Deep Energy Orchestra: Playing With Fire

Now here is something a little different for your musical palette. Take Indian music, classical and progressive fusion and mix it up and…voila we have the new album from Deep Energy Orchestra titled Playing With Fire, recorded live at the Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle, WA.

The players are:
Jason Everett (7-string fretless and 6-string acoustic basses)
V. Selvaganesh (kanjira and custom drum kit)
Trey Gunn (Warr guitar)
Radhika Iyer (7 string electric violin)
Anil Prasad (tabla)
Rachel Nesvig (violin)
Aleida Gehrels (viola)
Phil Hirschi (cello)

What struck me after listening to this album a couple times is the chemistry between these musicians. It’s all well and good to be a tremendous player but if there is no chemistry the music can feel a little cold. With this band there is no such problem. All players get equal attention with no person stealing the show. A heavy percussion and bass groove begin “The Return�, a world influenced track with an Indian flair. A bit of Crimson comes through in the excellent “Mysterious World� where Gunn’s Warr guitar is both elegant and highly impressive. The band does a nice job of the Mahavishnu Orchestra track “Lotus Feet�. Ethereal moments make room for fantastic band interplay as again these musicians show a wonderful chemistry together. On the massive nineteen minute piece “Resolve/Improv/Caravan� each musician is at their peak. A great bass and Warr guitar intro leads to strings and then more fantastic work from Gunn. The groove is hypnotizing as the time seems to fly by. More ethereal and atmospheric parts follow setting the stage for the string rhythms that dominate at song’s end.

Playing With Fire is a wonderful fusion of classical and Indian music that will surely garner the attention of many progressive music fans across the board. An excellent disc.

Track Listing:
1. The Return (4:56)
2. Awakening (8:00)
3. Mysterious World (5:16)
4. The River (7:56)
5. Lotus Feet (10:16)
6. Resolve/Improv/Caravan (19:49)
7. Honor/Amazing Grace (4:34)

Added: February 18th 2019
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 925
Language: english

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