Recorded "live" on the air at KPFK Radio 90.7 FM in Los Angeles comes this smokin' set of molten hot fusion from OHM. As of August 2003 when this show was recorded, the band had just added Kofi Baker (son of Cream's Ginger Baker) to the drum seat, and they were literally firing on all cylinders, and gearing up for a tour with Alex Skolnick's Bop Trio and Marty Friedman's solo project. The set comprises some tunes from the debut album, as well as some new songs, all blistering stabs of melodic instrumental madness.
Chris Poland has developed into one of the most accomplished guitarists around, as his ferocious metal chops have mellowed over the years and taken on a funky, jazzy edge. His lethal yet melodic licks soar over the intricate rhythms of "Photograph", and take on an aggressive fusion stance on "Came to Believe." Fans of Allan Holdsworth will love the sustained chord voicings of "Peanut Buddha", a melding of jazz and hard rock that sees Robertino Pagliari's bass popping all sorts of wild harmonic bursts under Poland's thick rhythms & wild solos. Pagliari and Baker trade intricate jazz riffs on "Icarus Falls" under Poland and his searing lines, which are so rich in tone and technique they will leave you speechless at times. Combining speedy arpeggios, emotional blues runs, and frantic whammy bar mutilations, this guy has it all!
Pagliari is all over the place on the Mike Stern-meets-Allan Holdsworth "Iguana", a song with a killer melody and complex bass and guitar work. For a funkier change of pace, there is the fun "Tara", a real workout for the boys where they get to show off their chops yet also lock into a deep groove. Throw in a little hard rock/metal on the blazing "ID", and some searing, Robin Trower/Jimi Hendrix on steroids with "Jam at Tony's", an absolutely smoking vehicle for Poland's amazing guitar work(in fact check out the bands homage to "Machine Gun" here.) This tune was recorded on a different radio show, that being KSPC 88.7, and the band shows a little looser side to themselves, but no less fired up musically.
For outstanding guitar, bass, and drum work in a tight ensemble fusion framework, things don't get much better than this. Too words for ya...get this!
Track Listing
1) KPFK Intro/M. Torres
2) Terra Incognita
3) Came to Believe
4) Photograph
5) Peanut Buddha
6) Icarus Falls
7) You Don't Know
8) Iguana
9) Tara
10) ID
11) Where's My Hat?
12) KPFK Outro: Mark Torres
13) KSPC Intro/T.Palkovic
14) Jam at Tony's
15) KSPC Outro
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