Lovers And Strangers - Hans Koller

Advantages: First true orchestral outing since 200 Motels
Disadvantages: Slightly Muddy sound, Early synclavier sounds

...I've been a fan of Zappa for many years, and could probably bore you to tears with the minutiae of every song, every piece of music released over the last 40 years. BUT here is my unbiased view of this particular offering. This album is a collection of chamber works commisioned by the Ensemble InterContemporian, interspersed with some early works for Synclavier (here cited as the Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort). The Ensemble InterContemporian perform three works on the album - The Perfect Stranger being the only substantially new work (Naval Aviation in Art? dating from around 1975/1976 being released on Orchestral Favorites and later on Lather, and Dupree's Paradise dating from around 1972/1973, but not actually released in it's original form until after the Perfect Stranger!). The remainder - Girl... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Excellent musicianship, Superb production, Great lyrics
Disadvantages: Not to everyone's musical taste

...The Kindess of Strangers was the third outing for the quintet known as Spock's Beard, and their first release last release before going to Inside Out Records. Released in 1997, the CD is the colaborative work of Neal Morse (Lead Vocals, Keys, Guitar), his brother Alan Morse (Lead Guitar, Vocals, Cello), Dave Meros (Bass, Vocals), Ryo Okumoto (Keys), and Nick D'Virgilio (Drums, Vocals). Over the 56 minutes of music, you are subjected to a variety of aural pleasures, from the upbeat and somewhat querky 'In the Mouth of Madness' to the lush accousticy 'June'. What becomes clear through listening is just how good a songwriter Neal Morse is. The songs are well thought, the lyrics outare somewhat intriguing(until you figure out what they're really about) and it's very interesting to listen to from a musical perspective. I think what makes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Superb incorporation of classical scales into Rock, great riffs and leads.
Disadvantages: Rainbow's last album

...to the number as Ritchie flies on another classical lead scale as the Intro Riff goes on. The drumming complements the riff beautifully as does White's vocals. The pace of the song continues into the verse, and into the chorus. Ther are some great Vocal Harmoies during the chorus and the words 'Stranger in Us All' are heard. The leads are simply superb in this song - first there's an acoustic patch on which ritchie plays a lead immediately followed by a great keyboard solo by Paul Morris. You have to hear this to believe it..Again, blackmore takes off on a lead patch always emphasizing the influence of the scale. A superb number that just shows that Blackmore is in a class of his own - showing why Deep Purple were such a huge success. Silence, which is the next song, is a very groovy number again standing out for the guitar riffs. Hall... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful