|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Cross & David Jackson: Another Day
 It's always intriguing when former members of legendary prog acts collaborate together years after they have left their former bands for something completely new and refreshing. Such is the case with Another Day, the new album from ex-King Crimson violinist/keyboard player David Cross and former Van Der Graaf Generator reed player David Jackson. For this new Cherry Red release, the duo are joined by Mick Paul on bass, Craig Blundell on drums and the album was produced by Jake Jackson.
From the opening riffs of the menacing "Predator", it's evident that Cross & Jackson wanted to harness the ominous nature of both of their former bands, and you can easily say it's a job well done. With searing violin battling Jackson's squonking sax, this tune is one serious slice of aggressive prog, with no need for guitars to deliver the thunder. "Last Ride" also kicks some serious butt, Cross' fuzz toned violin darting in and out of bulbous bass lines and explosive saxophone bursts, while the more jazzy "Going Nowhere" has a laid back but highly melodic sense, Cross soaring to the heavens with his alluring violin explorations. Other highlights include the more atmospheric & spacey "Arrival", the dramatic "Come Again" (complete with some intricate rhythms & screaming violin), and the completely raucous "Breaking Bad", a scorching number that rampages from start to finish, Jackson's sax and Cross' violin both monstrous as the rhythm team just blisters underneath it all.
Classy stuff all around here on Another Day, the start of what is hopefully a lengthy collaboration between these legendary musicians.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. PREDATOR
2. BUSHIDO
3. LAST RIDE
4. GOING NOWHERE
5. TRANE TO KIEV
6. MILLENNIUM TOLL
7. ARRIVAL
8. COME AGAIN
9. BREAKING BAD
10. MR. MOROSE
11. ANTHEM FOR ANOTHER DAY
12. TIME GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
Added: June 19th 2018
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score: 
Related Link: Artists @Cherry Red
Hits: 1784
Language: english
[  Printer Friendly Page ]
[  Send to a Friend ] |
|
[ Back to the Reviews Index ]
|
|
| » SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews: |
David Cross & David Jackson: Another Day
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2018-06-19 21:02:16
My Score:
You could quite rightly expect any crossover album between members of King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator to be a progressive tour de force. However Another Day is not a Fripp & Hammill collaboration piece, instead finding one-time Crimson violin and keyboard man David Cross and the ex-flute, sax, keyboard and soundbeam presence in the Generator, David Jackson, furthering a live collaboration into a studio setting. With the band rounded out by bassist Mick Paul and Steven Wilson drummer Craig Blundell, get ready to take cover as a jazz, fusion, rock, prog explosion comes into view.
Another Day is all about tone, structure and mood, and yet it’s also all about freedom, ideals and life. The main protagonists take turns at dominating and combining across what becomes a deeply varied set of songs. However, with perfectly precise percussion work and a booming bass presence, the ‘lesser lights’ in this foursome can’t be discounted either; the rhythm section key in the success of an album that seems to offer something new and different every time you approach it. Unexpectedly Ozric Tentacles jamming with Ian McDonald (also ex-King Crimson) is often the vibe you can expect to find on the impressively full on “Last Ride”, where deep grooving passages are punctuated by some seriously dextrous sax and violin work. “Predator” opens proceedings in similar, if different tone, with the mood and feel being the same, but a more relaxed and languid execution leads to a new sensation altogether.
From there the atmosphere constantly shifts and shimmers, “Millennium Toll” a dirtier affair where violin takes the guise of electric guitar and the sax adds no little power. “Breaking Bad” plays to a more obvious jazz fusion strength, and yet even here the discordant relationship between melody and tone make for a thrilling ride, although one that is immediately soothed by the slow and deliberate tones of “Mr Morose” where the harmony work between instruments is quite breathtaking. Whereas the much more lively “Going Nowhere” simply confirms the different paths Another Day can you take you down.
I have to say that while this collaboration maybe doesn’t deliver the prog kick you might expect, the power and passion which are combined with a precise, if engaging outlook, make this album most intriguing. Hopefully the four men involved won’t see it as a one off.
|
|
|
|
2004 Sea Of Tranquility | For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.
|
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all other content Sea of Tranquility
SoT is Hosted by SpeedSoft.com 
|
|
