CD Review: Honeybird's 'Out Comes Woman'

Honeybird
Out Comes Woman
Duckhead Green Music

Honeybird incorporates a variety of world, jazz, urban, classical, and pop elements on Out Comes Woman. The fourteen tracks are uniquely-named and equally-enthralling from a musical perspective. Some of the titles include, "TMBLGBT," "Ex-Spearmint," and "Bi Dead Chickens." Some of the vocals are arranged in a scat jazz setting, while others are set in a theatrical or artsy context with whimsical instrumentation and short or fast beats. This is not a power pop album or rock album, for that matter. Instead, it is filled with poignant melodies, diverse vocals, and varied instrumentation arranged in delicate ways. The vocals are often reduced in more of a spoken word or poetic delivery--especially on "Wanted In Wanted Out." At any rate, Honeybird creates some sweet tunes for anyone looking for something different. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Eleonor's 'Erros'

Eleonor
Erros
Music & Words

Belgium's Eleonor mixes folk, roots, jazz, neo-classical, fado, and pop and weaves it into beautiful delicacies lead by her emotive vocals. The ten-track album features a variety of instruments, including the double-bass, bass, guitar, piano, drums, oud, accordion, and cello. The soulful, "Salve," is a ballad with strong ties to French jazz and neo-classical influences. The piano adds a nostalgic ambiance to most of the songs. However, Eleonor's voice moves the songs into greater dimensions with such ease and fluidity. As a whole, there are plenty  of calming grooves here. Anyone into great music with great vocals will like it. Everything comes together in just the right proportions for it to be a highly-recommended work of musical art. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Gaudi's 'In Between Times'

Gaudi
In Between Times
Six Degrees Records

Born in Italy, based in the UK, and currently traveling the world, Gaudi encapsulates the world fusion epitomy with electronic beats, traditional instrumentation, and groovy dance tunes. There are a plethora of guest musicians that reinforce the highly-textural nature of the compositions. For instance, Michael Rose adds some vocals on "Put Your Guns Down," while Jahmai, Danny Ladwa, Lee Scratch Perry, and Deadly Hunta add their talents on "Life," "Why U Wanna Run" and "Unlimited Possibilities," "I Start To Pray," and "Babylon Is Fallin," respectively. The music is a mix of fusion, dance, reggae, rock, electronic, hip-hop, and rap. This is not really a purist type of album, but a fusionist will be right at home. Anyone into world fusion with a contemporary pulse will find Gaudi very appealing. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: International String Trio's 'Movie Night'

International String Trio
Movie Night
Self-Release

A star-studded cast of musicians present us with an array of instrumental tunes from familiar films, but the music is created with a classy repertoire of guitar, bass, and violin. Ben Powell on violin, Slava Tolstoy on guitar, and Ippei Ichimaru on bass, round out the international group of musicians on the new album. Stemming from Russia, Japan, and England, the musicians grace the songs with an international flair and cultural display of cinematic performances. The music is not exactly note for note on each filmic tune, but the basic melodies are still there. You will here music from Forrest Gump, Latcho Drom, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Singin' In The Rain, Chocolat, Schindler's List, Anastasia, Eyes Wide Shut, Laura, Doctor Zhivago, and Ken Burns' The Civil War. The music is very classical, jazzy, and tango-driven. The fusion-style is relatively pronounced throughout, but the classical undertones are paramount. Fans of filmic scores, instrumental tunes, and classical music will love the International String Trio. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Exit Project's 'Livesplashes'

Exit Project
Livesplashes
Creative Commons

Exit Project is a Russian-based group that transcends description, but the genre-bending styles and musical exploits of the group traverse the world of nu-jazz, electronica, downtempo, fusion, and experimental realms. The rather limited use of vocals allows the instrumentation to lead the charge throughout. The percussion displays and ambient washes combine with evocative club-beats and groovy melodies with multiple personalities to provide an extremely engaging result. However, only four tracks are included on the album. The lack of tracks does not connote lack of quality. The four tracks are morsel-filled with scrumptious delights of ear candy for the heart, soul, and everything in-between. Not quite as electronic as Tangerine Dream, Exit Project does indeed follow TD with some familiar characteristics of percussion and arrangements. Fans of experimental, fusion, jazz, and improvisational instrumental music should check out Russia's Exit Project. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bayonics' 'Mission Statement'

Bayonics
Mission Statement
Self-Release

The classic, funk-driven melodies of a ten-piece band, Bayonics, is based in San Francisco. Mission Statement is a culmination of various genres, including funk, fusion, hip-hop, reggae, jazz, down-tempo, and Latin-infused music. The contemporary rhythms and vocals contain a plethora of influences that all boil down to good clean funky music with no side effects--except for the constant desire to move one's feet and body upon hearing the music of Mission Statement. The eleven tracks reflect a different musical progression rarely observed in the Bay area, because many new groups tend to stick to urban, dance grooves with some world music elements. Instead, Bayonics pave the way for Latin-infused concoctions of danceable grooves and beats with no signs of slowing down. Mission Statement is the new soundtrack to the Bay area's city limits. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Taal Tantra Experience's 'Sixth Sense'

The Taal Tantra Experience
Sixth Sense
Ozella Music

The Germany-based group, The Taal Tantra Experience, is a mesmerizing mix of European and Indian musical worlds coming together to form a dizzying, jazzy core with loads of percussion, improvisation, and fast, vocals. The group includes a plethora of performers--most notably--Debashish Bhattacharya on slide guitar, as well as tabla player and vocalist, Tanmoy Bose; saxophonists, Tilmann Dehnhard and Jan von Klewitz; bassist Max Hughes, and a number of percussions, guitarists, and singers. The result is a fluid mix of swirling incense wafting through the bratwurst-tinged kitchens of European homes. At times, the music is slow, repetitive, and sensually appealing. At other times, the music is tantric, jazzy, lounge-centered, and fusion-focused. The angelic vocals, heady percussion, and various arrangements produce a sound unlike that of the Indian sub-continent. However, the music is chiefly Indian, but created in such a way to evoke the improvisational arm of musical ingenuity. Sixth Sense is a rousing album particularly relevant for the world fusion or jazz listener with a knack for Indo-European sensibilities. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Tarana's 'After The Disquiet (EP)'

Tarana
After The Disquiet (EP)
Self-Release

Tarana's live release of four songs recorded at The Bop Shop in Rochester, New York on March 8, 2011, borders on Indian, classical, downtempo, and electronic genres. The amalgamation of sounds from drums, electronics, and Trina Basu's violin, provides a solid, improvisational-like quality to the music. The four songs are: "Disposable," "Night Song," "Black Teeth of Trees," and "Hava." Actually, "Have" and "Disposable" are the only two songs directly influenced by India, while "Black Teeth of Trees" is a stirring ode of electronica delight without all the showy trance or dance beats of the hottest night-club. Instead, the song weaves its way through a dark world of odd sounds and the drone of a violin. "Night Song" is jazz-influenced and a musical nod to jazz-bassist, Wilber Morris. The wholly instrumental album is a modern romp in the world of spacey, urban, and ethnic electronica. Despite its short length, Tarana creates memorable tracks that seem to last a lot longer than time would allow. Still, adventurous electronica fans with an Indian twist would relish this release the most. ~ Matthew Forss