New Sun: Expectations (CD, 44:16); New Sun, NS103CD, 2001 E-mail: chrisc@annexdigital.com Cyberhome(s): New Sun HEAR MUSIC NOW!
http://www.new-sun.com 10 words or less: Think Hemispheres era Rush mixed with a dash of Metallica Elaboration: I like Rush all the way up through their album Power Windows and what would Metallica be without Rush. Unfortunately, this album is jaundiced with a sickly, low budget production so all similarities are purely compositional, not aural. The crown jewel of this album is the 10 minute epic title cut. This is where New Sun really take on that Hemispheres sound. Mostly instrumental, it goes through various movements and crescendos with style and grace. I can only wonder about the possibilities this band could aspire to given a decent budget and a better vocalist. Perhaps they should abandon lyrics altogether since the track No Mas Uvas is purely instrumental and much stronger than the vocal tunes. Overall, Expectations mixes reflective acoustic moments in here and there to break up the more bombastic moments in a mature and effective way. If you are a fan of mid-period Rush and Metallica you will love this band. ~ L Perez
New Sun: Affects (CD, 44:07); NS102CD , 1998 Blue Seven Music 1916 Whipple Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062, USA Ph: (650) 366-2788 Email: chrisc@musicannex.com Cyberhome: http://www.newsun.iuma.com Well New Sun is back after three years since their excellent Fractured release. They have lost no momentum in their flowing, classy, rocking prog. If anything, I hear a big improvement in this latest offering to the progressive rock world. Sound engineering is superb and a maturity of style has settled in on each song. More keyboard synth work and sampling adds a bit more of that spacey feel to songs. Pinnacle on this CD is "Cyrus Gore", my first ever exposure to New Sun featured on the Moonchild 98 sampler. I absolutely love this cut for its wide diversity. It grabs ya and don't let go, whirling you around, entrancing you, and rocking you out -- oh so fine. Superb! Listen close and you'll swear you hear "Ozzy" guesting but according to Chris Scott it's all clever studio tricks that have been in use for decades. New Sun adds in some violin on "Cause and Effect" and that Kansas feel is evident. This CD has three instrumentals. All songs with vocals are well sung and lyrics are intelligent and thought provoking. The heavy side of New Sun comes in full force on "FYB (The Deceptionist)" calling to mind Djam Karet's Burning the Hard City but New Sun spikes the metalfest with biting vocals. Washington, D.C.'s The Obsessed pulled off decent stuff like this on their The Church Within but again -- New Sun just pulls it off better and with that Floydian slick, professional pizazz. "Question" winds this CD up with a Tull/"Aqualungian"/Steve Tibbetts tribute overlayed with that trademark New Sun sound. One negative complaint: I wish this CD had weighed in heavier on its time length. New Sun is Alex Kley on bass, Chris Trujillo on drums, percussion, and vocals with D. L. Erickson on guitars and keyboards. Pulling it all together is Christopher Scott on guitars, vocals, keys, Acillatem Processor, and samples. Progressive rockers need to add this to your collection. File it beside Rush, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, or just start a new category -- New Sun. See the Fractured review for more reference on this fine group of musicians. High recommendations on this one guys. -- John W. Patterson
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"Cyrus Gore" excerpt
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New Sun: Fractured (CD, 61:48); NS101CD , 1995 See above contact info: This band really has their act together. In an interesting and polished mode of delivery they serve up progressive rock that definitely leans toward the rock side of things. Theirs by no means is progmetal but the solid rock of such bands as Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, and the intelligence of Pink Floyd. Songs are structured in a flowing, pleasing, narrative fashion. Guitar work by D.L. Erickson and Christopher Scott is slick, just right without any excess of notes. A cascade of melodies and layers of Wishbone Ash quality riffs wash over you everywhere but with that 90s voicings and effects pushing it all into a late 20th century shimmering sound. Lead vocals by Scott, voices by Erickson, and backing vocals by Trujillo are professional, harmonies reminding me at times of Nazareth and Floydian "thought-flow voiceovers" especially on "Glass" and "Switched By Remote". Chris Trujillo on drums is constant, driving, perfectly melded in every song's moment. Bassist Alex Kley keeps a complex, flowing heartbeat in it all. In New Sun you will hear King Crimson, Rush, B.O.C., Djam Karet, Pink Floyd and that creative spirit of ever evolving song structure that is quality progressive rock. New Sun is worlds away from any of the sterile, anemic, limp-wristed prog "rock" being dribbled out by some bands. These guys pull the straps tight, adjust their armor, and take up well-honed axes and ride on -- sure of themselves in the battle to be heard. I hear 'em loud and clear like every bit of every minute. Strongly recommended to those who want their prog to rock! -- John W. Patterson
NOTE: NOTE: I HAVE HAD TO MODIFY VISITOR ACCESS OF SOUNDCLIPS WITH A NEW WINDOW OPENING TO ANOTHER WEBPAGE. SO WHEN YOU FINISH LISTENING, JUST CLOSE NEW WINDOW.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SOUNDCLIP PAGE.LISTEN NOW!!
"Intro" excerpt
The sample was created with REAL PRODUCER G2
and you will need the new REAL PLAYER G2 to play it.
Download BOTH for FREE at:
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