THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: jason bieler

Haken – Fauna

October 25, 2023 /

This is album number seven for one of the Uk’s finest prog/metal bands who never fail to deliver. For some bands, you find yourself skipping tracks when playing their album, but I never do that with Haken. There is not a dull wasted moment in any of their releases, and this very well could be their best yet.

Taurus gets things moving nicely with their trademark down and deep riffage as well as beautiful vocals and melodies. Nightingale is one of may favourite tunes of the year. It has some old school Prog vibes welded to modern heaviness that twists and changes like a chameleon throughout the song. Epic stuff! The Alphabet Of Me follows and starts with a pop vibe and vocal which changes quickly into a world music/funk groove that Peter Gabriel would be proud of, before the crunch takes over. All of that is in the first minute and thirty seconds of the song. There are enough ideas on this album that would keep more mere mortal bands in supply for albums.

Sempiternal Beings is a thing of joy. It had a beautiful first section, then a wicked groove is added and then the guitars, building layers is the key to this song. Beneath The White Rainbow is my favourite track. An epic odd time riffage opens up the piece, then a melancholic vocal is added before maximum crunch returns. I love the groove and swing to this one. The bass and groove to Islands In The Clouds is a delight, just like the whole record.

Lovebite has a phrenetic beginning that slips right into a smooth jazz/pop section before the heavy returns. Elephants Never Forget reminds me a tad of Queen with its majestic intro before entering into Zappaville. It is one of the more epic tracks on the album. We close out the album with Eyes Of Ebony, probably the most chill tune on the album and if I was the one to pick a single off the record, then this would be it. It is a huge sprawling masterpiece that takes you on a ride through varying musical styles.

A superb record.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

JASON BIELER & The Baron Avon Bielski Orchestra – Postcards From The Asylum

October 17, 2023 /

This is the fourth solo album, but only the second using the Baron Von Bielski Orchestra title. I loved the first album and if anything, this is even better. It has massive sounding songs with multi layered vocals, weird interludes, heavy guitars, and superb vocal melodies. If anyone has heard the Saigon Kick albums that he sang on and wrote, you will know what to expect, even though he takes that a lot further here.

Bombay opens up the album and man, what a killer opening tune. Super heavy riffing with a hook and melody to die for. Numb takes that heavy guitar mixed with a native beat and groove into something that sounds familiar but feels brand new, and the vocals are something else. Superb tune and my favourite! The riff to Heathens is so good and that hook and chorus is just superb. Mexico feels like a McCartney tune, especially with the piano and vocal. Birds Of Prey follows and the vocals will floor you. The layers and harmonies are stunning. Flying Monkeys has Marco Minneman on the pots and pans, this is a s close you will get to a Zappa song. The guitar, bass, and vocal are playing the same part until you get to the main hook and chorus. I would love to see this played live.

Sic Riff is indeed just that, a down deep and low riff with matching groove. A great sounding acoustic opens up The Depths. The Baron shows what a great and unique sounding voice he possesses. Beautiful song! Awesome multi layered vocals to open up Beneath The Waves over what is basically a simple chord pattern, but it works so well. Sweet Eliza follows and I guess you would describe this as a ballad. This one is all about the vocals. Great song! A psychedelic intro to 9981 Darkness that seems to carry that vibe all the way through the tune. T

he heavy guitar returns with Feels Just Like Love. This song feels like an old rock n’ roll tune in the verse, but when we get to the hook and chorus it’s more like being in a church choir. I know that sounds odd, but this song is a delight. Bear Sedatives is next, and what a name for a tune. This has a twisted lullaby feel to it. Deep Blue follows and Yes circa 90125 springs to mind, I’m in awe of how Mr. Bieler has the ability to weave the most amazing vocal melodies into all his music. We close out the album with Human Head. Another super clear acoustic piece with matching vocal.

There are so many different vibes and grooves on this record, it is a total joy to play. If there was any justice in the world Jason Bieler would be playing sell out tours and his music would be selling in its millions. A wonderful album that everyone should own.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

JASON BIELER AND THE BARON VON BIELSKI ORCHESTRA – Songs For The Apocalypse

May 4, 2021 /

For the uninitiated amongst us who are unaware of who Mr. Bieler is, he was the musical driving force behind Saigon Kick. Most of the strange musical interludes of that band can be attributed to him, and the vibe here is very similar. Other than a ton of special guest appearances (playing mostly solo pieces), Jason sings the majority of the songs, plays most of the guitars, and plays the keys. The cover and artwork scream Steampunk and it’s a great image for the concept.

The opening tune is an eerie musical piece that introduces the album properly with the heavy riff that accompanies Apology. A great tune with superb melody and lyrics. Bring Out Your Dead is another cracking tune with a great D-tuned riff with fantastic melodies and vocals. Very melodic but in a different way that is refreshing and has me wishing that Saigon Kick were still with us.

Side 2 starts with a ticking clock as the intro to Annalise before a great off beat drum groove takes you to Prog territory. Yes spring to mind at first, but it’s a lot more than that – such a fantastic unusual tune. Stones Will Fly follows and has Extreme’s Pat Badger on bass. It sort of carries on from the previous song as it has that Prog vibe to it. I love music that challenges the listener and is away from the norm, and this is definitely that – both strange and familiar at the same time. Down In A Hole closes out Side 2 in fine style with a heavy groove and staccato drumming, but it’s the vocal melodies that get you, and I love the middle section.

Over to Side 3 we go with the power pop tune, Anthem For Losers. This a great tune, and the type of song that I wish the charts were full of. Horror Wobbles The Hippo is a short jazzy connecting piece with brings is into Beyond Hope – another fantastic oddity of a tune. There is a reggae/rock groove, a Jamaican style vocal from Benji of Skindred, and a solo from Bumblefoot. Epic stuff – more please! Crab Claw Dan brings Side 3 to a close, and starts with a Victorian fairground vibe and those wonderful layered harmonies.

A killer riff starts off Side 4 opener, Born Of The Sun, and we’re in Prog metal territory. Another killer tune – when will the pleasure end! Baby Driver is next, and is another wonderfully strange instrumental piece. Then we have Alone In The World with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals, and it’s another delightful oddity. Very Fine People is an acoustic driven piece, but again it’s the vocals and harmonies that soar above the music. A strange little piece FKSWYSO closes out the album and the line “You’re still a fat kid swimming with your shirt on” is stuck in my brain. It’s a joy to hear that such challenging and beautiful music is still being made, especially in the melodic rock world where every band seems stuck in 1983.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2024 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑