Garaj Mahal: Discovery – Garaj Mahal & Fareed Haque Present the Moog Guitar

Hailing from San Francisco, Garaj Mahal are a jazz four piece and if you are unfamiliar with the band and appreciate jazz, you really should get to know their music. In the band are Fareed Haque (Moog guitar), Eric Levy (electric pianos and Moog synthesizers), Kai Eckhardt (bass) and Sean Rickman (drums). All four musicians are virtuosos on their respective instruments so you can expect a very well played and professional recording. On Discovery Haque's Moog guitar work is simply outstanding and the sounds he is able to achieve are mind blowing. The band plays modern jazz with elements of funk, world music, rock, ambient, classical and electronic music.

"DC Swing" begins the CD with crisp drum beats and otherworldly electronic sounds soon to evolve into funky guitar rhythms and a pulsating bass groove. "Philly Electronic" is a short piece and is all Moog guitars featuring jazzy guitar runs and a Moog bass line. The album's longest song is the rocking jazz of "Never Give Up", opening with a nice jazz melody before heavy riffs take hold and capture the listener with their catchy rhythms. Eckhardt's funky bass and Levy's electric piano are exceptional and Haque rips it up with one of his heaviest solos on the CD making this one of the album's best tracks. The trippy "Sea To Sky" is another favourite. Complex patterns of rhythm guitar, crisp percussion, a wild synth solo and a repeating melody will have you coming back again and again. Space freaks will love "Artorius" where wild synths and Moog guitar weave through one another, all laid over a bed of electronic percussion making for one wild ride. At times I was reminded of Pink Floyd's "On the Run". Perhaps the album's prettiest tune is the laid back "Of A Simple Mind", where a lush background of synths provides the setting for Haque's eloquent guitar work.

This is an album that might take more than one or two listens to fully appreciate but trust me, it is well worth the time. Lots of interesting melodies and excellent musicianship make Discovery a quality listen and an album I highly recommend.

Track Listing:
1. DC Swing (3:38)
2. Philly Electronic (1:46)
3. Never Give Up (10:01)
4. Sea To Sky (5:59)
5. Make A Hippy Happy (9:41)
6. It Goes Up Your Nose (1:07)
7. Artorius (6:53)
8. Moog Improv # (2:47)
9. Largo from Concerto in D, RV 234 (3:19)
10. Of A Simple Mind (5:56)
11. Bobolink (6:35)
12. Round Midnight (2:51)

Added: April 23rd 2010
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2399
Language: english

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