Disen Gage - "The Screw-Loose Entertainment"
(R.A.I.G. 2004, R004)
Disen Gage - "The Screw-Loose Entertainment"
(R.A.I.G. 2004, R004)
From Aural Innovations #29 (October 2004)
This is the second CD I have reviewed from the Russian Association for Independent Genres. This is an all instrumental progressive rock unit from Moscow. The CD contains 10 tracks plus a bonus section with 3 additional ones (Live from 2002). The band consists of two guitars, bass and drums. One of the guitar players and the bass player share keyboard duties as well. Not sure how they do it live. Anyway, the CD begins with some spaced out synthesizers before the guitars kick in and the track takes off. This is one of the most spacey tracks on the CD. The band for sure will remind you of bands like Djam Karet and King Crimson (new). All the tracks are in the 3-4 minute range so no long jams develop as I would like with this kind of music. There are not outright Russian sounding influences on this record. If you did not know it before hand you would never know they were from Russia. "Kategeriin" features some spoken word and is a bit like Colour Star from Hungary, with a mixture of a hypnotic bass lines and spaced out synths. Cool song. "Arabia" is very King Crimson inspired, especially some of the guitar parts. The CD production is very clean and lacks a bit of punch in the sound. Overall, quite an excellent and surprising debut! I wonder if they will ever get to play in the West???
For more information you can visit the Russian Association of Independent Genres (R.A.I.G.) web site at: http://www.raig.ru.
Email at: raigmusic@hotmail.com.
Reviewed by Scott Heller