Finneus Gauge - One Inch Of The Fall

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Train Records
Catalog Number: TR 79603
Format: CD
Total Time: 49:54:00

Finneus Gauge were one of the offshoots of the once defunct Echolyn, the path that Chris Buzby took. One Inch Of The Fall is their second release, which came out just last year. In some ways, the music is a continuation of Echolyn, but in many respects not.

Laura Martin handles lead vocals, and I'm of two minds about them, especially on the opener, "Open Up The Fog Lines." I like the tone of her voice, it's a light and lilting, and pleasant to listen to in that respect. Another one who bears some comparison to Annie Haslem? even though the music backing her up isn't progressive folk. I like the first part of "In A Different Hour" and for the most part of most tracks. But the approach on "Open Up?" doesn't work for me; the way her voice, and in fact, the backing voices of Chris and Jonn Buzby slide along the notes ? sound nasally, off-key? not the effect they were trying for I'm sure. Throughout there are vocal directions that seem off to me, but that Martin, as I said, has a nice tone, this doesn't take very much away from the disk.

But, otherwise, I quite like this album and musically, there is quite a bit going on. I discover something new through each listen. Though, production-wise, I'm hoping it's my stereo that makes it sound a little muddy; that it sounds similarly on two different sets of equipment (high and low end) suggests otherwise. The percussion is a bit lost in the mix, which is a shame as Jonn Buzby is really using the kit. You just have to listen a little more closely than expected.

If you let the disk play, you get a brief snippet of Buzby (I think) singing along with Billy Joel's "Piano Man" ? singing along as in, "I've got the headphones on and I'm singing aloud"? and not terrifically. Oh well, ? it is a bit of fun.

Tracklisting:
Open Up The Fog Lines (5:50) / In A Different Hour (6:21) / One Inch Of The Fall (7:45) / Blogee's Lament (6:36) / Unsinkable You (5:25) / State Of The Art (7:27) / Early Sun (5:25) / Golden Pretzel (6:25)

Musicians:
Christopher Buzby - keyboards and backing vocals
Jonn Buzby - drums and backing vocals
Chris Elke - bass guitar
Laura Martin - lead and backing vocals
Scott McGill - electric and acoustic guitars

Discography:
More Once More (1997)
One Inch Of The Fall (1999)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: June 24th 2000
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Hits: 2979
Language: english