Take parts of The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, King Crimson, Jean Luc Ponty, and maybe a bit of Frogg Cafe, throw them all in a blender, and add a last minute dash of Middle Eastern influence, and you get something that sounds like Human Life Index. The band was formed by drummer David Gaziel and guitarist Ali Shayesteh, augmented here on Welcome To by acclaimed electric violinist James Sudakow, Jen Kuhn on electric cello, and Jessica Catron on cello. The results are quite interesting and different from what you would normally expect from an instrumental outfit such as this. With the heavy ethnic flavor, groove laden rhythms, and weaving solo spots from violin, viola, cellos, guitar, and bouzouki, this is fusion of a different sort that should find wide appeal in the prog rock community. Tracks like "Surveillance", "HLI", "Defiance", and "Conquest" are practically hypnotic, as the melodies created by the stringed instruments create an intoxicating aura while Gaziel's intricate drum patterns and Shayesteh's crunchy electric guitar work adds a solid framework. The guys almost fall into prog-metal territory on the heavy "9000th Century", complete with massive guitar riffs and the slashing violin bursts from Sudakow. Welcome To is indeed a great introduction to this Los Angeles act, and should be a precursor of much good music to come.
Track Listing
1) Defiance: 4:57
2) Sold: 4:38
3 Intro-H: 0:16
4) HLI: 5:25
5) Surveillance: 5:52
6) Intro-L: 0:38
7) Conquest: 4:54
8) 9000th Century: 4:58
9) Outro-I: 3:26
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