Listen to this CD, and you'll love it!
Mariano Laotramúsica | Buenos Aires, AR | 06/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From the 90s on, there are three bands that can claim to be successfully reaching a synthesis of great prog and jazz elements: Italy's Deus Ex Machina, Sweden's The Flower Kings and the American combo Frogg Café. The two first, at different rates, have turned from straight symphonic/progressive to some sort of a jazz-prog fusion. It is this what sets Frogg Café apart: right from the beginning they've achieved a credible combination of elements from jazz and prog (among others) in their music. While listening to the Froggs CDs, one can't help but wonder what this band might sound like in a live environment, that is, how do they (re) work this material live. For now, we only have the albums to judge. And what a journey it is!Some album highlights:All This Time¹ starts with some weird noises and vocal effects. The rhythm set by the drums and guitar, against the Mellotron's dark strings on the background, give this track a certain Crimsonish-bolero atmosphere. This march-like pattern adds a dramatic feel to the track, alternating with jazzy (or, more precisely, fusion-y) breaks, which work very well against the former sections.Some of the vocals on this one remind me of Under The Sun's Chris Shryack, and that's not bad at all! The lead vocals are very expressive, and the harmonies and backing vocals are great, as we've already seen on the debut CD. There are nice touches with harpsichord (highlighted with panning), as well as great unisons, which include marimbas. Nice!Creatures features Gentle Giant-like complexities that alternate with soft vox-piano sections, accompanied with bass melodies. A cool marimba-violin unison is one of the instrumental highlights of the track. Again, the Mellotron adds depth and dramatism through a strings patch.The third track, The Celestial Metal Can (In Memory Of Charles Ives) is by far the weirdest track on the CD. I would call it a highly successful spatialization experiment. It is here that the band plays without any restraint with stereo effects, reverbs, depth, and not only do they experiment with sound treatments, they also use different sound sources such as an electric weedwacker and something that sounds like electronic sequences or delayed electronic sounds. Multiple voice layers, different kinds of percussions, banjo, violin, trumpet, and cello add to the overall effect. This one is a delightful challenge for open-minded listeners (headphones are highly recommended on this one!).Gagutz features a nice intro with wind instruments. A filtered Clavinet-like patch and wah-guitar add a little funk to this tune later on. The violin on this one could only be described an angular, some sort of Frippish playing that sounds astounding and somewhat unexpected on that instrument. This track has a definite symphonic feel, which is augmented by the use of synths. The violin solo is another album highlight, as are the multilayered sections afterwards. The guitar solo on this one is electrifying, as is the trumpet spot that shines upon a symphonic background (nice combination!).Waterfall Carnival is the last track. On this one, an acoustic guitar opening is accompanied by impeccable lead vocals (but hey, that's usual by now!). The flute joins later for some subtle strokes, while mandolin and handbells add richness to this piece. Here we have some really nice, quiet, introspective passages, alternating with busier parts. The Hammond solo on this one is just great! It is a highly varied track, and it showcases what Frogg Café's music is all about.In conclusion, this CD sounds a bit darker and even more experimental than their debut 'Frogg Café', though it retains its melodic appeal and accessibility while still defying the ear through sonic experimentation and very interesting, carefully crafted arrangements. One special note goes to the good audio quality, for an independent self-produced release. It really serves to enjoy the richness of this CD. The playing is great, and the band is really tight, especially during some difficult unisons. Another positive note comes from the instrumental variety on this album, which stimulates the listener, trying to recognize them as they jump to the spotlight. But what I like best about Creatures is that the amazing skills of the band members are put second in line against the songs themselves: they're not show-offy, but they speed up when necessary, and slow down if the song requires them to do so. They can play very difficult parts just like this, but if they have to play quiet, simple acoustic passages, they'll do that with high proficiency. This CD is a must!"
Froggtastic!!!!
John Q Public | Denver, CO United States | 01/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fabulous cd - a great follow-up to their excellent first release. Brilliant music performed by five extraordinary musicians - a superb melange of highly complex, intricate music and delightful whimsy - a combination that is all-too-often lacking in many groups performing great, challenging music. One can hear the band's origins as a Zappa band, but they have developed their own wonderful, ecclectic sound. A VERY refreshing new band - get this immediately if you like quality music, you will NOT be sorry. Ribbit Ribbit Ribbit - here come the froggs..."
Frogg Cafe - Covers An Incredible Amount Of Musical Ground
Steven Sly | Kalamazoo, MI United States | 04/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Creatures" finds the Frogg Café boys covering a ton of musical ground. The Zappa influence is once again apparent, but the band really delve into several musical styles at one point or another on the disc. I really like this CD a lot. I think that it showcases the incredible versatility of this band. They tackle several musical styles and pull it all off magnificently. There is really something here for every kind of prog fan. The album is both experimental and accessible at the same time which is something most bands of this genre find very difficult to pull off. The opening track "All This Time" showcases the band's Zappa influence, with very nice vocals. The title track "Creatures" reminds me of something Gentile Giant might do. "The Celestial Metal Can" is where the band showcases their experimental side on a tune that is almost avant in spots. "Gagutz" mines fusion territory the likes of which this band does so well. The final track the 21 plus minute "Waterfall Carnival" is pure symphonic progressive rock at its best. For me this is the highlight of the album and really works on several different levels. I got to see the band perform this live at NEARfest a few years ago and it was truly one of the highlights of the weekend for me. "Creatures" is an album that proves that this band can do pretty much anything they want and pull it off. People who enjoy a wide variety of musical styles should eat this one up."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1
