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Find this CD at Abstractlogix.com for bargain price!Bozzio Levin Stevens: Situation Dangerous (CD, 48:13); Magna Carta, MA-9049-2, 2000 E-mail: slambozzio@aol.com Cyberhome: http://www.magnacarta.net 10 words or less: The second amazing improvised session by these very talented musicians Elaboration: If you haven't heard the first album by these 3 dudes; Black Light Syndrome then you'll need to buy both. Terry Bozzio is simply put, one of the absolute finest Rock drummers extant. Tony Levin is more than likely the number one preferred Bassist of choice for countless superstar artists of progressive music. Arguably the most in demand musician of our time. Steve Stevens is a virtuoso Rock guitarist on par with Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson or Steve Morse. Together these musicians create a symbiotic unit that knows no boundaries. Situation Dangerous startled me at first, kicking off with a riff that I could swear I've heard by the Punk/New Wave band Killing Joke. "Dangerous" starts with a fast, heavy, rhythmic, Metalesque crunch that instantly grabs the listener as if to say 'this is not a repeat of BLS'. That riff gives way to a slow, ominous bridge that feels like a hallucinogenic night walk through the woods in a Sci-Fi movie. "Endless" is up next. A mellow piece with Levin playing the first lead on bowed electric Cello over a midi- generated Sitar chord progression. It is the longest tune on the album and starts morphing into a Jazzy improv that builds through the bridge and releases, morphing again into a heavy, polyrhythmic Rock riff over which Stevens plays an angst ridden solo that takes us through the fade out. Next up is "Crash", a moving rocker in 9/4 that invokes Joe Satriani in a progressive way. "Spiral" is a floating piece in 6/8 that includes some flamenco-styled guitar alternately building and releasing against a backdrop of midi driven sustains climaxing in some blistering Flamenco picking. "Melt" is a slow dreamy, almost Floydian tune with nods to mello Crimso. Up next is "Tragic", starting off slow but strong, almost hypnotic before stepping up via unison lines into a complex, heavy structure before blasting off into a Fusiony, Ozric Tentacle style fury of maddening proportions then suddenly returning to the beginning riff. "Tziganne" is the overtly Flamenco-styled composition on the album. This features Bozzio playing a melodic lead on his piccolo toms, quite a tasty piece this French Gypsy. The final track is "Lost". On this one they capture a Metalesque impression of Ozric Tentacles or perhaps Ship of Fools with Classical/Flamenco overtones, multi-layered, unique and powerful. You'll have to excuse me now while I go empty my drool cup. ~ L Perez
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CD review for fAZE 3 magazine Black Light Syndrome (1997) -Bozzio, Levin, and Stevens contact info: Magna Carta/ 208 East 51st Street/ #1820, NY, NY 10022 Ph: 716-381-5224/Fax: 716-381-0658 Email: magcart@aol.com http://www.magnacarta.net/ Yes, yes, yes!! Sweet! This CD grows on ya fast. I have listened to this CD over and over and over and hear new treasures! This is the cool stuff that instrumental rock is meant for, no filler, no flash, just free-form, inspired majesty. This power trio has famous roots and they've brought it all together masterfully. First cut, "The Sun Road" starts off like a tune off of David Gilmour's first solo album and then vanishes into a driving power chorded, surge of soulful rock. Remember those tunes where the vocalist shut up and then the band started a finale jam that the lame DJ would fadeout just as you were getting into it? This cut picks up and takes off where the great jams quit too soon. Next "Dark Corners" is a heavy, PHAT, rocker that pulls you under its powerful whirlpool of guitar, bass, drummed frenzy. MAN!! Turn it up!! Stevens tortures the guitar into absolute submission without ANY predictable riffs. What soul, what fire, what honest rock! Levin looms everywhere and Bozzio flows in a polyrhythmic jungle. Fine interactive tension amd execution everywhere. This stuff goes way beyond King Crimson's "Red" days and what a ride. "Duende" opens with flamenco guitar firebursts, and slowly builds into a decent Spanish flavored piece. Not my favorite but well done. Next is the title cut, "Black Light Syndrome", which is obviously a play on "Bozzio Levin Stevens". It is a slower paced dirge but BIG, WIDE, and filled to the brim with a variety of well executed riffs, bass lines, and drum tech. This tune took me right back to the heyday of instrumental rock and filled me with sweet nostalgia. "Falling in Circles" is an early Floydscape dotted with Ronnie Montrose leads, a ballad of driving determination and resolve. Floods of Satriani, Wishbone Ash, Alvin Lee, Fripp, Buck Dharma, and more are ALL there and even that Duane Allman tone. "Where does Stevens pull this up from?" Fascinating!!! "Book Of Hours" took me right back to Wheels of Fire's "Pressed Rat and Warthog", rainy-day dreamy afternoons with a fresh pot of designer coffee. Pure relaxation and finesse. Levin, Bozzio, and Stevens play off of one another precisely as one mind. It stretches nicely into an up beat jam of hot acoustic guitar work that finally sails away. Last cut, "Chaos/Control" kicks some serious hindparts!! I find my headbanging ways slippin' up on me from behind. I heard that "E7 breakdown" from Hendrix's "Midnight" on War Heroes and then a very jazzy boogie in classic Frank Marino style is laid down. Stevens is a guitarist with a wide range of dynamics and "feels" in one song but he always brings you solidly back home to that original foundational rock. I can't say I've ever come across an album like this with such diversity and it clearly "nails it" for me. I have to confess I am one nit-picky reviewer yet I hope to hear more from this power trio. I'm glad to have "discovered" Steve Stevens. Bozzio and Levin have been well recognized and praised for years. This collaboration was excellent!! Great job guys. -John W. Patterson
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