OCTOBER TREE - The Fairy's Wing

OCTOBER TREE
" The Fairy's Wing "
( Canvas Productions ) 2012.
CD
Progressive / progressive rock - USA








Out of Maryland, comes a band/project October Tree, headed by wife and husband Tammy and Greg Lounsberry. They have released
a conceptual album, entitled " The Fairy's Wing", based on fantasy book, written by Greg Lounsberry. What we have here is a full-length
with 10 tracks in, done in progressive / progressive rock mood. Musically, a group is influental by the British movement from the
70's period, and also by the bands as a : Rennaisance, Camel and Barclay James Harvest. On the other hand, October Tree has offered
a pleasent and sophisticate work, with clever arrangments includings and excellent productional additionals too. This is also a listenable product
especially interesting if you are a fan of so call older progressive variants.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.octobertree.net

FRAZE GANG - 2

FRAZE GANG
" 2 "
( Bongo Beat ) 2012.
CD
80's hard rock/metal / melodic hard rock - CANADA








Fraze Gang are consists of 2 former members of Brighton Rock group, one of the national well-known, but unfortunatelly
underratted acts, and also of 2 veterans from Canadian scene. " 2" is their actuelle product, a CD with 10 tracks in.
Fraze Gang concept is simply, but convinceble enough. Its approach is tipical 80's hard rock /metal, fullfield with clear
melodic hard rock additionals. They strongly associate on a groups as a : Santers, Ratt, Helix, but after listening of
its album, it's also clear that they know how to put right thing in right place. Fraze Gang delivers a knowing and repeatable
riffs and melodies, and all of present songs are followed by modern productional includings. " White Lightning", " Tough Enough",
and " Don' t Call Us We' ll Call You", are some of the highlights from its well-done album, especially interesting for the
followers of 80's metal/hard rock tendencies.

 Rating : 8 / 10
 C / o : www.frazegang.com

THE TURNBACK - Drawn In Chalk

THE TURNBACK
" Drawn In Chalk "
( Self - released ) 2011.
CD
Power pop / retro pop / rock  - USA







The Turnback are trio from upstate New York City, and " Drawn In Chalk" , its album is also soundtrack for the motion picture.
 What we have here is a CD with 12 tracks in, done in power pop /retro rock / pop mood. This is also a unusual issue, judging
by nowadays standards, but at the same time more than interesting product, also pretty valuable, and in some aspects inspirative.
 A band blends elements of 60's and 70's power pop and rock in its own way , a present songs posses strong melodic lines and
 harmonization, and complete materials are followed by convinceble production, done by well known Jeff Peters. Most of the songs
posses radio friendly usings, and generally a group did a fine work. Recomandable...


Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.theturnback.com

LIZA CARBE - Wait For The Spring

LIZA CARBE
" Wait For The Spring "
( Strangetree Productions / Hemifran ) 2012.
CD
Pop / new age - USA








Liza Carbe is a songwriter, bass and guitar player,  composer, based in Los Angeles. She is also one of the founding members of
latin-fusion- world music group INCENDIO. She is continiously active as a performer, but " Wait For The Spring " is her first solo
full-length album, released during the late period of previous 2012 year. What can we find on her album, is a 11 pretty intimate songs,
 full of melodic lines and haunting vocalizations. She sing about love, loss, hope...A songs are mostly done in slower mid tempo,
with clear additionals of ambiental / atmospheric following instrumentations. Vocally, she knows to associate on  Enya or Lorena McKennith
 methods of interpretations, so the followers of mentioned musical variants can also find many nice reasons to hear a Liza's album.
 " Wait For The Spring" are consists of more than pleasent and listenable materials, without less interesting or weacker places...

Rating : 7 , 5 / 10
C / o  : www.lizacarbe.com
www.hemifran.com

JJ SCHULTZ - Carolina

JJ  SCHULTZ
" Carolina "
( Self - released / Hemifran ) 2012.
CD
Americana / roots music - USA









JJ Schultz is a Wisconsin born artist, but he has been working in San Francisco for many years now. He discographically
debuted with " Bustin' Outa Town" in 2004, followed by " Something To Me " ( 2005 ) and " Travelling Sons " ( 2007 ). His
actuelle offering is " Carolina", a full-length with 8 tracks in. With minnimal following back-up instrumentations, Mr. Schultz
deliver a portion of americana/roots variants, with strong songwritings, added with emotionally driven lyrical pastiche. He  write
about love, sadness and passion, creating a emotional atmosphere, and specific mood. Some reviewers used to compare a
 mentioned specific atmosphere with Springsteen's " Nebraska" , and to be honest some similiarities are present, but more in
also mentioned ambiental/atmospheric methods of exposure, than in author's views. JJ Schultz is a serious author, and " Carolina"
as a album offer enough pleasent moments...

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.jjschutlz.com
www.hemifran.com

ELMO KARJALAINEN - Uninteligent Designs

ELMO KARJALAINEN
" Uninteligent Designs "
( KC Sound ) 2012.
CD
Instrumental rock / metal - FINLAND









Elmo Karjalainen is well-known guitarist out of Finland, established as a performer in a groups as a Death Like Silence and
Conquest, among others. " Uninteligent Designs" is a his solo debut from previous 2012 year, and this is a instrumental album,
with 16 tracks in. Elmo is a undoubtely guitar virtuoso, and " killer" performer and in his album he offers a variaty of technique
tricks, and mixing stylish elements. He posses a absolute control under his instrument, and his playing is frantic,
dynamic , with lotta' includings of real energy, but at the same time melodic. We can find in his tracks elements of
neo classical variants, progressive metal, jazz, fusion... He has also created a fantastic arrangments in offering materials,
and practically he did a excelent and superior job. This is a album not only for guitar aficionados and freaks, but also for
listeners with refine tastes...

Rating :  9 / 10
C / o : www.elmojk.com
www.facebook.com/elmojk

MAKAR - Funeral Genius

MAKAR
" Funeral Genius "
( Self - released ) 2011.
CD
Indie pop / rock - USA








A New York City based act Makar are consists of 2 persons - Andrea DeAngelis ( vocals, guitar ) and Mark Purnell ( vocals,piano ).
 Their activities around NYC's club circulations dated from 2002 year, and till now duo received a respectable recognition, and also
respects around indie area. They discographically debuted with " 99 Cent Dreams" album from 2005 year. Actuelle , second offering
is " Funeral Genius", a full-length with 12 tracks in. With pretty sympathic, original and interesting views they combine elements of
60's, 70's and 80's pop / rock , with emotionally driven rhythms/moods, and energetic exposures as well. A colourfull arrangments includings and listenable tunes also characterize its album materials in general. " Funeral Genius" deserve repeatable listeners attention, and there's no doubt that duo did a creative product.

Rating : 8, 5 / 10
C / o : www.makarmusic.com