'She Rocks, Vol. 1' [Review]
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Although it's 2017, the question of whether or not women belong in rock and metal remains an emotional trigger point for many fans. Despite its status as an all-inclusive genre that provides shelter for those used to being excluded by others, heavy music still harbours a perhaps small but nonetheless extremely vocal element set on rabidly tearing down any musician in possession of big riffs, buckets of attitude, and non-phallic genitalia.
With She Rocks Vol. 1, Favored Nations – the record label run by world-renowned guitar wizard Steve Vai – has set out a resounding rebuke that should by rights silence sexists and provide more open minds with plenty of great music on which to feast. It's pretty sad that this release will prove controversial in some quarters, but oh well. She Rocks isn't the kind of album that's going to meekly turn tail and flee, and we're not about to turn back the clock and embrace the gender-related values of the 1950s again.
It's not a case of "women can rock".
They already do. Read more…
Tags: Experimental, Fusion, Instrumental Guitar, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Metal, Rock, Shred
Marco Minnemann – 'Schattenspiel' [Review]
Music is freedom. It has no limits bar the human imagination and a given musician's physical ability – and over the course of history, many have challenged those limits to find still more territory to explore. If you're looking for a contemporary example, look no further than Marco Minnemann.
True artists have their own voice, their own signature style. You can tell it's them within a few bars at the most. In Marco Minnemann's case, those bars are unlikely to fit some standardized 4/4 cookie cutter mould. Neither will his chords of choice be…shall we say…orthodox. The same, of course, goes for his melodies.
Schattenspiel – German for 'shadow play' – is an appropriately dark album that sees Read more…
Tags: Experimental, Fusion, Instrumental, Metal, Prog, Rock
Project RnL [Interview]
Music bloggers have Spinal Tap moments too.
While attempting to locate Project RnL for this interview, I spent so much time exploring the 800-capacity O2 Academy Islington that I felt like I was living this scene from This Is Spinal Tap. Eventually, thanks to the shining example of advanced technological wizardry that is Gmail, the plan came together. So began one of the most fun interviews I've ever done…
You're nearing the end of a long European tour. How're you feeling right now?
Or Lubianiker (Bass): We're feeling pretty good, because we got this massive opportunity to take our music and perform it live for audiences, and get a lot of really positive feedback about what we've been working on back home in Israel, where our audience is very devoted, but not as diverse as you get when you go on the road.
You get to field-test both the band and the music – and to be honest, I feel like Read more…
Tags: Fusion, Pop, Prog, Rock
Ozric Tentacles / Project RnL [Live Review – O2 Academy Islington, London, 19/3/2016]
You probably know how it feels to follow a band across the immaterial expanse of the Internet for years, and get super hyped up when you finally get the chance to see them live. When you were going through that experience, a lot of thoughts probably crossed your mind.
Is the show going to be worth the trip?
What if it all goes wrong?
That kind of thing.
Imagine, then, the level of pressure placed on the band themselves. When expectations run high, you need to Read more…
Tags: Electronica, Fusion, Instrumental, Pop, Prog, Psychedelic, Rock
Marco Minnemann – 'Above The Roses' [Review]
Calling Marco Minnemann prolific is a little bit of an understatement. This guy is easily one of the hardest-working drummers on the weirder side of showbiz, playing on no fewer than five of TMMP's Top Albums Of 2015. That's one studio album (Tres Caballeros) and one live album (Culture Clash Live!) as part of fusion trio The Aristocrats; one studio album with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani (Shockwave Supernova, TMMP's top album of the year alongside Jon Gomm's Live In The Acoustic Asylum); one studio album with Porcupine Tree frontman and prog godfather Steven Wilson (Hand. Cannot. Erase.); and, finally, an 18-track beast of a solo album called Celebration.
Phew. That's just Marco Minnemann's recorded output, too; add in countless Read more…
Warning – Guitargasm Ahead: The Aristocrats Join Joe Satriani & Steve Vai For G3 2016!
Guitar fans: start your salivating!
Last year, Joe Satriani's Shockwave Supernova was named TMMP's Top Album Of 2015, alongside Jon Gomm's Live In The Acoustic Asylum. Also present on that list were The Aristocrats (with Tres Caballeros and Culture Clash Live), and the inimitable Steve Vai (with Stillness In Motion: Vai Live In L.A.).
This means that G3 2016, set to kick off in Italy on July 2, will Read more…
Tags: Fusion, Instrumental, Instrumental Guitar, Metal, Rock, Shred
Sean Ashe – 'Flux' [Review]
If you love getting lost in oceans of warm, seductive notes, Flux should be top of your 2016 wish list. Sean Ashe is a sublime guitarist, and with this collection of gorgeous instrumental tunes, he hits the sweetest of sweet spots.
A sense of pure, unadulterated joy permeates opener Imagine (deep-pocketed grooves, sensual tones, a graceful piano solo) and Memory Lane, the latter of which skips playfully from slinky licks to what sounds like Read more…
Tags: Fusion, Instrumental, Instrumental Guitar, Rock, Shred
Intervals [Interview]
Welcome to 2016! With a new year stretching off into the distance, I talked to Intervals mastermind Aaron Marshall about the story behind The Shape Of Colour – a release crammed with instrumental guitar-driven excellence that ranks as one of my favourite albums of 2015…
You've really had to fight to make The Shape Of Colour a reality. Could you please explain the story behind Intervals' latest evolutionary shift?
I'm not sure I would say it was a fight as much as it was a test of my will.
Essentially, Intervals began as sort of an accident. I had one song for whatever my next project would be (at the time) and a good friend of mine insisted to shoot a "play through" video of the tune. I had no real intention of releasing it, but he convinced me that I needed to put it on the Internet.
Without being too long-winded, everything sort of snowballed Read more…
TMMP's Top Albums Of 2015 [Feature]
2015 has been a big year, soundtracked by a slew of spectacular albums. Picking an overall favourite was a pretty stressful task – and in the end, Jon Gomm's gorgeous collection of live fan picks and what is, in my opinion, the definitive modern-day Joe Satriani album both had to go on top.
Deciding who would ultimately top the tree was made infinitely easier by putting them in alphabetical order by surname; if you put a gun to my head and demanded I choose between Jon Gomm and Joe Satriani in terms of quality, you'd just have to shoot me. They're two sides of the same coin, Jon Gomm representing the acoustic world, Satriani the electric. Put together, these guys represent almost unparalleled guitaristic virtuosity.
In joint second place, you'll find a whole host of alphabetised winners who would each be done a terrible injustice were they to be placed in a lower position. From legends with glittering careers spanning decades to stunning comeback albums and a fair few brand new names facing bright and hopeful futures, TMMP's top albums of 2015 are all here.
Dive in – there's a lot to get stuck into – and follow TMMP via Twitter for more from the world of world-class music in 2016!
1) Jon Gomm – Live In The Acoustic Asylum
1) Joe Satriani – Shockwave Supernova
2) Read more…
Tags: Acoustic Virtuoso, Blues, Dub, Dubstep, Electronica, Experimental, Fusion, Hardcore, Instrumental, Instrumental Guitar, Jazz, Math-Rock, Mathcore, Metal, Metalcore, Post-Hardcore, Prog, Prog Metal, Rap-Metal, Reggae, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Solo Piano, Tech-Metal
The Aristocrats Talk Fistfights, Touring, And Robot Pigs [Interview]
Right now, The Aristocrats are one of the most infamous fusion-oriented bands on the planet. If you're a regular TMMP reader, you're probably well aware of them by now – but if you're new and curious, or your memory needs refreshing, click here for many a reason to become a fan.
Besides being generous with their notes, these noble gentlemen are also generous with their time. With a four-month European tour kicking off in Cologne on November 16th before winding its way across the continent, TMMP talked to The Aristocrats about fistfights, touring, coffee, and robot pigs…
You're three of the hardest-working musicians on the planet, and you have a hectic European tour running from November until February! How do you keep yourselves gig-ready amidst such a chaotic schedule?
Bryan Beller (Bass): Lots and lots of coffee. And naps. And then more coffee.
Guthrie Govan (Guitar): I always thought that being gig-ready should actually be easier if you're gigging constantly, and that "rust" would be more likely to kick in after taking a long break from playing.
Marco Minnemann (Drums): Comfortable travel schedule, good sleep and good food. That helps. After the show…whatever happens.
What are your pre-show rituals?
Bryan: A nap. And then coffee.
Guthrie: Finding a secret smoking area.
Marco: Reclusiveness.
What's the most awkward onstage situation you've ever had to deal with?
Bryan: I once got in a fistfight with the drummer from the band going on after us. 10 people jumped in. It happened onstage and Read more…
Tags: Fusion, Instrumental, Jazz