UNSETTLED SCORES (TRIBUTE TO CUNEIFORM BANDS)

Ok, another compilation but this one have some really great stuff.

Chuck Vrtacek has the idea to make a compilation with the most important artists/bands who works in Cuneiform Records (you know, almost pure RIO, Canterbury, weird fusion and avant garde). A producer took the idea and made it real so in this two CD's you will find a lot of great bands but playing the songs of the other band. For example, "The True Wheelbase / Coco Boudakian" originally on Birdsongs of Mesozoic "Faultline" is covered by Forever Einstein (the band leaded by Mr. Vrtacek)...

So, the album has great surprises like the jazzy cover of Kit Watkins and Coco Roussel (HAppy the Man) on "Hobart Got Burned" by The Muffins; members of Doctor Nerve and Univers Zero togehter in a kind of "mega-band"; the soft and exquisite band Philarmonie covering "Transsiberien" originally played by Miriodor (really great cover, minimalist perhaps beautiful); legendary Hugh Hopper covering a song by Doctor Nerve; Miriodor making an strange medley on songs by Univers Zero and Present; Japanese band Happy Family -in their own particular and heavy style- making a cover on Bulgarian Flying Spirit Dances by Daniel Denis; exceptional PFS playing a song by Miriodor and the list copntinues...

The strenght of this album is precisely the diferent and particular style of each band. Birdsongs, Muffins, Volapuk, Happy Family, Piero Milesi amongst others, keep their own styles and make of every cover almost a new piece. Maybe is an excellent way to introduce anybody into the strange world of avant garde music but if you are a fan of that genre (and fusion, Canterbury, RIO...) maybe the album doesn't have too much surprises. Anyway, I think it's a necessary piece to know more about good music in the late 15 years...

Chuck Vrtacek from FOREVER EINSTEIN half kiddingly told Steve F of Cuneiform records that he should put out an album of Cuneiform artists covering other Cuneiform artist's songs. Steve thought that it sounded like a fun idea and since Chuck came up with the idea his band did the first cover in August of 1991. Well four years and two hours of material later Steve had himself a recording. Besides the music on here being excellent and for the most part very adventerous this is a great way to check out some bands you may not have heard yet.There were many bands on this double album that I wasn't familiar with.There are some killer tracks on here, especially on the second disc.

FOREVER EINSTEIN does a short cover of two BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC. A heavy bass driven medley. Next up is Kit Watkins and Coco Roussel who both were part of HAPPY THE MAN's "Better Late..." album. Coco has also drummed for HELDON while Kit was in CAMEL for a while. Anyway they cover one of THE MUFFIN's tunes and it's one of the highlights of disc one. DOCTOR ZERO is my second favourite from disc one. It was written by Guy Segers for UNIVERS ZERO but never recorded. UNIVERS ZERO recorded it for this project then DOCTOR NERVE finished it off, hence the band name of DOCTOR ZERO.This is dark with violin playing over top. Love the drumming after a minute. Piano to the fore after 2 minutes. A change after 4 minutes where the boys from America do their part.This is intense then we get a dark calm late.

Peter Frohmader does a Richard Pinhas cover.This is about electronics and it sounds cool. Piero Milesi is next with a David Borden cover and it's the longest track at 9 1/2 minutes. It's spacey with samples early with these mediteranean sounds along with bells and accordion. Good track. PHILARMONIE does a MIRIODOR cover and they do it with intricate guitars in that Fripp style. Pleasant.

Hugh Hopper does a DOCTOR NERVE cover, in fact it was through this cover that they got together and eventually put this project together called BONE. Hugh uses his computer to generate sounds for this one. BIRDSONG OF THE MESOZOIC does a FOREVER EINSTEIN cover with heavy drums, piano and guitar standing out early. Sax stands out late. MIRIODOR does my favourite cover of disc one doing a medly of UNIVERS ZERO and PRESENT.This is dark with piano and eerie sounds. It kicks in around 2 minutes with horns and drums.Intense after 4 minutes and a great sound before 5 minutes.

Next up is Phil Miller who like Hugh uses his computer here although he does add guitar as he covers a Hopper tune. Henry Kaiser & Friends is the most out there track with tons of dissonance.

Disc two begins with the HAPPY FAMILY and they put on a show with their heavy bass / drum sound on this Daniel Denis cover. DJAM KARET does a Richard Pinhas track in their usual professional manner. PRESENT covers a DOCTOR NERVE tune in an intense way.This is nasty including the vocal expressions. Some angular guitar late. Great track !

Richard Pinhas / John Livengood lay down a heavy rhythm as the guitar rips it up in this BIRDSONG OF THE MESOZOIC cover. David Borden does a Hugh Hopper track live. I like this a lot. VOLAPUK sounds like themselves with the intricate songs coming and going. Another DOCTOR NERVE cover. RATTLEMOUTH does a Virgil Moorefild tune. PFS sounds great doing MIRIODOR. Some dissonant horns late.

George Cartwright does one of my favourites, especially the second half of this UNIVERS ZERO tune from "1313". U TOTEM with Emily Hay does a Hugh Hopper number. Virgil Moorefeld does a Henry Kaiser song with aggressive outbursts that come and go. THE MUFFINS are amazing as usual as they do FOREVER EINSTEIN.

FORREST FANG surprised me with their sound doing a Piero Milesi tune.The atmosphere and spacey sounds are excellent. C.W. Vrtachek from FOREVER EINSTEIN does a George Cartwright song beautifully. Acoustic guitar, keys and atmosphere. Love the sound here.The sounds of birds and water ends it.

This was simply a pleasure to listen to and i've got some new bands to check out because of it. A solid 4 stars.