HIGH CONTRAST

Third album of the band from 1991 named High contrast is at same level with previous one, but here we have some pieces with vocal arrangements, sung by Tom Reinhardt who handles aswell the bass. Again great album, same influences from Satriani and Dixie Dregs, but combined with unique and solid interpretation of the musicians, Gamalon manag to create another solid album in jazz rock field. From up beat moments with energic instrumental parts, to some more mellow ones, the band always shine in what they do. Some bluesy moments like on The War Within with vocals, show another side of the band, who succeded to show us that they are good not only in jazz rock realm but aswell in a more blues orientated jazz. As I said some pieces are with vocals, quite unusual for the band, almost 90% of their material is instrumental, are very good, pleasent and warm voice interluded great with the rest of the instruments. So, even both albums I reviewed are good, I can not say they are among my fav albums from this genre, are only pleasent and very enjoyble, I know albums more intristing and more brilliant, nevertheless a good band who is rather unnoticed here, no wonder because their albums are quite hard to find.4 stars again. No really better then predecesors, but a solid album.

This is another album of guitar heavy jazz rock fusion by Gamelon. On this one, they re-added second guitarist, George Puleo, and this adds quite a bit of power to the lineup. However, like the previous album, the songs, for the most part don't range very far from the arena rock side of fusion.

There are some high points. The guitar solos throughout are great. That alone would be a good reason to purchase this album. But the best song is You Still Have Time, which sounds remarkably like early Kansas, both in composition and performance. That effect is helped along by Kansas-like vocals, and Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry's violin. Another nice song is Flyby which features some impressive chapman stick work by drummer Ted Reinhardt.

Like their other albums, this is not bad, but it could be much better.