CHAPTER ONE

Two days ago, a neighbor called to inform me had received a package of CD's for me, so I went to his house and found that my good friend Leonardo "Moonjune" Pavcovic had sent me several albums, so, as soon as I got back home, placed a green CD thinking it was by SIMAK DIALOG (My favorite jazz band from Indonesia), but then I noticed it was by another band from the same country called I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA, so with little expectation listened it?But the surprise was huge, this band's debut called Chapter One is simply delightful, and as good as any SIMAK DIALOG release.

Let's start saying that Chapter One is much more eclectic than the normal Fusion band, combining elements of Rock, Psychedelia, Avant Garde and of course Jazz. The massive use of keyboards (Adi Wijaya) and aggressive guitar solos (Reza Ryan) almost in a contrapuntist style make of each song a battle with strong references to MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, keeping the listener at the edge of the seat.

Of course no band can sound well without a solid rhythm section and Alfia Akbar (Drums) with the accurate interplay of Enriko Cultom (Bass) make an outstanding work. Unlike most Indonesian bands, the guys of I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA don't use native Kendang Percussion, which allows them to be one of the few ensembles from this part of the world, who abandon the characteristic folk sound in favourr of an exploration of different Rock and Jazz sub-genres, with special emphasis in mysterious and extensive Avant Garde passages.

I won't even try to make a song by song review, because each track is a different universe and would take me at least 10 pages to make justice to what this guys are doing, but of course will mention my favorite pieces, starting with the trippy Open The Door, See The Ground in which Adi does an amazing piano work.

Another track that impressed me is the almost haunting Pop Sick Love Carousel with abundant jamming and a clear Canterbury Scene aroma..

Last but not least, I must mention the impressive guitar based A Dancing Girl From Planet Marsavishnu Named After The Love which is obviously a homage to John Mc´Laughlin's band, specially Inner Mountain Flame.

Even though this pieces are the first ones that come to my mind, would be dishonest not to say that all the material they present us is first class with no weak moments, so I really recommend Chapter One to fans of good music.

Oops, almost forgot the rating?..4 solid stars that could easily be 5, but as most people here know, I don't rate debuts with the maximum number of stars, because I always expect more from the next album, and this guys have the skills to offer us a complete masterpiece.

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