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Djam Karet: Regenerator 3017
ByThe big bass and pulsating cadences remain intact, but unlike older Djam Karet outings, this album is not designed with a search and destroy mantra, ablaze with streaming guitars and thrusting crescendos. However, even in these instances, the band always brings a keenly melodic gait to the table and not primarily concerned with endless riffing and tricky time signatures just for the sake of it.
Guitarists Mike Henderson and Mike Murray intermittently juice the proceedings up atop slow grooves and climactic buildups, although "Wind Pillow" morphs into a stately rock-anthem of sorts amid Ellett's silvery synth lines that etch the primary hook. Moreover, echoes of "Dark Side of the Moon" era Pink Floyd come to mind. As the following piece "Lost Dreams" is steeped in a hard-rocking blues vamp and smoothed with ambient sub-motifs.
The final track "On the Edge of the Moon," kicks off with sublime acoustic pianos and accenting electronics effects that swirl into a symphonic rock opus, leading to a circular ostinato breakout. At eight and one-half minutes it's the lengthiest work. Here, Ellett's corpulent Moog notes contrast the steamy guitar parts, bleached with a soulful edge that segues into grandiose choruses towards the finale. Ultimately, they redevelop a classic framework into a bracing philosophy, largely spiked with an effervescent modern era discourse.
Track Listing
Prince of the Inland Empire; Living in the Future Past; Desert Varnish; Wind Pillow; Lost Dreams; Empty House; On the Edge of the Moon.
Personnel
Gayle Ellett: electric guitar, Rhodes, moog, mellotron, solina, Greek bouzouki, field recordings; Mike Henderson: electric guitar, percussion; Mike Murray: electric guitar; Henry Osborne: bass, piano, keyboards, Chuck Owen Jr.: drums, percussion, keyboards & effects; Mark Cook: Warr guitar (2).
Album information
Title: Regenerator 3017 | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced