Exposé Online

25 Years of Synergy —
The Larry Fast Interview

In 1975, Larry Fast, under the name of Synergy, released Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra, and jumped immediately to the forefront of electronic music. The album's title was a bit misleading, since the music consisted almost entirely of Moog synthesizers, not a rock band (or orchestra), but turned out to be a milestone. The Synergy albums that followed set the standards for electronic music throughout the 70s and 80s. In between his own projects, Fast found the time to record and tour with Peter Gabriel and many other artists. He has also stayed at the forefront of advancing technology, from new instruments to MIDI and digital watermarking.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

A Bass of Many Colors —
The Tony Levin Interview

For more than two decades, Tony Levin has been one of the most sought-after bassists in the world, both within the progressive genre and elsewhere. His work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel is enough to assure him a place in musical history, but there is so much more, from session work on pop albums to small-profile jazz projects. His résumé fills many pages, and even he can't remember every album he's played on.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis, Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Everywhere but a Cruise Ship —
The Jesse Gress Interview

Jesse Gress is the newcomer in the Tony Levin Band, lacking the twenty-year history the others have together, but he is the perfect addition to the group. His encyclopedic knowledge of music, great technical facility on guitar, and keen ear make it impossible to tell he is the new kid. As Tony mentioned, he's played with Todd Rundgren and is an editor for Guitar Player magazine. He's also got a book coming out called The Guitar Cookbook.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

From Caves to Concert Halls —
The Jerry Marotta Interview

Like Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta has long been a sought-after studio musician. His muscular drumming, which gave life to Peter Gabriel's second through fourth albums, has performed the same magic for many other artists.  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

West Coast Progressions —
The Scott Brazieal Interview (Circa July 1995)

Editor's note: It's mid-1995 and keyboardist/composer Brazieal (ex of Cartoon and PFS) had just returned from a trip to Europe touring with 5uu's. This interview was intended to be quoted within a larger feature piece on Cartoon and PFS that ended up taking us seven years to complete, and in the end was very different than we originally envisioned it. The feature (which appeared in issue #22) ended up concentrating strictly on the music, and as a companion piece we ran a current interview with Scott's bandmate, drummer/percussionist Gary Parra. As a result, none of this interview with Brazieal was ever used in part or whole. Here it appears exactly as transcribed, warts and all. While it is seven years old and certainly not current, it does offer another perspective and is a working snapshot of his activities at that point in time.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Elton Dean / Mark Sanders / Roberto Bellatalla - Into the Nierika

Into the Nierika is saxophonist Elton Dean's first trio album with drummer Mark Sanders and Italian bassist Roberto Bellatalla. Sanders has a resumé which extends from his work...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Aka Moon - Invisible Sun

Invisible Sun is the tenth release by Aka Moon whose name derives from the band members’ experience with the Aka pygmies of central Africa. Invisible Sun is a part of Aka...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2001-07-01)

Apogee - On the Aftertaste

Apogee is the solo project of one Arne Schäfer, guitarist of Versus X. In past issues we have covered his two previous albums The Border of Awareness (

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Bill Rieflin & Chris Connelly - Largo

When two members of Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and Pigface get together, you probably don’t expect a quietly intense album of piano-based music. But if you’re familiar with Chris Connelly’s solo...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

C.W. Vrtacek - Fifteen Mnemonic Devices

Better known as the leader for the wonderfully tuneful instrumental trio Forever Einstein, C.W. “Chuck” Vrtacek also has a darker side. His solo album Fifteen Mnemonic Devices...

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(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Chris Cutler & Fred Frith - 2 Gentlemen in Verona

I have a tremendous amount of respect for both guitarist Fred Frith and percussionist Chris Cutler. They have both been involved in some tremendous music that dates from the Henry Cow days to...

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(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Christian Vander - Korusz

The driving force behind Magma’s music has always been the spirited drumming of Christian Vander, a very controlled yet complex jazz-infected rock style that supports the spiritual and...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2001-07-01)

Clearlight/Cyrille Verdeaux - Rainbow Music: Best of Cyrille Verdeaux 1975-2000

From his debut in 1973 with Clearlight Symphony, French keyboardist and composer Cyrille Verdeaux has combined impressionistic soundscapes in the spirit of Ravel and Debussy with progressive rock...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Damo Suzuki's Network - Seattle & Odyssey

With all the recent activity surrounding 70s experimentalists Can, vocalist Damo Suzuki has come out with a spate of new recordings. Suzuki is a firm believer in the transitive nature of art, and...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Djam Karet - New Dark Age

A reinvigorated Djam Karet appears in full force to blow away their last studio recording, 1997’s

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(Posted by David Ashcraft 2001-07-01)

Dose - Dose

Not sure what to make of this one. Instrumental five-piece of guitar, bass, keys, and drums with flute and sax. All musicians very talented. No original compositions, just covers of Joe Satriani,...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Finisterre - Storybook (Live at Progday 1997)

Let me open by saying buy this! Why? Well Finisterre is a great band and it would be great way to say thank you to Peter Renfro. This album has been released on Peter’s Proglodite...

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(Posted by Dane Carlson 2001-07-01)

Garmarna & Hedningarna reissues

Over the last few years, I’ve had several occasions to gush about how wonderful Garmarna is, namely the release of each of their three American CDs (the first two on Omnium, the third on...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-07-01)

Gentle Giant - In a Glass House

[Note: This review was written upon the remastered release version of In a Glass House from 2000]

Having owned the re-issue of this album by the Terrapin Trucking Company, I...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)

Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!

Despite the recent hyped press, which this Canadian performance group has received, there is still a large dose of mystery, which surrounds them. In fact, after about three plays from start to...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2001-07-01)