|
GET IT WHILE IT'S COLD
Track list: Sea of Tranquility (5.15); Nemo (3.54); Ghost (5.24); Delete Home (3.12); Sun God (4.31); The Secret (5.37); Bravo (6.38).
Gazpacho are a four piece outfit from Norway, comprising Jan H. "O" (vocals), Jon A. Vilbo (guitars), Thomas Andersen (keyboards) and Roy Funner (bass).
Musically they have been compared to Marillion (in the Hogarth years), but while the music certainly has a similar blend of laid back vocals and subdued instrumentation, there is no way you would ever confuse the two.
This CD release is an updated version of an earlier demo that the band put together, and it is available at a very low price via the mp3 website...
'Sea of Tranquility' forms a strong starting track that really sets the tone for much of what is to follow with a vocal that is restful and almost hypnotic. While the music is pared back to the essential
ingredients, every note seems to count and make its mark with no over extravagance or waste.
There is a melancholic air to this piece, which has an almost slavic feel to it - emphasised by the moody harmonies that cut in during the later choruses. The scratched record effects that come into play in the latter part, I found to be a little distracting, but they take nothing away from the overall effect of the track.
Next up is 'Nemo' which gets underway with a piano intro played with a gentle acousitc guitar backing. The track slowly picks up pace as it progresses, and the keyboards are well placed throughout if a little
understated at times.
'Ghost' seems to have origins steeped in the sounds of the early 70's, but the track is given a modern indie treatment.
This mellow, slow moving track seems instantly familiar, and is a great success. Keyboards are predominantly piano based, and again the vocals give a dreamy feel to the piece, creating an ambience that seems to pull you in.
Once again strong use is made of vocal harmonies during 'Delete Home' which supplement the somewhat sparse musical melody, which is further buoyed up by imaginative use of percussion.
In 'Sun God' slow rhythms created by drums and keyboards weave intricate hazy patterns in what develops into another mellow atmospheric track. The use of string effects adds weight to the piece, but it's the
delicate vocal line that really carries the day here.
'The Secret' is possibly the most closely linked to progressive music, and curiously is the one track I really don't like...
Finally we come to 'Bravo'. Here, juxtaposed against harder electronic rhythms are soft vocals, a 70's sound and gentle piano work all creating a drifting quality to this number, and it's great to sit back,
close your eyes and lose yourself in this. Later in the track the music seems to take on a more folky Irish feel - a theme that has been done to death by too many bands of late - but even so the impact is
limited and works well in the context of the piece as a whole.
Overall I have been very impressed with what Gazpacho have managed to achieve here in seven short tracks.
The music shows a confidence and maturity that you cannot help but admire, and the simple straight forward approach to song writing pays off big time. Fans of British indie music are urged to go out and buy this without delay ... while I would encourage everyone else to head over to the band's website and check out the sound samples...
Simon 13th September 2002
Sound samples can be heard on the band's web site...
|
