ORGANIK

Well it's difficult to set this recent album (dated March 2005) against the previous music background of Niacin: I remember their first debut work, where the style was compared to a kind of "typical fusion genre", combined with the music of E.L.P.; but for example in their following albums you could find echoes of Brand X and Weather Report, mixed with a style of their own, which is strange!!However, coming to "Organik", this is the return of Billy Sheehan with his three-piece band , supported by John Novello at the Hammond and the Piano, and Dennis Chambers on drums, as usual...Billy is the real superstar here, as its music touch (reminding us of the rhytmical section carried out by Weather Report) is characterized by one of the best music patterns ever composed !!The track entitled " Barbarian @ The Gate" is the typical example of his virtuosity, being well represented by his stunning pattern, every four notes per beat,being also enriched with his powerful riff!!Instead the piano solo performed by Mr Novello within the second track "Nemesis" is combined into the whole organ performance, in the middle-stream. Naturally it's stunning from the artistic point of view, being almost equal to the invention by Sheehan at the bass line inside "Blisterine",which is varied by means of sporadic " fill in" and- at the end -it's the most "accessible" sample of such "Billy Sheehan's grandeur"!!

Talking about "King Kong", the recording uses an "hall or room" effect, which is very interesting and unusual too, regarding of the fusion music genre; but the most complex track is performed in the midlle of the album and it's entitled "Hair Of The Dog":for me it's so busy- in their research of new and "diverse" harmonic solutions- so that it could represent their best effort within "Organik", even though for instance the tune "No Shame" is much better produced from the point of view of its mixing and the quality sound as well...then I like to remark the importance of "Repeat Offender", the second bonus track, characterized by the "expanding" mood created by the bass guitar, which sometimes dissolves,considering also its unforgettable intro, creating a certain "suspence".But coming back to the other remarkable tracks, such as "Stumble On The Truth", " Clean House" (the first bous track) and "Club Soda", you can listen to a great keyboard oriented Trio, with their occasionally played slap bass tunes, busy and "circular" harmonic lines, well aligned with the rest of the album... at the end "Organik" is worth checking out at least, despite of being closer to such jazz fusion genre, more than any other progressive fusion style; but it's a question of tastes,obviously: anyhow, for a little while forget the label "Prog" and be happy!!

An astonishingly good record from one of the premier fusion trios of our time, 'Organik' rocks as hard as it impresses. John Novello's gritty Hammond organ takes the lead with dizzying lines of church-rock and bluesy gospel fire. Backing him up on bass is the tapping ex-metal god Billy Sheehan and on skins is Dennis Chambers, maybe the finest drummer currently in jazz rock. Full of mind-boggling rhythms, jagged counterpoint, confounding grooves, and a deft conjoining of modern jazz, R&B, hard rock, Bach-isms and classic progressive fusion, Chambers, Novello & Sheehan deliver the goods on what is their most powerful and accomplished studio work.

From the bumblebee kinetics of the opening 'Barbarian at the Gate' we know we're in for a special ride and in good hands as the band punches us into a stupor with lighting moves and tumbling action, stops on a dime and then explodes again. 'Nemesis' grooves right into place and builds into a jam to die for, each player giving more than their all and playing as if they had an hour before the world came crashing down around them, a feeling maintained for 'Blisterine', a title that speaks for itself ('I've got blisters on me fingers!!'). The easier, jazz club sounds of 'King Kong' provide a nice rest while still bubbling away, resurrecting the Hammond sounds of the great Jimmy Smith with joy and some cool improv. The semi-tango 'Super Grande' becomes a hardrocker with swells of organ, 'Magnetic Mood' drags a bit but is saved by a speedy rollercoaster mid-section, and 'Hair of the Dog' is a classy fusion bopper reminding of Chambers' other group CAB with some nice modern jazz and bottomy bass. '4`5 3' is a fascinating slice of fugue-rock battered by rhythm`n blues and angular twists and turns, while cuts like 'Club Soda' and 'No Shame' let in some funk but never enough to spoil this jazzical feast. The album closes with the rich and pretty 'Footprints in the Sand'. Niacin (named for vitamin B3, also the type of organ used) is a true unit; all three members at once leading and following, always giving but never hogging, forward moving, not to be denied. One of the best releases of 2005. Man, what a band.

If you want funky instrumental jazz fusion, it's hard to find anything that is as solid as this release!

11 tracks make up this record (13 if you're lucky enough to have the bonus tracks), and every single track is well-composed and features the combination of Novello's groovy Hammond sounds, Chambers's impeccable jazzy drumming, and Sheehan's driving bass work. The trio manages to craft a very solid instrumental work, which each song working together as a whole album and also strongly on their own.

The album runs to about 62 minutes, so if you're not in a jazzy mood, they can grow monotonous towards in the end in one sitting; but that's based purely on how much you are into instrumental and jazz music. Also, because of the nature of the music, compositions, and length, this sometimes feels like a collection of really good songs, rather than one cohesive album that can be split up. Nonetheless, it is hard to find any other faults with this album, and that's just nitpicky.

It is unique, well-written, and definitely full of jazz and prog crunchiness. Check this out if you want to hear some fusion!

A power trio right here folks with Billy Sheehan on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums and John Novello on piano, organ and electric piano. This is a heavy album as the drums and bass create a rock solid foundation with plenty of attitude while John solos over top often changing back and forth a couple of times during a song from organ to piano. They've released six studio albums from 1997 to 2013 and this is number five from 2005. They cover Zappa's "King Kong" very well too but I want to talk about my top five tracks.

First would be "Nemesis" a mid paced and powerful track. The organ dominates early before the piano takes over just before 1 1/2 minutes as the bass and drums continue. Organ is back but the piano will make a return. I have to say that although the bass and drums create a powerful foundation these two guys are so inventive at changing things up over the album. Just blown away by this rhythm section, I wasn't expecting that.

Another top five would be "Magnetic Mood" with that bass, drums and organ leading the way. I tend to lean to the mid paced tracks over the uptempo ones. The tempo does pick up on this one but it settles back too as this continues throughout. When it picks up the bass is so fast and the drumming before 4 minutes is just so impressive. How about "Stumble On The Truth" another mid paced track with attitude. "No Shame" is catchy and heavy and not uptempo. "Clean House" might be my favourite for the bass especially but also the keyboards that sound like clavinet. I have to mention the Canterbury sounding organ on "Footprints In The Sand" so good!

This sounds pretty amazing cranked up. If your a drum and bass fan like I am then "Organik" is a must.