REGAINING THE FEEL

Is it possible to take a band of four, replace all but one member and still sound exactly like the first band? Sure it is, here's your proof. LOC said goodbye to it's bassist, drummer and guitarist, recruited three new members and guess what? Know one could tell the difference. There may be some minor sonic changes, the guitarist sounds slightly different in his chording technique, however, he's playing the same chords. The music is again great, but mostly vocal dominant, with little space for the new guys to stretch and break some new ground. Heavily influenced by Fiineus Gauge, Echolyn, Gentle Giant, King Crimson and Zappa. The harmonies are the same, the vocal stylings of John Buzby are indentical to Unikorn on the Cob.

So what we have is some very talented musicians playing very difficult music, but subjected to rather lackluster vocals that keep the music from progressing. I'm sure that in the live setting, LOC kicks ass without remorse. They open up, improvise and soar to the skies, free of the studio confines and a dominant leader.

So, it's all about taste in vocalists. If you like 'em, get 'em. John Buzby's voice is somewhat static and sounds the same on every track. The jacket doesn't list the lyrics, so I haven't gone too deep into the words. On the surface they are good, competent. No walls are broken down, no tear worthy momemnts.

This is the second offering by Land of Chocolate, a band born out of the ashes of Finneus Gauge (which, in turn, was a fractal from first-era Echolyn after its momentary dissolution). Led by John Buzby (brotehr of Echolyn's keyboardist Chris), the band's sound is ver yrelated to second-era Echolyn and Frogg Café, plus touches of Happy the Man and the standards of melodic jazz-rock. The final result is a dynamic mixture of arsty jazz-rock and symphonic prog, translated into cleverly complex yet catchy pieces that avoid over-indulgence in pure dexterity. Due to its precise scheme, the repertoire of "Regaining the Feel" as a whole can be listened to all throughout its sequence in its fluid untiy. The instrumental and vocal harmonies deal with soft dissonances with elegance and a discreet complexity, all of the mperformed in a very solid way. The opener 'Film at 11' has a catchy feel to it, while not falling into the easy-listening category. The same goes for the namesake song, which later on offers a colorful exercise on funky rock with properly inserted progressive ornaments. 'The Pursuit of Happiness' and 'Killing with Kindness' reveal an important portion of the band's most bizarre facet. The former leans toward the jazzy while the latter bears a more patent psychedelic aura, which helps it to absorb and display a harsher overall sound. 'Killin with Kindness' is admittedly one of my definite fave tracks in the album. 'Misanthropic Cattle' goes to introverted places, not being too languid per se but melodic enough as to offer a clear musical portrait of melancholy. The flowing phrases played on guitar create a sort of sonic breeze that effectively surrounds Buzby's singing. 'Counting Sand', not unlike 'Killing...', contains fiery guitar inputs during the hardest passages, while the softer moments create a robust contrast in benefit of the song's inherent melodic richness. Personally, I wouldn't have minded if this one had been longer in order to create an increased sophistication, but this is what it is and it is actually quite fine. 'Red Pill' brings back the melancholy of track 4 with the addition of some hard rocking passages serving as transitional adornments. As a counterpoint, 'Military Mindset' is built on a recurrently syncopated cadence effectively filled by the duelling guitar and keyboard as the track progresses. The instrumental 'Mechanical Pencil' gets started with an evocative classical guitar intro whose last notes give way to the ensemble's full display around the main motif and its subsequent permutations. Another individual gem full of hooks and dynamics in this brilliant album. Finally, the last piece 'Ungrateful' kicks off in a languid atmosphere that sounds intriguing in a subtle way until the aggressive blows on guitar and drum kit gives entry to a moment of sustained intensity. The combination of reflective moods and explicitly intense moments makes 'Ungrateful' sucha convenient closure for "Regaining the Feel". Land of Chocolate's material, while not being as inventive as Frogg Café's nor as peculiarly magical as Echolyn's, surely feels at home alongside with such great compatriots in a good progressive collection. This album is, to say the least, pleasant and enjoyable, and that's what a prog listener will usually get from a few first listens. After that, the appreciation of its melodic sensibility and textures should make them label it as an excellent recording. Well, that was my epxerience...

Second effort of Land of Chocolate from 2004 named Regaining hte feel is a good one for sure, but less captivating like the first. Even here only Jonn Buzby remains, the other 3 musicians from first album gone, replaced by other 3, the music mainly remains on same coordonates like on Unikorn on the Cob, but little less intrsting and with no very much original moves. Like others observe on this album sometimes is to much talk and less instrumental passages, not realy bad but only Mechanical Pencil save the album from being monotonous. Anyway the album is dynamic and has some good passages, as a whole falls in some same passages on every tune, not very diffrent to each other. The music is again ivery jazz fusion with prog metal elements added and with complexity and eclectic moments of Gentle Giant, also some Echolyn moments are present and some avant prog moments not far from Zappa in his glory days. So, as a whole is fairly good album, but without shining as their first, still has some good moments, but not spectacular passages can be heared here. 3 stars is best I can give to this album. Somehow Land of Chocolate was a promising band with great musicians and potential, but they gone unnoticed to many prog connoisseurs and for many years now nothing is known about their future or if still this bands exists.

LAND OF CHOCOLATE was the project of John Buzby formerly of FINNEUS GUAGE and brother of Chris from ECHOLYN. He was a drummer with his former band but here he's on keyboards and the lead vocalist. They released two albums and the debut "Unikorn On The Cob" is the one to get in my opinion with the drummer from ECHOLYN on it and Brett Kull also from that band producing. That was a 2001 release and this record "Regaining The Feel" is from 2004 and all but John Buzby are left as he moved to a different state and recruited a new bass player, drummer and guitarist. Still this sure sounds a lot like the debut with Buzby's vocals dominating the sound for the most part. I feel like lately I've reviewed a few albums that were followups to much better albums that were in the same style.

Three tracks standout for me including the title track my third favourite. Nice start with the bass before the organ, drums and vocals join in bringing some ooomph. It's intricate and punchy as well. An impressive track for the multiple directions they go. "Mechanical Pencil" is my favourite. It sounds a little different from the rest and no vocals! The closer rounds out my top three as my second favourite tune on here. It's called "Ungrateful" and I hope to never be called that because I am so thankful. A quiet start as the bass throbs before drums and vocals join in along with synths. The vocals are laid back thankfully. It does kick in including the vocals before 2 minutes but all is good, really good.

Lots to like here and if your into FINNEUS GUAGE, ECHOLYN or HAPPY THE MAN you might just do a twirl when you here this. I didn't.