Exposé Online

Of Velcro Ears and Eccentric Geniuses —
C.W. Vrtacek / Forever Einstein Interview

It was every guitarist’s worst nightmare. A freak accident with a table saw had just severed the first digit of Chuck Vrtacek’s index finger on his fretboard hand. Instead of freaking out he calmly called the paramedics, and 15 minutes later was joking with them on his way to an operation at the hospital. Instead of perceiving the accident as a huge setback, he saw it as a challenge, and he immediately went home and started playing with his second, third, and fourth fingers. Instead of canceling his upcoming recording session he went into the studio with his band Forever Einstein and recorded their most ambitious and adventurous album to date, Down with Gravity.  » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2003-08-01)

Alex Skolnick Trio - Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a New Generation

Alex Skolnick started out playing speed metal at the tender age of sixteen as lead guitarist for the Bay Area band Testament. After hearing the electric Miles Davis band, Skolnick was bitten by the...

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(Posted by David Ashcraft 2003-08-01)

Ancient Future - Planet Passion

The previous release by this SF Bay Area world-fusion unit led by guitarist Matthew Montfort was 1993’s Asian Fusion (reviewed in Exposé #2), so after such a long lapse we were caught off...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-08-01)

Annbjørg Lien - Aliens Alive

Annbjørg Lien’s career has taken her from traditional Norwegian solo fiddling to 2000’s Baba Yaga, with its progressive and world music influences. On this live release, she and her band...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-08-01)

Bill Frisell - Bill Frisell with Dave Holland & Elvin Jones

Leave it to guitarist Bill Frisell to alternate jazz takes on American roots music with a turn together among two of the 70s' most venerated jazz sidemen who played with Miles Davis. Holland...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-08-01)

Billy Currie - Push

Ex-Ultravox member Billy Currie’s fifth album is another tour de force of synthesizers and stringed instruments that captures a unique romantic niche. Currie has been refining his approach for over...  » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-08-01)

Blackmore's Night - Fires at Midnight

Guitar legend Richie Blackmore (yes, the guy from Deep Purple and Rainbow) has gone medieval. Under the name Blackmore’s Night, he and his fiancée Candice Night have released several albums of...  » Read more
(Posted by Jim Chokey 2003-08-01)

Bukkene Bruse - Den Fagraste Rosa (The Loveliest Rose)

On NorthSide’s continuum of Nordic music, running from strict traditional to distinctly modern, Bukkene Bruse fall well down on the traditional end. The two fiddles of Annbjørg Lien...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-08-01)

Carl Weingarten - Laughing at Paradise

Originally released in 1988 on cassette only, Weingarten’s second ‘solo’ album is a big change from his earlier

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-08-01)

Chaos Code - The Tragedy of Leaps and Bounds

I’m fairly convinced that in a blindfold test you could convince many listeners that this album was originally released in 1972. I’m reminded of the time when musicians all around the...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-08-01)

Dogstar Poets - Off-Planet

This may be one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, particularly to Jade Warrior fans. This set sees the reunion of Glyn Havard (bass and vocals) and Dave Duhig (guitar and keys),...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2003-08-01)

Dogstar Poets - Off-Planet

From the ashes of Jade Warrior come the Dogstar Poets, featuring guitarist Dave Duhig (Tony’s younger brother) and bassist, vocalist Glyn Havard. The touring incarnation of their old band...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-08-01)

Dogstar Poets - Off-Planet

After three excellent albums on Vertigo, and sessions completed for a fourth, the original Jade Warrior (which had grown from a trio to a five-piece) was dumped by their label, and split in 1973....

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-08-01)

Erik Wøllo - Emotional Landscapes

In his early work, Eric Wøllo struck me as a Norwegian version of Steve Tibbetts. Today he’s less acoustic and more synthesized, though the atmospheres that so vividly conjure up...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2003-08-01)

Fish - Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors & Internal Exile

Ex-Marillion lead vocalist Fish has spent much time floating from label to label after departing his old band for good. Voiceprint took the singer’s back catalog and has done a second...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-08-01)

Focus - Focus 8

Leave it to Thijs Van Leer to recognize the timely need for Focus to return to active duty. Within the past three years he encountered a Focus tribute act in his Dutch homeland and was so impressed...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-08-01)

Frijid Pink - Hibernated

After forming around 1967 in the fertile garage/psych scene of Detroit, Frijid Pink gigged heavily and built up a regional following before stepping into a recording studio. Their first two singles...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-08-01)

Gjallarhorn - Grimborg

Gjallarhorn’s last album, Sjofn (reviewed in #21), was one of my top CDs of 2000. The combination of thunderous drums, droning didgeridoo, and female vocals made for a unique sound that...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-08-01)

Groove Unlimited 2002-2003 Releases

The Netherlands’ Groove label, perhaps the premiere label for sequencer-heavy electronic music, has been on quite the roll lately, releasing and distributing a number of albums by newcomers...

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(Posted by Mike McLatchey 2003-08-01)

Hellborg - Icon

Hellborg came to notice in the 80s as a member of Mahavishnu Orchestra, and since then has released a number of solo albums. It sounds as if he and guitarist Shawn Lane have been listening to...

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(Posted by Mike Ezzo 2003-08-01)