Audioscam- Kicking And Screaming (One of Rock & Roll's Best Kept Secrets)

 

 Audioscam- Kicking And Screaming 2018:

On a conference call circa August 2011 to promote Audioscam’s second release “When The Money’s Gone” I was introduced to Brian Pitcher.

The initial question I had was did he make a concerted effort to author songs that would somehow accomplish the nearly unworkable?  That is the fulfillment of pleasing three vastly different record buyers, the passionate British Invasion and straight-ahead rocker (especially 1964-Mid 1970’s), the rebellious New Wave, Power Pop, and Punk fan of the 70’s and early 80’s, and the exponent of the Indie-Rock scene from 2000 to the present.

Brian’s response cemented how potent he was as a songwriter and Audioscam as a band.  Brian told me “As long as I have been writing songs I have never attempted a pre-fabricated approach.  I let things take a natural course.”

With the fans of the aforementioned styles of sound as divided as the current United States political parties, it gave me an even more reinforced view of Audioscam.

After over four years we finally have the follow-up to 2014’s “Audioscam 3.”  This time around the Australian powerhouse serves up the six tracks “Kicking And Screaming.”  It is one thing to commandeer a room but another to sequester the listener.  From the first note we are secluded.  There is no outside interference, the only duty is to interpret the stellar recorded works and all else becomes secondary.     

The opening number “Just Like Jamaica” serves a dual-meaning.  Brian penned the tune first as homage to the 1988 Jamaican Bobsled team that gained world-wide attention and everlasting respect at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada.

Brian’s additional (but in no way taking a back-seat) message is to never let others foil your dreams and prevent your life from taking its own unique shape.  Comingling the mellow sounds of Jimmy Buffet with a dose of Rock “N’ Roll” the latest project is not only off and running but catapulting forward.

Track 2 “Baby Done Bad” is Brian’s story of meeting his wife Julie.  We the listener are thrown into the reverse time machine and land in the year 1972.  On the radio is the rock and boogie sound of Humble Pie’s “30 Days In The Hole.”  Audioscam has unearthed the Humble Pie sound and brought it forward.

Next up is “Get Used To This.”  After getting married Brian found himself in a place he couldn’t believe existed.  There was contentment and stability.  Although in the back of his mind there was skepticism that the dream would be shattered, Brian and Julie remain an unbreakable team.  The Talking Heads, Television, and Joe Jackson resonate in your mind as Audioscam sends a message of hope.

The fourth song “Batesfield” brings Brian back to yesteryear.  Written by his friend from High School, Mark Gable.  A bank robbery and a country mile removed from the crime is the thematic scene.  ACDC and Alice Cooper are prevalent in the musical beat.

Onward to “Hand Of Sin.”  Open to your own interpretation.  To quote Brian “There is an evil vibe to it.”  Talking Heads and Graham Parker come to mind in terms of the musical spectrum.

As a bonus the CD ends with a gem.  A live version of “When The Money’s Gone” the title track from the 2011 release.

Here are the players:   

Brian Pitcher- Vocals, drums, acoustic guitar

Brad Wallace- Bass, backing vocals, guitar, and keyboards

Wayne Macintosh- Guitar

Additional Personnel:

Tenor Mel Miller- Steel drums and pans on Just Like Jamaica

Jason Byrne- Guitar on Batesfield and When The Money’s All Gone

Ross Wedding- Guitar on When The Money’s All Gone

Miss Ari Safari- Backing vocals on When The Money’s All Gone

Audioscam’s gift to us for an eternal summer.

After being engulfed in the new release you can purchase the following as well:

Abbattack August 12, 2008

When The Money’s Gone August 18, 2011

Audioscam 3 May 6, 2014

All the best,

Craig Fenton

Author: Jefferson Airplane “Take Me To A Circus Tent”

Jefferson Starship “Have You Seen The Stars Tonite”

 

Gentle Giant Progressive Rock Excellence "Three Piece Suite"

 Gentle Giant were together from 1970-1980 releasing eleven studio recordings and one live album (Posthumously there has been a treasure chest of live and studio rarities).  Their decade of musical brilliance has left an everlasting inseparableness between band and fans.

Those that were part of the journey from the 1970 self-titled album until the final curtain "Civilian" can attest to the factual reality they were not only one the most important groups to emerge out of the Progressive Rock Movement but of their time.

The Shulman Brothers: Derek, Ray, and Phil were looking for more artistic freedom and not being pigeon-holed into the three minute pop element.  They had witnessed this first hand during the predecessor to Gentle Giant with their group Simon Dupree and the Big Sound.  A European hit "Kites" (1967) was anything but satisfactory to the three brothers.

Fast-forward three years and the birth of a giant.  "Three Piece Suite" is available in three formats for the consumer.  The standard CD and vinyl recordings as well as a Blue-Ray version.

Steven Wilson (Noted musician in Porcupine Tree, No-Man, and Blackfield to name a few) who remixed the Gentle Giant "Octopus" album has been summoned again for the latest project.  As lead-singer Derek Shulman states "He brings the lows, the mids, and the highs into more perspective."  

Tony Visconti (Known also for his work with David Bowie and T-Rex) who produced the first two Gentle Giant releases "Gentle Giant" and "Acquiring the Taste" had developed an instant chemistry with the band by affording the musicians friendship, expertise, and guidance without it becoming a dictatorial affair.  Steven Wilson's willingness to enhance and not reinvent is obvious in the superlative sounds that encompass the works on "Three Piece Suite."  

Gentle Giant and Steven Wilson have been able to bridge the normal division of posthumous releases.  The fanatic often claims there is nothing of significance while the causal ear has trepidation if this is right for them.

The early phase of Gentle Giant (As a six-piece unit) is offered here.  While musicians were multifaceted the general make-up of the first two recordings were Derek Shulman- lead vocals, Ray Shulman- bass, and backing vocals, Phil Shulman- sax, trumpet, and vocals, Kerry Minnear- keyboards and vocals, Garry Green- guitars and backing vocals, and Martin Smith- drums.  Martin would be replaced for the third album "Three Friends" by Malcolm Mortimore as the band was looking for a more diverse style of playing for the ever increasing complexity of their work.  Phil Shulman would exit the group after the fourth effort "Octopus."

The allurement of the seamless blend of the selections from the first three offerings cannot be over-stated. While the thought-process each entailed differ in emotions and human feelings the band’s sound and Steven Wilson’s control room magic are able to make it a natural and never forced progression.  For the initial release "Gentle Giant" the theme is rebirth after having the albatross of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound eradicated from their shoulders, minds, and instruments.  The second "Acquiring the Taste" showcases a bitter side.  The balancing act of being truthful to oneself but paying the bills became a reality as the initial offering although magnificent to those that procured, did not sell the units the band and record company had been striving for.  Part three of the trilogy "Three Friends" signals changes in life and the reality of getting older.

For those seeking an introduction to the earlier side of Gentle Giant the selected tracks are a defectless indoctrination.  From the opening notes of "Giant" to the sheer power of "Peel the Paint" one listen will have you intrigued.  By the second helping you will be eagerly searching for an abundance of product from the boys in the band.

Those that have several decades of unwavering history with the group can add a missing piece in the "Nothing At All" edit as well as hearing nine instrumental versions of tracks where vocals normally shined (ten including “Freedom’s Child”), and by chance if your copy of "Under Construction" is not handy "Freedom's Child" never sounded better in more comfortable surroundings.   

The standard CD and vinyl release (which is a blessing to those that grew up with the warmth an LP delivered) include remixes:

• Giant (from Gentle Giant)

• Nothing At All (from Gentle Giant including the Martin Smith drum-solo as heard on the original album)

• Why Not? (from Gentle Giant)

• Pantagruel’s Nativity (from Acquiring Taste)

• The House, The Street, The Room (from Acquiring Taste)

• Schooldays (from Three Friends)

• Peel The Paint (from Three Friends)

• Mister Class And Quality? (from Three Friends)

• Three Friends (from Three Friends)

• Freedom's Child (written before the recording of the first album)
• Nothing At All (Steven Wilson 7 inch edit without Martin Smith drum-solo)

The Blue-Ray edition includes:

Disc 1 – Blu-Ray Audio (The first 10 tracks are remixed in 5.1 DTS Stereo).  Of the twenty-one songs that encompassed the first three albums only the above nine songs had the availability of multi-track tapes as well as the non-record release “Freedom’s Child.”

As an unanticipated surprise the Blue-Ray lets us experience the ten tracks in instrumental form, making it a must own for the completest.  The entire contents of the first three recordings follow and then the aforementioned material from the standard CD of “Three Piece Suite.”  To further enhance the listening and viewing experience there are animated videos from the Steven Wilson remixes.

1. Giant (Steven Wilson Mix)

2. Nothing At All (Steven Wilson Mix)

3. Why Not? (Steven Wilson Mix)

4. Pantagruel’s Nativity (Steven Wilson Mix)

5. The House, The Street, The Room (Steven Wilson Mix)

6. Schooldays (Steven Wilson Mix)

7. Mister Class and Quality? (Steven Wilson Mix)

8. Peel The Paint (Steven Wilson Mix)

9. Three Friends (Steven Wilson Mix)

10. Freedom’s Child (Steven Wilson Mix)

11. Giant (Instrumental)

12. Nothing At All (Instrumental)

13. Why Not? (Instrumental)

14. Pantagruel’s Nativity (Instrumental)

15. The House, The Street, The Room (Instrumental)

16. Schooldays (Instrumental)

17. Mister Class and Quality? (Instrumental)

18. Peel The Paint (Instrumental)

19. Three Friends (Instrumental)

20. Freedom’s Child (Instrumental)

21. Giant (Original Mix)

22. Funny Ways (Original Mix)

23. Alucard (Original Mix)

24. Isn’t It Quiet And Cold? (Original Mix)

25. Nothing At All (Original Mix)

26. Why Not? (Original Mix)

27. The Queen (Original Mix)

28. Pantagruel’s Nativity (Original Mix)

29. Edge Of Twilight (Original Mix)

30. The House, The Street, The Room (Original Mix)

31. Acquiring The Taste (Original Mix)

32. Wreck (Original Mix)

33. The Moon Is Down (Original Mix)

34. Black Cat (Original Mix)

35. Plain Truth (Original Mix)

36. Prologue (Original Mix)

37. Schooldays (Original Mix)

38. Working All Day (Original Mix)

39. Peel The Paint (Original Mix)

40. Mister Class And Quality? (Original Mix)

41. Three Friends (Original Mix)

Disc 2 – CD

1. Giant (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

2. Nothing At All (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

3. Why Not? (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

4. Pantagruel’s Nativity (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

5. The House, The Street, The Room (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

6. Schooldays (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

7. Mister Class and Quality? (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

8. Peel The Paint (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

9. Three Friends (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

10. Freedom’s Child (Steven Wilson 2.0 Mix)

11. Nothing At All (Steven’s 7” Edit)

Blue-Ray version?  "Why Not."

All the best,

Craig Fenton

Author- Jefferson Airplane "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

Jefferson Starship "Have You Seen The Stars Tonite"