CORVUS STONE UNSCREWED

Axeman extraordinaire Colin Tench has gotten busy in the engineering room! And I LIKE IT! The 'new' sound Colin has produced here is wonderfully reminiscent of the pre-computer- enhanced days of sound (re-)production (i.e. before the Fairlight CMI, gated drums, PC home studio software, and the now ubiquitous sound compression). I just love listening to the drums and percussion! It reminds me of being in one room playing and recording with my brothers: the sound is all right there with you, not compartmentalized and isolated in different 'rooms'. It's like capturing live performances! Which is ironically wonderful for the fact that Colin and his bandmates, I believe, live in widely distant locations and, therefore, submit their instrumental contributions over the internet (or by mail). Unscrewed also displays another step forward in the progress of this band as a band. Corvus Stone I put on display the (not insignificant) instrumental talents of individual band members while failing to consistently present the feel of an integrated band, Corvus Stone II brought songwriting and coherent whole-band weaves into focus. Unscrewed presents what feels and sounds like a successfully integrated band with each instrumental contribution fitting into the coherent weave of each song importantly, even essentially. While this music is not always satisfying to my personal musical affinities, it is always well done, incredibly well performed, well-composed, and awesomely well engineered. Last year I theorized that CS was one album away from 'their masterpiece.' I am happy to say that I was right. Colin and crew have achieved the rewards of hard work and maturation: mastery of their presentation of music.

Five star songs: the amazingly fitting soundtrack song, 'Scary Movie Too' (7:38); the powerful opening instrumental, 'Brand New Day' (3:52); the awesomely multiple vocals of 'Early Morning Calls' (3:52); the crystal clarity of every instrument on 'Horizon' (1:52); the medieval folk feel to the foundation of 'Landfill' (3:44); the wonderful multiple melody lines and multiple tempos of 'After Solstice (Remix)' (4:05); the awesome Al Di MELOA/James Bond-like theme song, 'Petrified in the Cinema Basement' (3:10); the organ and military drum base and late Sixties feel of 'Lost and Found Revisited' (3:29); the virtuosic guitar showcased on both 'Cinema Finale' (6:02) and 'Pack up your Truffles' (2:07), and; the rollicking fun and humor of 'Moustaches in Massachusetts' (4:18).

What I'd like to reiterate in conclusion is the step up in sound and whole-band cohesion, but I'd also like to make sure attention is drawn to the wonderful contributions of each and every band member and guest on this album. It's one of those albums that keeps revealing new jewels, new surprises with each and every listen. If you haven't tried the previous CV albums, definitely try out Unscrewed. It is in a class by itself'the masterpiece class.