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AIR CANDA

Air Canda

RIO/Avant-Prog


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SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams
4 stars A progressive band whose first track is "Signature". It may seem a joke, but I really can't say which signature(s) this jazzy track has. Air Canda is one of the many "new" bands coming from Russia and while I'm writing has only this realease that's already 5 years old. The free form is not exagerated, so it's very jazzy but not too hard to follow, unless you are wishing to dance on it. The first thing to impact on the listener is the perfect balance between guitar and sax. The two front instruments don't fight in a duel, but collaborate very skillfully, sometimes harmonizing, someties taking different paths as usual with free jazz.

The second track, "Five Worms" may have taken its title from what to my ears seems to be a 5/4 signature, but I can easily be wrong also beacuse the band doesn't stay too long on the same tempo. There are some noisy parts, but everything looks "planned". There's also time for a slow and quite melodic interlude with the sax on the melodic side but with guitar and drums making it a little noisy.

The mood set by the first two tracks permeates what follows: "Magnetic Doorway, after a chaotic start, has melodic moments alternated with harder parts, full of odd signatures and driven mainly by guitar and sax, while drums and bass do the "dirty work". There's a very fast guitar riff in 64th with an oriental flavor sustained by bass and drums. Excellent track from every point of view.

"Fata Morgana" gives some space to bass. The ensemble appears more cohesive, but the main element is again the alternance between sax and guitar. Several changes of rhythm and signature come and go and the guitar solo on this track is more rock than jazz oriented. There's also an unexpected tango section to complicate the things. It's another great track. especially in the second half.

"Chronoclasm" returns to the free form. great bass work end even if I haven't mentioned him too much, the drummer doesn't take a breath... for long time sax and drums take the lead while bass and guitar are likely working on background effects. Don't worry, they are back soon to make the things more complcated. The guitarist is very fast and precise.

Drums and guitar open "Rainy Man" which after a short prologue mainly guitar based, turn into a Zappaesque instrumental wich recalls other genres, including bluesy guitar (with wah-wah) and sax but with a more rock oriented second half. It may seem strange, but after this 2014 release, the only band member to release any other work is the saxophonist Roman Oboskalov.

"Ritual" is slow and tendentially psychedelic, maybe. This slow dark base supporting the sax and later going in crescedo reminds to the Gong of Angel's Egg but wothout the crazyness typical of the British Band.

Last, a bomus track with an unusual title: "222". Also the music inside isn't too usual. It's mainly a rock track, with the guitar playing high volume and the sax keeping the melody. Also the drummer seem to have a lot of fun on this.

So, it's about 1 hour of enjoyment. Not too experimental and featuring excellent musicians.

4 obvious stars hoping to see them again with a new album

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Posted Tuesday, October 8, 2019 | Review Permalink

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