Search - Rane :: Camelopardalis

Something Genuinely New

truthmsk@aol.com | Connecticut, USA | 08/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the Connecticut 5-piece's third and most fully-realized album. Equal parts Pink Floyd, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, the Eagles, and Phish, Rane have a sound that is all their own. They interpolate their influences and inspirations without sounding derivative of them. Most of the songs have a rootsy rock feel, colored by Dan Prindle's kinetic bass and the playful Afro-centric rhythms of Kurt Rinaldi and Travis LaMonthe. Ryan Bowman is a skilled, sylistic guiarist without being a wanker, and singer Alan Veniscofsky's propelling acoutsic guitar and colorful vocals are the icing on the cake. Nothing is forced.While they are all skilled musicians, the songs are the real stars here. "Feeding the Machine" is a rollercoaster of rhythm and angst, while the epic "Gemini" is a graceful opus that goes from a gentle acoustic ballad to an anthemic rocker to a moody jazz workout and back again. Everything Rane does is so natural and inspired that you often don't notice that you are rocking out to a xylophone on several tracks. My favorite? "Fullness and Decay." Even at nine minutes, it ends too soon. The breakout section is a pulsating blend of rhythmic jazz and piercing guitars, and it is driven home by Veniscofsky's most convincing vocal: "Sorry I missed you this fall/Did you notice the trees at all?...And the journey is the destination."Are they a "jam band?" Sure, but they've also won the Hartford Advocate's reader's award for best pop/rock group three years running. Do they focus a lot on "vibe," "groove," and other modern hippie slang? Of course, but the songcraft on Camelopardalis is unmatched. This is an album not to be missed by a band who could blow up at any time. Camelopardalis is exactly what music needs."

Deep, meaningful, psychedelic, groove-earthy-groove jams...

altoviola | 11/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Experience the awesome musical force of Hartford, Connecticut's rane through their latest release, CAMELOPARDALIS. Mix equal parts Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Phish, Paul Simon, the Samples and the Dave Matthews Band and all of them together might give you just a taste of the unique sounds that rane is capable of. Music like no other. Check out New England's fastest growing rock band, you won't be sorry!!!"

Don't skip a single track!

altoviola | Allston, MA United States | 01/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great 'up and coming band' from central Connecticut, Rane is a mix of rock, pop and funk that is not to be missed. This young band has nowhere to go but up and they will at any minute. Great lyrics and an amazing combination of instruments that most are not used to hearing in the typical 'pop' band make Camelopardalis an album that is not to be missed! From the fretless bass and cello, to drum box and glockenspiel, Rane has a totally new sound that will keep you listening over and over."