Helmet Of Gnats - Helmet Of Gnats

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Ambient Records
Catalog Number: cd-004
Format: CD
Total Time: 52:52:00

Helmet Of Gnats is a four piece instrumental group and the classifications will stop there. Yes, they have Jazz, Fusion and Progressive elements to their music, but also understand this, they rock. An excellent sounding disc (recorded in Hybrid SACD), you hear everything very clearly, each instrument has its own space. The tracks all have strong melodic content, making this an interesting listen from start to finish.

Guitarist Chris Fox and keyboardist Matt Bocchino color the tracks with a variety of sounds and tones. A solid foundation laid down by bassist Wayne Zito and drummer Mark Conese keeps things anchored. A lot of rhythm sections are too busy, but Zito and Conese are tight and concise, with little sparks of trickery for you to feast on.

The songs constantly offer changing moods and tempos, and often contain very different feels within. The opening "Almost Babylon" has a percolating organ sound, and kicks the disc off with some hot playing. A King Crimson influence runs through "Chinese Leftovers" with Fox and Bocchino's interweaving lines. "Yesterday's Brain" shows off some tricky timing early, then a very cool keyboard part at 2:27 with a great jumpy rhythm. The keyboards take off into a moog solo, followed by a bass and guitar hook up for a few bars. This is the interplay that makes the music so much fun to listen to and pick apart. The song also introduces us to a more atmospheric side (also found in the track "Lesser Beings") to the band's music. Fox shows off some bluesy licks, and great sustain/feedback control in "Crumbs." It evolves from a slow blues into a keyboard and guitar duel that would be right in place with all the great 70's fusion bands. The closing "Chimps In Space" will leave no doubt in your mind over its 13 plus minutes that these guys have the chops to play anything they want. Thankfully they focus on the writing as much as the playing, so crank it up.

Tracklisting:
Almost Babylon (8:25) / Chinese Leftovers (7:57) / Yesterday's Brain (7:47) / Crumbs (5:54) / Lesser Beings (3:33) / Misfit Toys (6:09) / Chimps In Space (13:05)

Musicians:
Chris Fox - electric & acoustic guitars
Matt Bocchino - acoustic & electric keyboards
Wayne Zito - electric fretted & fretless basses
Mark Conese - drums & percussion

Discography:
A Helmet Of Gnats (1996)
Helmet Of Gnats (2004)

Genre: Various Genres

Origin US

Added: February 2nd 2007
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Artist website: www.helmetofgnats.com
Hits: 3676
Language: english