UNBRANDED - MUSIC FROM THE E.E.C. SURPLUS

This short review is about the video "Unbranded Part 2 & 3" (Cyclops CYCL V001), it captures this interesting band at their peak (live 2000). The tracking list contains most of their best compositions and are played very well, especailly the organ (with strong echoes from Keith Emerson) sounds great and the vocals rather distinctive in a pleasant way . The live scenes include a very taseful lightshow and an inspired band, I hope this will be put on DVD by Cyclops!

4.5 stars. Man this is a powerful album and not just instrumentally but the lyrics as well. I saw this quote from Steven Wilson about this album : "A riff worthy of KING CRIMSON or VDGG over a drum and bass rhythm is certainly different. I'm intrigued". The dual keyboards are certainly the prominant sound on this record but the drumming and chunky bass really add a lot of depth here.

"God's Of Convenience" opens with piano that moves me emotionally for some reason. Faint samples come in and then the sound becomes powerful before 2 minutes. Here we go before 2 1/2 minutes and the vocals join in too. Check out the bass and guitar. Killer ! It settles back but these contrasts will continue throughout. Samples with a powerful atmosphere 7 1/2 minutes in. It eventually blends into "Migraine" a song that is naturally is dark and pounding with an eerie synth intro. There are some good riffs and synth runs throughout. This is so powerful and the sound quality is excellent. It starts to wind down after 6 1/2 minutes until it's spacey. Great track !

"Unbranded" is a song about how young people are slaves to name brands. Andy got some of the ideas for this from Roger Waters who he met by chance on an airplane and had this discussion. Andy thanks Roger in the liner notes for "The Shoe Factory in Taiwan". Check out the sound before a minute with the atmospheric guitar and laid back vocals.So good ! A cool instrumental section comes in after 3 minutes with synths and drums leading. It's powerful again 5 1/2 minutes in and then it settles with lots of atmosphere. Amazing stuff. "Shoulder To Shoulder" is about working together to stop the destruction of our planet. Martin Orford is featured with some nice flute passages.Vocals are almost spoken early on. It turns heavy before 4 minutes then a calm arrives as it continues to change.There is this ripping, emotional guitar solo that is far too short after 6 minutes.

"Space Junk" contrasts the heavy drums and organ with the lighter spacey synths throughout. "An Autopsy In Artificial Light(Afterlifecycle Part 2)" is a 25 minute song that in the liner notes has a quote from Roine Stolt between the title and the lyrics that says "There's no such thing as blank and total darkness".This is a trip my friends. From spacey with samples to heavy and rocking to reflective piano to vocal sections this is a ride. It ends in a haunting manner.

Another winner from this band. I've read that the band feels this might be their best and it's hard to argue with that statement.