SEAN MALONE

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!

Cortlandt is a very good debut album. Surprising that this only has one review so far. Of course, that review pretty much sums it all up about this album, so maybe it is understandable. I'd say the best track is probably Giant Steps or Controversy.

I disagree with what the description for this album says: "be warned that it doesn't serve as a 'prequel' to Gordian Knot". I think it is a prequel to Gordian Knot. It's less on the metal side and more on the jazz side, but there are a lot of similarities between this debut and the other band. Fis(c)her's Gambit comes to mind to start, anyway.

Any fan of great bass playing (or rhythm sections in general) should pick this one up. I would add plain old Malone fans like myself, but then we fall into the previous groups already. Four stars.

_Cortland_ is the only solo recording by bassist Sean Malone. According to his words this album consist "a lot of the bits and pieces that never made it to the setlists of the groups he played in". The line-up is pretty amazing: Sean Reinert on drums, Trey Gunn on Warr guitar, Reeves Gabrels on Guitar. Musically it's much more closer to jazz than Malone's other projects he's been involved in. Still there's very much variety. The opening track "Controversy" is a typical jazz piece, it's 16th note bass intro will amaze you. "Splinter" starts with some heavy distorted guitars but after couple of seconds it leads to a fusion exploration. "Fisher's Gambit" 7 years later found it's place on Gordian Knot's second recording. Here's the first version, more eternal sounding thanks Trey Gunn's warm soundscapes. Coltrane's "Giant Steps" is completely rearranged, some of sax parts are played here by Malone on his fretless. In the second part there appears an eastern sound influence. This part was later used in "Redemption's Way" on firs GK release. It's a wonderful cover that will not leave your head for months. The eastern influence also appears on other tracks. "Hand Full of Earth" starts with this kind of flavor, just to end with a wonderfully gorgeous soundscapes. _Cortland_ has some flows ( cheesy sounding keyboards), but the overall impression is very good. The music has a warm tone and is less aggressive and more spacey than Malone's work in Gordian Knot. Tracking down a copy may not be easy. However if you enjoy Sean's other works, good fusion or want to hear fantastic bass playing, be sure not to miss this one. But if you're a symphonic, neo-prog fan, check at your own risk, as it's musically far from your definition of progressive music.