Release Date: 7th July 2014
Label: AR Garden Records
This is another of those artists/albums that I would
probably not have come across by chance, but getting Garden Music Project with
the album Inspired By Syd Barrett’s
Artwork to review gives me the opportunity to broaden my horizons yet
again.
This release by Garden Music Project also coincides with
the eighth anniversary of the Pink Floyd founder members passing. The creator
of the project is Adriana Rubio, who has a rare neurological phenomenon called
synaesthesia. This is a condition whereby one sense can trigger one or more
other sensory responses. As an example,
a synaesthete might hear sounds in response to a smell or see a certain number
as a color. The album, Inspired By Syd
Barrett’s Artwork, is probably best described as an “epic interpretation of
Syd Barrett’s paintings, using synesthesia perceptions.
The music for Inspired
By Syd Barrett’s Artwork, was written by Adriana Rubio and Alexander
Ditzend. The Garden Music Project is a 4 piece band comprising, Alexander
Ditzend (guitars, lead vocals), Stefan Ditzend (bass, saxophone), Nicolas
Saganias (drums, percussion) and Fabrizio Gamba (keyboards, synths).
Inspired
By Syd Barrett’s Artwork is a 12 track album with a total
playing time of around 48 minutes, with the opening track, “Garden,” being the
shortest at 2:46 minutes and “Coliseum,” the longest track on offer at 6:14
minutes.
The opening track to the album, “Garden” (2:46) certainly
recalls very early Pink Floyd, with that laid back feel, bass melody, jaunty
keyboards and then morphing into a psychedelic soundscape. Chunky keyboards,
guitars, and a staccato vocal heralds the entrance into track 2, “Squares,
Lines and Polygons” (3:00), which then switches into a melodic passage, returns
to the intro theme and then into a jazzy section. The amazing guitar work in
the last minute certainly ensures that the track is memorable.
“Isolation” (3:40) is another piece of music seemingly
steeped in 60’s/70’s psychedelia, but the following track, “Transformation”
(5:47) is well named, as it moves into another style. Introduced by a drumbeat
and keyboard, prior to a spoken vocal, this track tries to “paint the scene”
before there is another example of some stunning guitar work. At times, this
track is almost discordant, but it just about works, as does the meandering
saxophone around the 4 minute mark. This is an interesting track, almost
jam-like at times but possibly outstays its welcome slightly in its almost 6
minute length.
“Bullying” (3:23) has train noises as an introduction
which then builds into another “retro” psychedelia track before leaving the
stage to “My Ladies” (3:41). This has terrific strummed guitar and a vocal
provided in a sort of disconnected, deadpan manner. The electric guitar starts
to soar away behind the vocals and there are classic little hooks here and
there.
Classic keyboards and a retro sound announce “Leaving
Home” (3:28) and the tempo is noticeably slower. More simple, but effective,
guitar builds up during this track. More natural sounds, including thunder,
rain and a ringing phone disguise the sudden dive into “heavy” psychedelia that
is track 8, “Crime Scene” (3:36). There is a very atmospheric sound to this
track, recalling the older police dramas from the USA.
The longest track on offer, “Coliseum” (6:14) has an
eastern style at the outset with percussion and synths which slowly merge into
a majestic passage, evoking thoughts of the “Christians versus the Lions”
soundscape before there is a sudden sideways shift with the saxophone then
recalling the Clint Eastwood western trilogy, a la “The Good, The Bad and The
Ugly.” The track then reverts back to the eastern style starting point with a
spoken voice in the background.
“Tour Bus” (4:25) is another slow builder of a track,
sweeping from light to intense in a heartbeat. There are some amazing keyboards
over a simple drumbeat around the 2:30 minute point. By the time this listener
has reached this point, the same feeling that was apparent on the first listen
has reappeared. The style has started to sound repetitive and the feeling of
“newness” has gone.
The final track, “Self Portrait” (4:48) features more
natural sounds and employs the same style of staccato lyrics. Spoken lines then
give way to a very mellow saxophone passage which paints an interesting
soundscape with the help of some excellently played guitar.
Having listened to Inspired
by Syd Barrett’s Artwork several times, I find myself on the horns of a
dilemma. Some of the music sounds as if it could have come from early Pink
Floyd albums, but it doesn’t seem to be able to maintain that scenario. Some
tracks try hard to succeed, but they don’t seem to quite get there. There are
some stunning tracks on this album, but I found the second half of the album
seemed unable to maintain the momentum of the first part. The lyrics are
certainly interesting as they do reference this unusual complex linking of
senses.
Inspired
By Syd Barrett’s Artwork I found a bit of a mixed bag of tracks,
but as usual, I urge people to listen to the album a few times. This is my
opinion and I am aware many people will have a very different view of the
album.
4/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Garden, My Ladies, Coliseum
Tracks:
Garden
Squares, Lines and Polygons
Isolation
Transformation
Bullying
My Ladies
Leaving Home
Crime Scene (To The Memory of Dr Arthur Barrett)
Coliseum
Tour Bus
Bridge
Self Portrait
Tracks:
Garden
Squares, Lines and Polygons
Isolation
Transformation
Bullying
My Ladies
Leaving Home
Crime Scene (To The Memory of Dr Arthur Barrett)
Coliseum
Tour Bus
Bridge
Self Portrait
September 12, 2014
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
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