Describing Errol's music [it isn’t actually his - more on this later] is a little difficult, as it is not like a lot of other music you may be familiar with. It is certainly guitar music, but perhaps a little different from other guitar music you may have heard. Rather then song writing or storytelling, the objective is to describe a moment or a feeling. These occur in a frozen point in time. They are fragments, not necessarily in a series or a part of a puzzle. They exist as entities in themselves, in a similar manner as a De Stijl painting exists as an entity in itself. This does not mean the music is unapproachable, quite the contrary.
Collecting two decades of smash hits on one blockbuster release, multiplatinum music icon Kid Rock will unleash Greatest Hits You Never Saw Coming on Friday, September 21 via Warner Bros. Records.
Lo and behold, 17 years ago Amon Ra released their debut album „Precarious Balance“, receiving a warm welcome from rock magazines around the globe. The album eventually went on to become a highly praised insider tip in prog circles, pulling in fans of Rush or Dream Theater as well as fans of the early Elton John. In the wake of its release, the band joined the German leg of SAGA’s world tour alongside being booked for shows as guests for main acts like Jethro Tull. In spite of being co-produced by a member of a famous progressive rock band, the follow-up album went down in the flames of a business fiasco. A fate the band shares with so many others, leading to the discontinuation of all live and studio activities. "We Never Said Good-bye" is an ironic take on the band's history, and a tour de force comprising of 12 songs from the German American band.
The material on this date falls comfortably within the realm of what the ECM label is famous for; meticulously recorded, lyrical chamber music (and the requisite lush reverb is ever present). In addition to leader Erskine, the playing and writing of English pianist, John Taylor, is featured. Taylor is an excellent technician with considerable harmonic agility; his approach is heavily influenced by Bill Evans via Keith Jarrett. Bassist Palle Danielsson completes a very sympathetic, highly interactive rhythm section. "Evans Above" and "Pure & Simple" are by Taylor, whose writing tends to conjour an English pastoral aesthetic and often has elements of so-called new age piano music, a left hand ostinato for example. To Taylor's credit, however, his compositions never get as predictable as most music in that genre. The same is true of writer Vince Mendoza, whose tunes are also featured on this recording.
From Tasmania, Australia & introduced to Europe by blues master Dave Hole in 1994, Rob Tognoni delivers a 100% powerfully charged experience with every performance. There is simply no compromise, which is strongly evident in his music. After 40 years his explosive guitar playing and unique songs are now being compared with the greats of his genre and have firmly established him in the European venues & festivals as well as gaining many fans of hard blues rock worldwide.