Outer Music Diary

AC/DC - Bon Video/Live ‘74-’79 (DVD)

A collection of live clips and videos from the Bon Scott reign of AC/DC. A lot of this is rather average quality, particularly the live clips and I recognize a few of these videos from the old MTV era. About par for the course really, but you generally know what you’re going to get from AC/DC, love em or leave em.

John Zorn/Electric Masada - Nancy Jazz Pulsations - France 2003 (DVD)

A very nice recording of Zorn’s band on stage, perfect quality both audio and video. I’m just getting my feet wet with Masada (electric or otherwise) who have a pretty imposing catalog. It was easy to be drawn in for me due to Marc Ribot’s Sharrock-ish guitar playing, he’s got a rough and technical style I find appealing. Lots of percussion work (Cyro Baptista here) highlights segments both composed and free. Before checking out Zorn’s work I was warned about his sax squealing, but I must have been listening to stuff outside of this until this DVD where I got to see it for myself. Kind of a wonderful cacophany, the segments like this are well-timed.

NeBeLNeST - ZePTO

A much better second listen, I was a bit underwhelmed my first go around. What I noticed more this time was the electronic experiments. I saw the band at Progday a few years ago and was intrigued by the keyboard player’s use of sequencers and electronic sounds, something that wasn’t as obvious from the debut record. There seems to be more integration of that this time around, particularly on the final track which juxtaposes the electronics with the rock segments to great effect. I found the second album a little more inside than the first, this one is definitely their most experimental work. While I’d like to see the musicians’ chops grow a little bit, the addition of the new guitarist helps bring a little credibility to the musical vocabulary, even if there might be something of a split personality here, it struck me that the pieces with the old guitar player were definitely more of the old sound.

October Equus - s/t

This title also improved a little upon second play, in fact playing this right after the NeBeLNeST wasn’t a bad time to compare and contrast because the bands are very similar in the types of dissonant, Crimson-influenced melodies used, while NeBeLNeST are clearly more forward looking and October Equus are more in the retro vein. Even the guitarist didn’t really bother me as much this time around. I may have said this last time around, but I do enjoy the retro-symph groups who try this very French, very angular progressive rock sound, even when they’re Spanish.

Hannibal – s/t. 1970. In that UK blues rock school of sax lead proto prog, similar to Diabolus, Aquila and Raw Material. Some nice guitar work too. Despite the lengthy tracks, there isn’t much in the way of song development. A good album, but not one of the stronger ones in the style.

Bigroup – Big Hammer. 1971. All instrumental psych rock album from England, very much in the genre the Italians are known for (Blue Phantom, Fourth Sensation, Underground Set, Psycheground). A few of the tracks have more thought and development than what’s expected. Flute a nice touch, but buried in the mix. 60s era organ and fuzzy guitar round out the sound. A genre, though, that has serious limitations.

Nebelnest – Zepto. 2006. Wasn’t sure what to expect here, as terms like “more noise quotient” and “their experimental side is being explored” had me a bit concerned. And there is that, and it’s definitely a detraction (pointless improvs; straining to be unique), but there’s plenty of the greatness that Nebelnest are known for: Aggressive bass work, insane guitar soloing, tension buildups with actual release. Their weakest album to date, but still an A-list group. Be interesting where they go from here.