HYBRID CHILD

This young band from Chicago released their debut album in 2010 and have already gained a fan base and the boosting and enthusiastic approbation of musicians such as Bill Bruford, John Wetton and Jordan Rudess. They are - no doubts about it - a band with a future, a band you'll hear more and more, if they keep the musical integrity of their debut album and avoid all the cynical traps the music industry is known for. On that matter, their charming singer Leslie Hunt probably already knows quite a bit about it, having been a finalist in the entertainment program "American Idol". Her singing on "Hybrid Child" is thanks God much more enjoyable and she shows a great mastery in uneasy interval jumps coupled with daring syncopated rhythms. Her voice is pure, with a predilection in high registers. And what a lovely combination of hearing her thematic lines sung in unisson with the firm cello playing of her band mate Katinka Kleijn. And they have a lot to do, as the boys in the band push hard and often give the music a metal character crossed with the chops of math-rock. The composer is drummer Jonathan Schang and when you hear him playing, you understand why Bill Bruford backed him! Keyboardist Rob Clearfield is answering the metal assaults of guitarist Jim Tashjian and bass player Patrick Mulcahy with key flights directly coming from progressive rock, sustained by Jonathan's pulsating pounding. So here's the new generation of progressive rock, young people with various but also multiple backgrounds (pop and jazz for Leslie, classical for Katinka, doom metal for Jim, etc...), having listened to and performed in several musical styles; they're now together in district 97, you'll not forget them because ... they rule!