OHM:
''CIRCUS OF SOUND''
2008
52:32
1 Fun House 04:09
2 System Of A Clown 03:24
3 Photograph 02:36
4 Circus Of Sound 04:18
5 Point Omega 03:26
6 Abracadabra 03:48
7 The Shortest Straw 03:09
8 The Black Hand 03:37
9 You Don't Know 04:26
10 Steps From Home 03:12
11 Mr. Brown (for James Brown) 04:31
12 DD 214 03:40
13 Leap Of Faith 04:22
14 Pan's Plan 03:48
Chris Poland/Guitar
Robertino Pagliari/Bass Guitar
Joel Taylor/Drums On 1 To 3
Frank Briggs/Drums On 4 To 7
Kofi Baker/Drums On 8 To 14
Album notes
by official website
Now having moved to Tone Center/Shrapnel, this record emerges with arguably the most diverse songwriting from the band to date. Again with a couple of old songs getting their first doses of studio treatment (“Photograph”, “Point Omega”, and the fantastic “You Don’t Know”), there are ballads, space blues, funk, movie soundtrack tunes, a jig, and of course, fusion. Not a “Frankenstein” record by intention, but an honest expression of what was happening at the time. “DD 214? for veterans past and present, reflective of the tragedy of armed conflict. “Mr. Brown”, written the day after the passing of James Brown, who died on Christmas (and incidentally, Rod Serlings’ birthday). “You Don’t Know” finally makes it to the studio, after been played all the way back when Koko Bermejo was playing drums- a gorgeous tune that has long been part of the live set. Released in 2008.
REVIEW
by Cosmo Lee/AMG
Chris Poland's "voice" is instantly recognizable. His guitar tone is thick, warm, yet edgy. He's sort of a cross between Bill Frisell and Joe Satriani, with the tone obsession of the former and the accessibility of the latter. His instrumental trio Ohm: features fretless bassist Robert Pagliari, who played fusion with him before Poland joined Megadeth in the '80s. As for drummers, Circus of Sound employs three, all quite capable. The standout, however, is Kofi Baker, son of Ginger Baker. This is appropriate, since Cream is one of Ohm:'s major inspirations. Baker is ferociously funky, and the record picks up noticeably with his work at its end. Ohm: play fusion in the purest sense: jazzy, with complex chords and copious swing. But the music is also rock, with compact songs and hummable melodies. The catchiest tracks, "Photograph" and "Steps from Home," evoke Satriani, the godfather of guitar instrumental pop. Satriani, though, never gave his bassists such equal billing. Pagliari is delightful, muttering and sliding all over the place. The title track is a wonderful bass showcase, twisting to and fro with sinuous octaves. Poland's playing is fast and fluid, with his trademark wide intervallic leaps. In "The Shortest Straw," he slyly slips in Jimi Hendrix-isms at the end. Together with Pagliari, he engages in unisons, counterpoint, and all kinds of tasty conversation. Sometimes the discussions are spicy; other times they're poignant. Always, they're spry and insightful. A slight sameness settles in eventually, but it's probably due to a surfeit of riches.
WEBSITE
''CIRCUS OF SOUND''
2008
52:32
1 Fun House 04:09
2 System Of A Clown 03:24
3 Photograph 02:36
4 Circus Of Sound 04:18
5 Point Omega 03:26
6 Abracadabra 03:48
7 The Shortest Straw 03:09
8 The Black Hand 03:37
9 You Don't Know 04:26
10 Steps From Home 03:12
11 Mr. Brown (for James Brown) 04:31
12 DD 214 03:40
13 Leap Of Faith 04:22
14 Pan's Plan 03:48
Chris Poland/Guitar
Robertino Pagliari/Bass Guitar
Joel Taylor/Drums On 1 To 3
Frank Briggs/Drums On 4 To 7
Kofi Baker/Drums On 8 To 14
Album notes
by official website
Now having moved to Tone Center/Shrapnel, this record emerges with arguably the most diverse songwriting from the band to date. Again with a couple of old songs getting their first doses of studio treatment (“Photograph”, “Point Omega”, and the fantastic “You Don’t Know”), there are ballads, space blues, funk, movie soundtrack tunes, a jig, and of course, fusion. Not a “Frankenstein” record by intention, but an honest expression of what was happening at the time. “DD 214? for veterans past and present, reflective of the tragedy of armed conflict. “Mr. Brown”, written the day after the passing of James Brown, who died on Christmas (and incidentally, Rod Serlings’ birthday). “You Don’t Know” finally makes it to the studio, after been played all the way back when Koko Bermejo was playing drums- a gorgeous tune that has long been part of the live set. Released in 2008.
REVIEW
by Cosmo Lee/AMG
Chris Poland's "voice" is instantly recognizable. His guitar tone is thick, warm, yet edgy. He's sort of a cross between Bill Frisell and Joe Satriani, with the tone obsession of the former and the accessibility of the latter. His instrumental trio Ohm: features fretless bassist Robert Pagliari, who played fusion with him before Poland joined Megadeth in the '80s. As for drummers, Circus of Sound employs three, all quite capable. The standout, however, is Kofi Baker, son of Ginger Baker. This is appropriate, since Cream is one of Ohm:'s major inspirations. Baker is ferociously funky, and the record picks up noticeably with his work at its end. Ohm: play fusion in the purest sense: jazzy, with complex chords and copious swing. But the music is also rock, with compact songs and hummable melodies. The catchiest tracks, "Photograph" and "Steps from Home," evoke Satriani, the godfather of guitar instrumental pop. Satriani, though, never gave his bassists such equal billing. Pagliari is delightful, muttering and sliding all over the place. The title track is a wonderful bass showcase, twisting to and fro with sinuous octaves. Poland's playing is fast and fluid, with his trademark wide intervallic leaps. In "The Shortest Straw," he slyly slips in Jimi Hendrix-isms at the end. Together with Pagliari, he engages in unisons, counterpoint, and all kinds of tasty conversation. Sometimes the discussions are spicy; other times they're poignant. Always, they're spry and insightful. A slight sameness settles in eventually, but it's probably due to a surfeit of riches.
WEBSITE
