Combining virtuosic tapping, ferocious shredding, and deep hooks, Controlled Chaos is the debut solo album from versatile American guitarist Nita Strauss, who first caught the metal scene's attention playing in the all-female Iron Maiden tribute band the Iron Maidens and the popular West Coast hard rock/glam metal outfit Femme Fatale. Citing influences like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, and composer Johann Strauss, the latter of whom is actually a distant relative, the 11-track instrumental set delivers a lethal blend of melody and might.
Larsen Rupin is a Swiss avant-jazz quartet that was founded in 1990 in Neuchâtel. This unique quartet is formed of Daniel Spanhi (drums) who was also a member of Débile Menthol, Nimal and L'Ensemble rayé, Gilbert Ummel (saxophone, vocals), André Schenk (bass) and Julien Baillod (guitars), who joined the band in 2008, to replace Pier-Luigi Pision, their first guitarist. Larsen Rupin released three albums. Their first album, A Ban, came out in 1992 and featured only three members of the actual band (Spahni/Ummel/Schenk). Their second album was released in 2003 and named Contredanses. On this album, you can hear a great dark, avant-progressive sound. The third album is called Procès Verbal and was released in 2007, as a quartet with Pisino on guitars joining the trio of the first two albums.
R.E.M. abandoned the enigmatic post-punk experiments of Murmur for their second album, Reckoning, returning to their garage pop origins instead. Opening with the ringing "Harborcoat," Reckoning runs through a set of ten jangle pop songs that are different not only in sound but in style from the debut…
Does this five-CD box set feature an abundance of essential material? Certainly. It has all four of the studio albums released by the Lou Reed-led lineup, and a wealth of previously unreleased goodies. Is it an essential purchase? That depends on your level of fanaticism. Most serious Velvet fans have all four of the core studio albums already (although the third, self-titled LP is presented in its muffled, so-called "closet" mix), and will be most interested in the previously unavailable recordings, which do hold considerable fascination…