BATELESS EDGE

Skeptical as I may be towards it, the 2010 PA top album list remains a source for new discoveries. With every new release being claimed as a masterpiece by fans, it's often a struggle through many disappointments to uncover the few albums that can live up to the hype. Such an album is Bateless Edge by Frogg Café.

The band has a history as a Zappa cover band but there are few remaining traces of that. There's the highly skilled musicianship of course and to a certain extent the capricious nature of the compositions where a given theme can be suddenly interrupted by avant-garde excursions, dazzling xylophone solos or dissonant influences from modern classical. Pasta Fazeuhl is an excellent example for that.

The spacey jazz-rock of the opening Terra Sancta is a real winner for me and it stands a bit apart from the more avant-garde based jazz rock of the remainder of the album. The wonderful production of the album brings out the deep bass tones and the dynamic drum playing. It's worth following just those instruments alone. Move Over I'm Dreaming, a track that sounds like a virtuoso interpretation of Samla Mammas Manna, might give a good idea of what this band is about.

Near the end of the record the vocals become more prominent. The gentle and sunny In the Bright Light pleases me a lot, the chorus of Brace Against The Fall a bit less, but it's just a matter of personal preference. Both are deserving songs with a fine hint of King Crimson in the stew. From the Fence isn't entirely my cup of tea though, reminds me of Joe Jackson whom I don't like unfortunately.

Bateless Edge has been a great discovery and comes recommended for anyone with an interest in jazz, RIO or avant. 3.5 stars, in the hope the vocals will further grow on me.