jazz musician for a friend. The track has a film noir breath but behind it there is a sinister and almost unworldly pulse, a hungry discord waiting to misdirect the melodic enterprise. It is glorious, arguably the most powerful of all the tracks and one which lingers in the mind well past its expiring notes.

As with their first album, the band brought in the talents of others on 2 letting the craft of the likes of Marc Ribot (John Zorn, Tom Waits), Chris Speed, and Paul Niehaus (Lambchop) grace the release. The other great highlight of the album Prairie Fire, the only track with vocals. It also features a guest, the inimitable Mike Patton. The track is brilliant, a song with the wicked grin of the devil and the mischief of, well Mike Patton. It is slightly schizophrenic with more than an air of a Gotham City villain to the vocal character. It is a rock n roll contagion of the purest sin brought with a wholly unique and inventive majesty to have one dribbling lust. If this song does not take Guano Padano in the ears and minds of the world nothing will.

The album ends with a cover of the Santo & Johnny track Sleep Walk, a song which has had numerous versions made of it and it has to be said Guano Padano do not do anything to make it their own. Against the excellence before it is just a pleasant kiss goodnight from the album to be honest and the only time the album drops its levels.

2 is a vibrant dream and escape rolled into one stirring and immersive journey. It gives only pleasure whilst inspiring thoughts to create their own landscape and companions for the trip alongside your aural tour guide Guano Padano.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/GUANO-PADANO/128526000583127

RingMaster 23/08/2012