Alex Izraev – Passionate Conversation
Similar artists: Shopping Trolley, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Renaissance
Genre: Progressive Rock
What exactly is the date when stores collectively decided they were no longer going to stock up on Tamagochis, Furbies or Hoola Hoops? No doubt, sales of each of these items can’t have been the same as in their golden days. But I really doubt anyone complained about having to see Tamagochis each time they walked into a store to buy an expensive bottle of bottled water.
There certainly must’ve been many people who still loved all those things that are now classified as “fads.” Some of them probably rushed out to buy all the remaining Furbies before they could ever buy them again. Probably even more, people remember those trends with fondness and wonder why we all let them die out. They were fun, right?
Progressive rock that prioritized technically proficient, expressive synth playing is a lot like that. You most likely don’t think about it often. But if you have any knowledge of it, you conclude that it’s a wonderful thing. Well, Alex Izraev’s “Passionate Conversation” is a really nice piece of over-the-top, carefully composed music that bridges the gap between classical and rock.
It may bring to mind the gentle, classy arpeggios of Genesis’ Tony Banks. And while some do not share my passion for grandiose 70s prog, there are few who’d mind it and, and as a matter of fact, few who’d fail to enjoy Alex Izraev’s keyboard-centric work.
Thorn Haze – Let It Come
Similar artists: The Black Keys, The White Stripes, The Raconteurs
Genre: Classic Rock, Alternative Rock
What do you need to make music, and how much do you want to be part of music-making? The first part of the question seems like an obvious one. Many would-be musical artists have posed this to themselves and come to the conclusion that a lot of expensive equipment, a producer, a manager, and, naturally, a fancy wardrobe were all the minimal requirements to get started.
Thorn Haze doesn’t have time for such considerations, and all of us are better for it. The fact is that few of these potential artists ask themselves the second part of the question. The people who really want to be involved in music-making are bursting with desire and eager to find ways to find their entrance ticket. And while there are not many like this, they know that they won’t need a lot as long as they are imaginative and they desire to play their part.
Thorn Haze’s “Let It Come” rides the wave of a powerful sound that is created by omitting the very things that other artists overload their songs with. You might be inclined to call this a “blues gimmick.” But while a one-man blues-rock orchestra certainly draws attention, it is Thorn Haze’s ability to figure out what the heart of this music is and to extract it that makes it a very interesting sound.
