CORTLANDT

Rare and almost forgoten ex -Cynic bassist the only solo album is interesting work!

Mainly fusion and metal-prog mix, it includes plenty different styles . Perfect musical technique, melodies, drive - all that you can find on that album. And other musicians are as high level professionals as Trey Gunn (stick ) and Reeves Gabrels (guit., David Bowie musician).

Bass line is almost always leading there, but the pleasant difference from other similar works is that music in total isn't only rhythm - oriented, but very melodic as well. Some classic elements, even world motives - all this is in it. Quite soft and comfortable sound in combination with very acoustic-clear recording, no "wall of sound" effect (oh,God, thank you for that!).

The album has no relations with Sean Malone work in Cynic, but could be highly recommended for jazz-rock/fusion fans and all who are interested in really progresive guitar- rock.

P.S. Album contains bonus track ( hidden), but the joke or the problem is that this track is placed somewhere 20+ minutes after the last song on CD. So, I think even many CD owners never even thought that that track egsists on that CD!

This is a Sean Malone solo album (his first and only so far) and it's pretty much an all instrumental affair except for some female vocal melodies on one track. This was originally released on a label that sort of specializes in releasing albums from bass players. I have the remastered edition from the "Free Electric Sound" label with a bonus track. Malone's buddy Sean Reinert is the drummer here. I don't think Malone does anything without him. They both played in CYNIC and GORDIAN KNOT. Actually this album was released between those two projects. Sean calls it a "transition" album between the two. There certainly isn't the heaviness of CYNIC on here, it's if anything closer to GORDIAN KNOT but this is more Fusion. By the way the bonus track "Unquity Road" was originally released on the Japanese release of GORDIAN KNOT's first album.

"Controversy" settles into a jazzy mode quickly with guitar playing over top. Bass leads before 2 1/2 minutes. "Splinter" opens with drums and some powerful guitar too. A bass show before a minute as the drums pound. The guitar is back a minute later. "Fischer's Gambit" features drums, keyboards and bass early. Some laid back guitar arrives after 1 1/2 minutes. "Hand Full Of Earth" opens with percussion as drums, bass and keyboards join in quickly. It settles right down 1 1/2 minutes in with percussion and bass only. Guitar joins in as themes are repeated. Love the spacey atmosphere before 5 minutes to the end. "Sinfonia" is a Bach tune. No I don't know who he is either. My least favourite as Malone plays his stick solo on this classically themed tune. It's actually pretty cool. "Giant Steps" is a John Coltrane tune that Sean has re-arranged. Drums, guitar and bass here. It sounds so good before 1 1/2 minutes.

"At Taliesen" opens with percussion. Guitar a minute in and it sounds amazing the rest of the way. "Big Sky Wanting" has a guest appearance from Trey Gunn on his warr guitar. Percussion to start and bass leads before a minute.The guitar after 2 minutes is tasteful. This sounds really good. It turns surprisingly heavy 5 minutes in. Nice. The drumming to open "The Big Idea" sounds great. Guitar and bass join in. Just an excellent tune.The female vocal melodies are like a pale of cold water on it though. "Unquity Road" is the bonus track written by Pat Metheny (no idea who he is either) this is a powerful yet intricate track.

If your into instrumental Fusion you should check this album out.