SPACED OUT

The career of Mathieu Bouchard with Spaced Out lasted only a couple of years and he was replaced by newcomer Louis Cote.However he participated on a pair of track recordings of the group's second album, which also featured several guest musicians on acoustic guitars, sax and vocals.The new album ''Eponymus II'' was recorded at Illusion III, L'Astroner and Cyberlogy Studio and came out in 2001, as expected on Unicorn Digital.

Spaced Out is not your typical Fusion band.They have a fairly progressive sound with very complex instrumental structures, full of complicated changes and unexpected breaks, inspired by MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA and BRAND X, and their style is delivered in a very personal way through a modern production and the tendency towards heavier, powerful material.The level of compositions is trully high with very dense instrumental themes, split between virtuosic solos, bombastic interplays and dissonant passages.Technically the band is even better with many ALAN HOLDSWORTH-like guitar runs and quirky keyboards in the vein of DEREK SHERINIAN.All tracks are written by the band's leader Antoine Fafard, the thing that makes Spaced Out so unique.Thus, the bass lines are really upfront in the mix, Farfard's performance is really phenomental and the reason ''Eponymus II'' flirts often with Avant-Fusion.No weak moments in here, just rich, energetic and passionate Progressive/Fusion with tons of shifting climates and pleasant breaks.

Really cool and strongly recommended stuff.Not the best album for Prog beginners, but definitely a nice purchase for fans of complex instrumental Progressive Rock and rising bass stars...3.5 stars.

This is the third album from the Canadian instrumental jazz rockers, and while bassist/keyboard player Antoine Fafard is still very much the leader of the outfit, he is assisted this time not only by drummer Martin Maheuc and pianist Éric St-Jean but also by new member, guitarist Mark Tremblay. This has added another layer to an already complex band, and has given them even more room in which to explore. After an introduction, the next number up is the title track and it shows the band locked in and moving at incredible speed. The use of fretless bass allows Antoine to slide between notes and combined with the extra attack of Mark this has some extremely heavy moments indeed.

For a musical reference, then it would probably be best to compare them with Colosseum II, although always with more of an emphasis on the bass. The guy has immense skill, of that there is no doubt, but he never lets it get too overblown. There is always room for one of the others to come in and take over so that the music never has time enough to get boring, which it well might if the bass was the lead instrument all of the time.

This is an extremely enjoyable album that not only will be enjoyed by lovers of jazz-rock but also by those that like their prog to be a little more adventurous than may be the norm while at all times be extremely listenable and enjoyable.

Originally appeared in Feedback #74, Jun 03

The second album by Spaced Out is much like the first in the sense that it is mostly an instrumental jazz-rock influenced progressive album that is mostly bass-led. That is because bandleader and composer Antoine Fafard is a superb bassist, and has put the band together to play his songs. This quartet are no mean slouches in the instrumental stakes, with guitarist Louis Côté in particularly fine form. Although the songs themselves are structured, the musicians improvised the solo passages yet managed just to keep the right side of total self- indulgence.

I enjoyed playing the album, both when listening intently, or just relaxing with a good glass of red wine, and that is all I ever ask from jazz. Why not visit the label's web site at www.unicornrecords.com.

Originally appeared in Feedback #64, Oct 01

Q: What gives Fusion a bad name? A: An album like this.

No, don't get me wrong, the genre is not against my religion - rather the opposite! Indeed, I am prone to salivate over complex works that demand due attention. That's provided those works "groove". This album is not one of them.

The band is listed under Jazz-Rock/Fusion and under that genre it fails to impress. I hear more of a hybrid between some Metal approaches on Avant-garde foundations coupled with emotionless "jazzy" fills. .

Listening to "Evolution" leaves me in two minds and rather frustrated. The musicianship is just brilliant, the technical skills of each artist are excellent. It's the compositions that leave a lot to be desired. Fragmented and rather nervous rhythms fail to provide a suitable vehicle, but sufficient enough to irritate. Generally directionless compositions studded with bursts of rather sharp solos in places create needless confusion and frustration (in me) soon sets in.

Considering that we are dealing with experienced and highly skilled musicians, I fail to understand the title "Evolution". Perhaps it wasn't meant in musical terms?

Would I listen to this album again? Highly unlikely.

Spaced Out are back with their fourth studio album, although these days it is mostly Antoine Fafard as not only does he write all of the material, provide bass and keyboards but on this album he has also provided guitar for the first time. He has been joined by drummer Martin Maheux and guitarist Mark Tremblay and the result is something that is a step change from what Space Out have been doing before. While the songs are often very much led by the bass there is now a higher keyboard content in the music, with a greater interaction between the players. While the band have previously been introducing some jazz into their work there has now been a move far more into 'straight' prog territory, but with a great deal of complexity.

This is an instrumental album, but it just doesn't seem like it as in many ways this is just an album without words ? there just isn't room within the musical structures for lyrics or voice. Easily their strongest and most complete work to date ? this is Space Out showing that instrumental progressive rock can be extremely dynamic and vital, who needs vocals? If you enjoy prog then you will get a lot out of this. For more details visit www.unicorndigital.com

Spaced Out's 5th studio album sounds just like it's cover, like some sort of mysterious misunderstood leviathan cautiously creeping from a deep slumber. Evolution's fire-breathing atmospheric fusion stylings on this, their fifth album, are saturated with mindboggling combinations of dark bass melodies, harmonizations, polyrythms, manic double kick drumming, angry synths and screaming guitars. Definitely not dinner music or music for elevators even though the CD booklet notes suggest otherwise.

This is a dangerous album that doesn't let up for one nano second. After discovering their 2003 album Slow Gin, I thought to myself "well, this is it. The final plateau in fusion has finally been crossed, I can throw in the towel and move on with my life". I was so wrong when the next monstrosity, Unstable Matter, appeared in 2006 followed by this 2008 crontrivance. Even though all the music ( as on previous Spaced Out albums ) was composed, arranged and written by Université de Montréal music graduate and bass maestro Antoine Fafard, on Evolution all the parts were distributed to the individual players, Marc Tremblay ( guitar ), Marc Maheux ( drums ) Éric St. Jean ( keyboards ) and Alex Argento ( keyboards ) and recorded separately with the resulting frankenstein being a testimony to the massive talent that is present here. Spaced Out's is so difficult to categorize that even Fafard himself has difficulty defining it himself calling it " everything-but-the-kitchen-sink " type music. I've heard it referred to as prog metal, metal fusion as well as a number of other hybrids. Whatever it is it ignores all musical conventions.

The two most down to earth tracks( if you can call them that ) are Octavium and Replication Junction are the closest that the album comes to " traditional " jazz / rock fusion but are still what jazz purists nightmares are made of. My personal favourite is the furious " Furax II " that features some spectacular double handed bass tapping from Fafard that gives way to more conventional lines and then more insane double handed bass tapping . It is also the heaviest & most metallisque track on the album that features guitarist Tremblay at the top of his game with some crazy shredding. " Nemesis " is also along these lines with a ca. 1970s Chick Corea-like keyboard solo from Éric St Jean who has been with Fafard since the beginning of Spaced Out. All the instrumental tracks have cool abstract names that are one way in another tied into the general theme of growth and progress.

The only reservation I would have about the album would be that, even though it is well structured compositionally wise it tends to go off the deep end on the technical side at times. Just a bit ( sarcasm ). If you haven't checked these guys out yet and you're into bands like Liquid Tension Experiment, Planet X or any late seventies Alan Holdsworth then this is definitely not to be missed and could arguably be the best of it's genre going ( another album is on the way as this is written ). Let's go for 5 stars on the evolutionary scale for Spaced Out's Evolution. A modern jazz / metal / rock fusion masterpiece.

I ordered this album just after hearing part of it for the first time ever on the US internet radio broadcasting hosted by Tom Gagliardi. There is no room for progressive, fusion, etc newcomers in South America, invaded by low quality & bad taste production, what makes you stick to old things, sometimes unnecessarily. This is the case. Spaced out outcome "Unstable Matter", as a 2006 release, sounds classical & fresh at the same time. Very well played, creative, obviously influenced by many other fusion & prog bands but yet honest and genuine. Demands more than 1 listening session. Play it open minded. You'll like it.

HELDON + AREA ???

What a powerful sound this is ! When "Seven The Seven" started with heavy drums, I could not help myself shouting "Waohh". They are not only heavy and loud but also very technical. So, the sounds remind me of violent guitar of HELDON (or Red of KING CRIMSON) and technical jazz-rock progression of AREA.

Actually, the highlight of this band is fast and technical bass guitar plays. The combination of the bass and drums sometimes sound like instrumental part of RUSH such as YYZ. This prog music suits physical exercise, so please try this music on when you have.

Spaced Out forth album fom 2006 named Unstable matter released at same label Unicorn, is anothe r worthy album in jazz fusion field, but again only a good album towards great in places and nothing close to a masterpiece, at least for my ears. On this album Space Out raise a bit the bar in musical terms, is even more complex then the one reviewed by me earlier, is with a metallis ctouch here and there, and sometimes is something a la Planet X meets Dream Theater but without that stunning keybords playing, but with a good doze of great musicianship and fusion elements. Not better then Eponymus to me, not bad either, Spaced Out did another great album in their career, but I manage to give only 3 stars again, same proble here, the instrumental passages are sometimes to complex, and to repetative without keeping my ears and brain very entertaining. Here on this album they remain to a 3 line up , the keybordis from Eponymus album left the band, the instrument remaing for handleing to the main man of the band and the bass player Antoine Fafard. He did an exemplary parts again, showing that he is one of the best bass players from the new generation, with a great lines and inventive chops. There vis some excellent interplays between musicians, specially the ones between Fafard on bass and Martin Maheux on drums, excellent moments showing their true talent in this field.To me this album sounds like an organized chaos, a good release for sure but is not quite very enjoyble in places. Anyway 3 stars again for this album, a band that needs to be checked out. The cover art and the booklet is excellent. A good album for sure.

Sapaced Out is a canadian jazz fusion band having a relativly known albums in prog rock circles and very high rated aswell. Eponymus is , of course their second album from 2001 released at Unicorn. First time when I puted my CD to listen I was knocked out by the bass lines made by the main man of the band Antoine Fafard, who is also the producer and main composer of the music. The music is quite complex, combining jazz fusion with some progressive lines here nad there. Anyway the musicianship is top notch, each musician know the instrument very well and created a good fusion album in the end with a very high intensity and up tempo arrangements. A very solid album, and a worthy band to be discovered more and more by the genre lovers, but I don't think this album at least desearve the status of masterpiece. Sometimes, the music is pushed to far to complex arrangements just for the sake of showing how good I am as musician , instead for the sake of the piece and composition, and for that matter easely may find this album uninstristing in some places. Anyway a good album, even great in places who desearves from me 3-3.5 stars, but no more then an great adittion to anyone's collection. I know albums better and way intristing from this field then this Eponymus