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CHAPTER ONE

I Know You Well Miss Clara

Jazz Rock/Fusion


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I Know You Well Miss Clara Chapter One album cover
4.28 | 40 ratings | 4 reviews | 28% 5 stars

Essential: a masterpiece of
progressive rock music

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Studio Album, released in 2013

Songs / Tracks Listing


1. Open The Door, See The Ground (10:17)
2. Conversation (8:02)
3. Pop Sick Love Carousel (6:16)
4. Reverie #2 (14:51)
5. Love Letter From Canada (4:26)
6. Dangerous Kitchen (9:04)
7. A Dancing Girl From Planet Marsavishnu Named After The Love (10:48)

Total Time 63:44

Line-up / Musicians


- Reza Ryan / guitar
- Adi Wijaya / keyboards
- Enriko Gultom / bass
- Algiah Akbar / drums

Special guest:
- Nicholas Combe / sax

Releases information

MoonJune

Thanks to historian9 for the addition
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I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA Chapter One ratings distribution


4.28
(40 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(28%)
28%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(38%)
38%
Good, but non-essential (28%)
28%
Collectors/fans only (8%)
8%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA Chapter One reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Ivan_Melgar_M
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Christmas started earlier this year

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.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
5 stars Never let it be said that I don't do my research, so here are a few facts regarding IKYWMC's home country, Indonesia. While many people, especially those from the Northern Hemisphere, may be working under the assumption that it is just a small group of islands somewhere north of Australia, it is, in terms of population, the fourth largest country on earth (behind China, India, and the US) with a current estimated population of 250 million, which is somewhat different to the UK's 65 million and NZ's 4.5!! It is an archipelago that comprises over 17,000 islands, which go to form a land mass equating to 1,919,440 square kilometres (735,355 square miles) which means that it is the 19th largest country in terms of land. As well as being one of the largest countries in the world they are also mad on music, which is why Leo spends so much time down there unearthing real gems, and yet again he has made a rock solid find with the debut from this instrumental quartet.

These guys have been influenced by progressive rock, psychedelic rock, improvisational jazz and other forms and have brought it all together in an incredible fusion album showing elements of Jimi Hendrix, Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis and Hatfield & The North among others (just to name a few). Incredibly, this album was recorded in just 18 hours, with most of the material being either first or second takes. Although there are large elements of 'free jazz' in what they are doing, there is also a great deal of structure and the melodies and intricacies are sublime. They are also very conscious of the arrangements and need for space, and it is not unusual for there are to be long passages where only one or two are actually playing and the others let them get on with it. It is going to be very easy for the rhythm section of bassist Enriko Gultom and drummer Alfiah Akbar to be overlooked, as although they display incredible skills and intuitive playing they are there for the supporting roles behind the two writers and soloists, guitarist Reza Ryan and keyboard player Adi Wijiya. They combine, separate, let each other take the full spotlight, with a delicacy of touchy and fluidity of playing that is quite inspired. Adi's playing, especially when he is using piano, is full of emotion and lightness of touch while Reza is for me channelling the skills and dexterity of a young John McLaughlin. Although the closing song "A Dancing Girl From Planet Marsavishnu Named After The Love" may not have the spelling quite right, I am sure that it is a tribute to the man himself, and is one of two where they feature some wonderful guest sax from Nicholas Combe who sounds right at home.

The album is a delight from start to finish, and I have to concur with the statement from Sid Smith that is included in the digipak "The time you spend getting to know this music will be time well spent indeed". If this is their debut, what on earth are they going to come up with next? Fusion really doesn't get any better than this.

Review by Windhawk
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Indonesian quartet I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA was formed back in 2009, originally a rehearsal band only, but when a gig proposal came their way they decided to take this project a step further. They were later signed to the US label Moonjune Records, which released their debut album "Chapter One" in the late summer of 2013.

As far as debut albums go, I Know You Well Miss Clara have made themselves a fine one with "Chapter One". A creation that first and foremost merits a description as an elegant and sophisticated venture, with room for some details of a more intense nature but with a main focus on smooth arrangements, subtle details and careful reverbs. Those who have a soft spot for instrumental jazz rock described in such a manner should find plenty to love on this disc.

Review by DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
5 stars Always wondering where such an explosive, magmatic energy comes from, on having a listen to this opus.

This album "Chapter One" was released as the debut album by an Indonesian fusion unit I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA. I hear they have been strongly inspired by the Canterbury / Jazz Rock Scene like Soft Machine or Matching Mole, but actually I feel their dissected perverse originality via the melodic / rhythmic component in this creation regardless of Canterbury-oriented impression. In Japanese progressive fusion scene, so to speak, I can find similarities like Bandvivil meet Next Order.

"Open The Door, See The Ground" has almost all of their sound essence. From the magnificent departure by Adi's edgy, crazy freaky keyboard plays, Their grand theatre gets started. The mysterious but strictly complicated atmosphere is pretty spiritual. In the middle part, what a dangerous wonder the guitar's hard cry or sensitive weep is. Their sound chase full of heavy, improvised appearances is also thrilling. The last keyboard remark is just a sublimation. This masterpiece reminds us of a soldier who is going to a battlefield filled with a combined feeling of tragedy, anger, and hard decision.

On the contrary the following track "Conversation" has less heroic but more and more relaxed and soft-touched jazzy one, in that all instruments are perfectly unified and refined, just like a good Champagne bottle. It's our pleasure to enjoy such an opposite side from the previous gem. "Pop Sick Love Carousel" is one of the catchier, most acceptable songs all around their creation. Harmonies of twin guitars, or delicious and melodic keyboard plays are charming really. Therefore, "Reverie #2" would show quite a dissonant, distorted impression for the audience. Massive criticism against the current pop / rock scene could be heard here there everywhere. Anyway such a sound dissection must absorb some progressive rock fans definitely, let me say.

"Love Letter From Canada" ... the same titled song got a smash hit in Japan over 40 years ago, actually ... I expected the same vein like the Japanese old-fashioned one, but completely different. Quiet hallucinogenic ambience bared on lyrical keyboard works catches our heart badly. One of my favourite songs in this album. In "Dangerous Kitchen" lots of unique elements along with free-jazz-ish instrumental synchronization, that reminds us of some funny funky essence like an Osakan jazz rock giant Djamra, also as for the title itself. Bubbling keyboard sound, smooth slide guitar dance, delightful saxophone freedom ... all are of our comfort. Through the last "A Dancing Girl From Planet Marsavishnu Named After The Love" flexible improvised guitar typhoon seasoned with sensitive aromatic saxophone fascination drives us mad. This mysterious texture we cannot frequently meet. Something magnificent could be found in their jazz rock creativity.

Their soundscape is delicate and fragile but simultaneously powerful and energetic. And needless to say critical, a bit sarcastic view to the world rock scene should be attractive and addictive for the audience. A big one.

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