VOLUME ONE

This album has become one of the most reviewed from the year 2012, due to direct activation of PA reviewers. It consists of one single composition called 'Volume One' that lasts almost 38 minutes. It's composed by bassist Jim Haney, the rest of PERHAPS is Sean McDermott on guitar and Don Taylor on drums. I've never been very keen on this sort of trios; even with RUSH I prefer the phases including some keyboards. This music feels so technically oriented (brain over heart, you know) that the band probably is adept to perform it live as excellently as on record.

Since I mentioned Rush, I must point out that this music is similar to Rush only marginally. (Those more familiar with this kind of stuff can give you better comparisons. MARS VOLTA which I haven't listened to, is mentioned.) First it's all instrumental. It is mostly heavy power play and the musicianship is excellent, but instead of Rush's uplifting hard rock PERHAPS comes closer to experimental prog rock - such as 'Lark's Tongues in Aspic' by KING CRIMSON - with some Fusion in it. To me the first eight or so minutes are plain boring: fast and furious playing that lacks clear melodies and emotion. But my reception does warm up a bit during the track. Later on the guest musicians (sax, trumpet, strings) add some needed colour to the music. Sorry to say this, but to my ears the guitar sounded - or at least that's my impression now after hearing the piece twice some hours ago - quite the same all the way (I'm talking of the SOUND per se, I'm not saying the playing lacks dynamics and variety, far from it!), and also the percussion lacks the surpriseful width of Neil Peart's amazing work with Rush.

My interest has never been caught by mere technical brilliance ("X notes per second"). But there is more to it here, otherwise my listening experience would have been much more negative. I often get a bad mood when hearing "noisy" music that leaves me cold emotionally. Instead of staying in my frustrated first impression I had no difficulties paying close attention to the whole piece and turn the cassette over when it ended, and re-listen to it immediately. Clearly I prefer the latter half of the piece with more guest playing, and the music started to reach my emotions too... rather faintly though. I got some psychedelic vibes and the favourite part featuring a saxophone resembled distantly the more avantgardish, RIO-ish end of Canterbury (Henry Cow, Hugh Hopper and such). With these more interesting spots I raise my rating from two stars to three.