John Edmonds - "When Schemes Come True"
(self-released 2003, JEN91)
John Edmonds - "When Schemes Come True"
(self-released 2003, JEN91)
Uploaded to Aural Innovations: January 2004
This is John’s second release, but was actually recorded before last year’s ‘Subzerosonic’. If you are a fan of John’s Chapman Stick playing (I am), there is no Stick on this album. It was recorded before John started playing the Stick and features him playing the guitar and the electronic orchestra.
Like ‘Subzerosonic’ was not an exercise in Stick flash, this is not an exercise in guitar flash. It’s a selection of melodies that have no words. It’s fairly orchestrated, and has lots of other instruments (John has a black belt in sequencing). The songs lean towards prog, but they are really just songs with no real definable pigeonhole. I suppose comparing this to ‘Subzerosonic’ actually makes it John’s-music-(but-not-with-a-Stick).
Of course I like it. You won’t find me disliking much of the music I review and I have yet to find any Chapman Stick music that I dislike. That of course has nothing to do with the fact that I also play a Chapman Stick. Back to the review: I was a little miffed that there was no Stick on it. I played it over and over trying to pick the Stick out. I’m really dedicated; I’m sure it would have helped if I had read the liner notes first.
Anyway, good playing and good production values. The tunes are nice, all instrumental, interesting. A great CD (even without the Stick).
For more information you can visit the John Edmonds web site at: http://www.johnedmonds.net.
Email at: je@johnedmonds.net.
Reviewed by Louis Hesselt-van-Dinter