| REVIEWS
: |
ENCRUCIJADA-MELODIC.COM.AR,
March 2006 (Argentina)
Cuando
el Rock Progresivo se funde con sonidos de Jazz y Música
del Brasil, el resultado es 9 ON BALI, una agrupación estadounidense
que ha logrado crear un sonido único e irrepetible en el
extenso mundo del Rock. La banda está integrada por Dan Susnara
(voz - guitarras - teclados - samples - percusión), Dan Sweigert
(voz - kalimba - vibes - guitarras - bajo - percusión - samples
- teclados) y Dan Van Schindel (batería). Además han
incorporado una serie de músicos invitados como Frank Rutledge
(guitarras en "Triad") y Roger Jagielnik (harmónica
y guitarra slide en "...Projector" y coros en "Trampoliner").
Todo está tan bien mezclado que las diferentes influencias
no llegan a opacar en absoluto la propuesta de 9 ON BALI, haciéndola
totalmente original y llena de buen gusto por la melodía.
La mayoría de los temas son cortos (salvo "My poor old
blue projector" de casi 12 minutos) pero muy efectivos, siguiendo
el formato canción. Para destacar están "For
turntable & orchard" (con aires africanos), "O'reilly"
(una especie de mezcla entre el Rock Progresivo actual y melodías
a lo TOM JOBIM y todos esos compositores tan típicos del
Brasil), "My poor old blue projector" (la mejor de todo
el CD, con kalimbas incluidas) y "The ballad of Tony and Angel"
(con segmentos muy atmosféricos). En definitiva, una nueva
propuesta para los fanáticos del Jazz Rock, Rock Progresivo
y todas esas yerbas. [4/5 stars].
PERFORMER
MAG.COM, March 2006
As one of several bands that comprise the Cropcircle Collective,
9 On Bali are predictable in their unpredictability. As with many
bands emerging from an “art collective” framework, 9
On Bali’s music is highly impressionistic with few solid lines
or primary colors. Kite Hawker On the Beach is all about shadows
of sensations, echoes of distant memories, and ritual without gods.
Paradoxically, it is also immensely approachable music, with a trance-like
attention to rhythm and an urgent intensity that is disarming to
say the least.
“(Radar)”
stops just shy of emo, with Dan Susnara’s vocals straining
for clarity as the jazzy delicacy of the music provides a delightfully
buoyant feel to the melody. This song is followed by the strange
and enigmatic “My Poor Old Blue Projector,” which mixes
in Celtic folk rhythms along with sci-fi/prog rock touches.
If
the album doesn’t quite come together as a cohesive whole,
it is of little consequence, as the boundless imagination and creativity
on display more than makes up for the disjointed nature of the album’s
uneven flow. The album is both sporadically brilliant and a complete
mess, though one suspects this result is entirely what the band
had in mind in the first place. Above everything, there is nevertheless
a sophisticated sense of composition, with each song leading into
the next, if only in the most obtuse sense. 9 On Bali does not make
music that is easily understood. Kite Hawker On the Beach is more
of a collection of tones and voices that somehow make sense together
without ever “rocking out” in any true sense of the
phrase. 9 On Bali may be an acquired taste, but as an indication
of the relatively new Cropcircle Collective’s dedication to
serious art for serious people, Kite Hawker On the Beach is as good
a manifesto as any. (The Audible Cropcircle Collective)—John
Dyson
SPLENDID,
May 4, 2005
Brazilian
jazz never sounded so... indie. 9 on Bali's full-length debut ignores
genre boundaries from the moment that opener "O'Reilly"
kicks off in a spasm of hand-waving, electro-induced jazz, backed
by worldly percussion and Dan Susnara's warm vocals. Epic tall tale
"My Poor Old Blue Projector" is an truly mind-blowing
musical expression: with African kalimbas, electric guitars and
swooshing samples, it transcends countries and genres with relative
ease. It's 9 on Bali's finest moment, both fully realized and deeply
developed.
The
production skill demonstrated on Kite Hawker is as laudable as the
musicianship. Listening to "My Poor Old Blue Projector"
with headphones is a tremendous experience, and allows the song's
just-so layers to interact while remaining distinguishable and clear.
"Gist" develops a traditional rock structure, placing
the distorted guitar front-and-center and letting the drums and
vocals take a back seat. "Triad" is a folky fairytale
of experience and self-revelation that, thanks to 9 on Bali's spacious,
layered approach, morphs into a potent composition. Overall, Kite
Hawker is astonishingly original in scope and deserves a spot in
any well-rounded record collection.—Ryan Humm
CD
BABY, April 2005
9 on Bali is a collaboration between veteran home taper Dan Susnara
and Dan Sweigert (founding member of Chicago's math rock ensemble
Star Period Star). They draw from many influences from breezy pop,
aooustic, world music, experimental soundscapes and progressive
rock. "Frank of Maryland" tells the story of a grave robber
collecting fresh bodies for medical students, but with a happy 70's
pop vibe. "Projector" talks about the odd and somewhat
contradictory relationship between an actor/actress and his/her
fans. The song "Gist" speaks of a bizarre cult that "converse
in tents till the first trucks arrive, they secret themselves 'hind
a series of panels and planks and gradually new constellations form".
Later in the story: "Somewhere in Spain a calf is born with
3 revolving remarkably human like heads, they rejoice". "Kite
Hawker" is a mix of light and dark, lush chords and melodies,
interspersed with harsher dissonances and sound experiments. With
all the experimentation, good songwriting and melody still remains
the focal point of the band.
IMPROVIJAZZATION
NATION #70,
April 2005
Our friend Dan Susnara (who we have been reviewing for many, MANY
years now) made sure we got a copy of the new CD from 9 On Bali...
this is one of the most refreshing musical experiences I've ever
heard, & if you love hearing what truly creative spirits can
make happen (musically), this is THE ticket! The recording quality
is FANTASTIC, among the best I've heard this year (& as I say
quite often, I've already heard a LOT of recordings this year).
Dan's lyrics are simple, yet wonderful! Dan has been doing home
taping (as indicated above) since I first "met" him through
that scene in the late 1980's, & he plays together with another
veteran, Dan Sweigert, who did most of the mixing/recording on this
one... & he's proved himself a true master on "Kite Hawker".
Other players featured here are Dan Van Schindel (drums), Ron Jagielnik
(Chairs, slide guitar & harmonica) & Frank Rutledge (electric
guitar). The music incorporates musical styles all th' way from
th' '70's, in a blend that will be attractive to fans of musical
diversity... "Beatles", "Nektar", "the
Smiths", even "Nurse With Wound" are all sounds that
are woven into these highly energetic tracks. I've often admired
Susnara's skill at capturing sounds & weaving them into tapestries
that make one feel the nostalgia, but at the same time, the "new
energy"... & this is the most shining example of his skills
that I've ever heard! Vocals swirl over high-tech soundscapes that
will carry you to new heights, & their love of music is totally
infectious. This gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my ears, as
well as the "PICK" of this issue for "most creative
indie CD"! —Rotcod Zzaj
THE
HARILESSS HEART HEARALD, March 24, 2005
The
band of three 'Dans' as I have begun to nickname them have produced
a fine album both in song structure and performance. You could call
it a compilation in many ways, because of the styles and themes
of the music, and how they change track by track.
The
three Dans of Sweigert, Susnara (both vocals, guitars, keyboards,
samples and drum machine, but Susnara adds bass and kalimba) and
Van Schindel (drums on five tracks) make a pleasing sound, making
this one album that will be played again and again. They are joined
by two guest musicians on three tracks, but in general, the playing
deserves a mention.
On
the album, their first full length one by the way, thirteen tracks
make up nearly an hour, and it is a real journey through influences
such as Coldplay, The Beatles, Yes and The Smiths! A real mix you
might say, but strangely enough, after many plays it grows on you.
Many songs have a Brazilian feel combined with a pop sound, and
from opening song O'Reilly which is a little like Coldplay, you
find yourself towards the end waiting for the next song to see if
it is in the same feel. (Radar) is next, and could have been a solo
McCartney song with it's fine lyrics.
Now,
the third track My Poor Old Blue Projector has me thinking I had
changed the CD by mistake! Clocking in at over twelve minutes, yes,
this is the 'prog' one! It has a strong Yes feel to it, and again
the lyrics stand out with the structure of the song. A touch of
the blues is thrown in towards the end of it, but I have played
this a few more times than the other ones, just because it has the
impact to be so different from the rest.
On the whole, it is a unique album. You can't really put your finger
on it category-wise, but as I mentioned before, it keeps you interested
in every way possible. With so many styles, and so much going on,
it has to be one of the versatile albums around.—Danny Mayo
|
