Consider The Source: World War Trio Parts II + III

U.S. band Consider The Source recently released the EP World War Trio Part I which I thought was very good. For those of you who liked what you heard the second and third installments have now been released as the two disc set World War Trio Parts II + III. The band members are still the same; John Ferrara (four and five string basses, ukulele bass, banjo bass), Gabriel Marin (fretted and fretless guitars, guitar synth, dutar, dombra, baglama saz, chattarangui, danbau, yayli tanbur) and Jeff Mann (drums and percussion).

The music continues with the band's heady take on progressive fusion combining Middle Eastern, Indian and Western sounds. All the musicians shine on this one and I think they have stepped it up a notch as compared to their last release. Marin's guitar sound is very multivariate as he gets some wonderful tones from his fretless guitar. Likewise, Ferrara also makes his presence felt adding some unique sound choices, especially his use of ukulele and banjo bass.

The first disc opens with "Aquarians" and its country-like beginning before turning the corner into heavy fusion progressive rock. There is an excellent bass groove and some shredding guitar from Marin. "Many Words Of Disapproval" traverse through varying themes and atmospheres with nice acoustic guitars and cool synth sounds while "This Dubious Honor" has a pretty melody, trippy atmospherics and razor sharp lead guitar. In the acoustically driven "One Hundred Thousand Fools" tribal beats and Western style ukulele is a further demonstration of just how quickly the band can change directions.

The dramatic "You Are Obsolete" is one of my favourite pieces and also one of the more complex tunes. The band start and stop playing on a dime, changing musical directions and tempos at the drop of a hat and combine mellow segments of atmospheric guitar and heavier Eastern based riff progressions. Some cool use of distortion as well.

The second disc begins with the intense "A Monument To Compromise (Faux Clarinet)" and includes some of the heaviest guitar on the disc but with that Middle Eastern edge. This is really quite mind blowing stuff and the music doesn't let up in intensity. Other highlights include the bass solo in the rhythmic "Ninjanuity", the moody and psychedelic "So Say We All II" and the sweet acoustics in "More Than You'll Never Know".

World War Trio Parts II + III features good melodies, innovative playing and superb musicianship. Highly recommended for fans of instrumental progressive rock and fusion.

Track Listing:
Disc I
1. Aquarians
2. Many Words Of Disapproval
3. This Dubious Honor
4. One Hundred Thousand Fools
5. Up To But Not To Exceed…Woah
6. You Are Obsolete
7. Tooth (Intro)
8. Absence Of A Prominent Tooth
9. Brother Nature
10. 40% Gentlemen, 60% Scholar

Disc II
1. A Monument To Compromise (Faux Clarinet)
2. Ninjanuity
3. So We Say All I
4. So We Say All II
5. So We Say All III
6. More Than You'll Never Know
7. I'll Fight For The Imp
8. White People Problems
9. Tsim Sha Tsui
10. You Are Disappearing

Added: July 27th 2015
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2333
Language: english

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