HART GENOSSEN VON ABBA BIS ZAPPA

Amazon have been remarkably quick delivering the latest Panzerballett album,, 'Hart Genossan Von Abba bis Zappa'. This is released hot on the heels after their excellent second studio album 'Starke Stucke'. The album title according to ACT Record's website isn't readily translatable - but indeed flags up the presence of Abba and Zappa's music. I thought that from the newer forms of jazz fusion on record, 'Starke Stucke' with its particular blend of metal jazz fusion was the best release last year. And after a few listens, I'll stick my neck out and say 'Hart Genossan' does it again for 2009. The album has tons of visceral energy fusing several styles of jazz and rock together, it is fun, contains great originals and interpretations, makes good used of sax and guitar (metal shred and jazz) as lead instruments, and has the sort of complexities of jazz fusion that make you want to go back and listen afresh to discover different aspects of their playing/music. The album kicks off brilliant ly well with their take of 'The Simpson's Theme' (nice to see the wackiness of Elfman's music being amplified again - Birdsongs of the Mezoic did a great version too some time ago). This is a tune seemingly is in 4 movements: 1st fade in and almost true to the TV version bar the reinstrumentation, 2nd the metal, 3rd cocktail lounge jazz, 4th reprise of metal. An excellent opening to the album and signalling the fun to come. Elsewhere Klaus Dolinger guests on a relatively short song, which is approximately 90% Panzer/10% Passport. As PB demonstrated on their second album, the band are particularlly good at the deconstruction of rock standards and rebuilding in their inimitable style. Abba's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' gets it this time - with the main riffs of the tune acting as anchor points for PB's type of jazz. In comparison, their treatment of 6 Zappa tunes, covered in two pieces, is relatively polite. PB attack a deathmetal ... standard (is that the right word?) and provide a fair sprinkling of very interesting band composed tunes. These reflect the range of styles PB utilise in their music, where you are just as likely to hear the more traditional jazz vocals and the guteral/throaty death metal voice on the same tune, as well the combinations of screaming/subtle sax-playing, or jazz chords/metal strumming on guitar. One special comment about the less typical fusion of jazz and Eastern European folk music on 'The Mediterranean Breeze', with the most promising Turkish Cypriot guitarist Okan Ersan guesting (check out PB/Ersan playing this tune live on You Tube) .

Such music will give the jazz police nightmares!! !! Strongly recommended.