TRACK LIST:
1. No Deposit, No Return 6:15
2. Highway 27 4:14
3. The Old Canyon Road 5:26
4. Southern Slide 4:48
5. Hardtailed Knucklehead 5:45
6. Donuts & Fishtails 5:18
7. Beyond The Milky Way 1:23
8. Brass Saddles & Steel Trees 2:36
9. Three Way Switch 5:31
10. Crash Bar 5:26
11. Trail Dust 5:10
LINE UP :
Gayle Ellett - guitars, organ, piano, ebow
Craig Kahn - drums, percussion
Mark Cook - bass
Prolusion.
US composer and musician Gayle Ellet has a long history in multiple fields of music, as a creator of score music and soundtracks just as much as being a band member and a band leader. In progressive rock circles he is probably best known for being a member of veteran band Djam Karet, but he has released a bit of solo material over the years too in the list of more than 100 album releases he has been a part of one way or another. Gayle Ellet & The Electromags is a new venture of his from what I understand, and "Shiny Side Up" is the first studio album to be released under that moniker.
Analysis.
While Ellet has a long history with progressive rock, the music explored on this production isn't material that can be specified as being inside of this musical universe as such. Most of the songs contain references and inclusions from the progressive rock universe in some form or other, but to my ears these have more of a secondary and supporting role in the total experience here. Personally I'd probably file this production as classic rock.
It is stated on the CD itself that this is "instrumental guitar rock with a 1970's vibe", and that is something I took note of when listening through this album as well, prior to reading that description. It is always pleasing as a listener and writer to come to a conclusion that is stated by the artist of course, but this is a description that also needs to be expanded just a little bit.
From what I can hear throughout the album, rock with a distinct bluesladen sound is a staple throughout, and what I'd describe as a distinctly US-sounding variety of it dominates, with Americana elements and perhaps a little bit of a southern rock flavor added to the proceedings at times. The moods and atmospheres explored range from the atmospheric and melancholic to the playful and uplifting, and I'd swear to some of the latter songs having a little bit of surf rock going on at some stage, if not in actual sound then at least in the patterns explored. Some subtly funky details will appear on occasion, mainly as a secondary supporting element, and there's room for a little bit of psychedelic rock on this production too. Again as more of a supportive and secondary feature. That the good, old slide guitar is used probably isn't much of a surprise, nor that some songs on occasion will start approaching landscapes tot too far removed from the likes of Pink Floyd.
As for the latter tangent, we also get a few left turns here and there into sections with quirky instrument details as well as direct and indirect nods to progressive rock, up to and including some neat floating guitar solo texture sof the kind that I'll always associate with a certain Robert Fripp due to some of the 80's albums by King Crimson. That some impulses and details that may possibly have a jazz origin also appear on occasion throughout kind of comes with the territory I guess, as this is quite the eclectic production as far as secondary support elements goes. Classic rock with a more blues-oriented sound and direction remains the dominating aspect throughout though, so while the compositions provide many layers of finer details to enjoy a taste for this dominating style will be needed to get the most out of this album experience.
Otherwise this is an album by a seasoned player, and it is easy to hear that this is the case. The songs are well developed on all levels, the mix and production is excellent, and the general impression is that this is a solid production on all levels.
Conclusion.
While not an album that resides safely inside a purebred progressive rock context, this is an enjoyable example of classic rock with its feet firmly planted inside a 1970's instrumental tradition with the guitar as the literally lead instrument exploring landscapes that comes with a steady bluesladen feel throughout. Additional flavoring from Americana and progressive rock are perhaps the main secondary elements present, with a few details here and there that arguably have a bit more of a jazz tinged touch to them. A production to seek out for those who treasure quality 70's style US sounding instrumental rock featuring nods in the direction of progressive rock as well as a few other styles and orientations.
Progmessor: August 2022
The Rating Room
