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PHI
YAAN-ZEK |
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Once
again, London based guitarist Phi Yaan-Zek turns in a brilliant instrumental
rock fusion recording. Amazingly, the entire track list of Dance
With The Anima is recorded in and around a 51 minute drum solo
by drummer Marco Minnemann, who is featured here along with
the keyboards of Lalle Larsson and several guest artists as
well. What follows musically sounds like navigating uncharted waters
with daring ears. Described as a dazzling film score, and a prog-rock
fusion journey, Phi Yaan-Zek's Dance With The Anima is a poly-rhythmic
instrumental rock fusion masterpiece that owes as much to European
music icons such as Swedens Zamla as it does to modern fretboard
aces like Steve Vai and Mike Keneally. Funny how, while listening
to certain Dance With The Anima tracks, I was imagining some
pretty far out scenarioslike how about Frank Zappa producing
a rock album by the exotic Island music bandleader Martin Denny? Thats
how truly offbeat and how musically all inclusive Phi Yaan-Zek is.
Signaling further unique musical approaches here, the rhythmic percussive
backdrop for this unusual albumMinnemanns Normalizer
2is actually the latest in a series of related releases,
comprised of 50+ minute Minnemann drum solos that also, not so randomly,
appear as the basis for other albums by pioneering fusion guitar figures
including Mike Keneally, Trey Gunn, Jason Sadites and others including
Marco himself. Witnessing Minnemanns latest drumming merger
with cutting edge musiciansits just incredible to hear
how masterfully Phi and Larsson duck and dive in and around Minnemanns
startling, precise and innovative drum work. The 22 track CD sounds
as fantastic as the music therein, and coupled with some high tech
recording and mastering innovations, the CD really captures the esprit
de corps with audiophile clarity. Plus, the Dance With The Anima
CD cover art is also quite intriguing, featuring some fantastic, surreal
paintings enhanced by an unusual glossy packaging sheen. Somewhere
in heaven, Lars Hollmer is smiling down on us mere mortals. www.PhiYaan-Zek.com
/ www.normalizer2.com
Favorite
Guitars
My
musical influences really encapsulates all of lifenature especially
is pure music for me. Also dancing the 5 rhythms has been a huge influence
in my musical temperament recently. In terms of inspirational recorded
music, I listen a lot to Hermeto Pascoal, Pharoah Sanders, Mike Keneally
, John Barry, Stravinsky, Conrad Schrenk, The Beatles, Deerhoof, Lalle
Larsson, Ane Brun, Ry Cooder, Pizzicato Five, Mats/Morgan, Stevie
Wonder and Kevin Gilbert. The guitarists I find myself coming back
to the most these days would definitely include Joe Satriani, Ali
Farka Toure, Shawn Lane, Jeff Beck, Marty Friedman, Fredrik Thordendal
and Derek Trucks. My most influential albums would include Inner
Mounting FlameMahavishnu Orchestra, Trends And Other
DiseasesMats/Morgan, Magical Mystery TourThe
Beatles, Engines Of CreationJoe Satriani, Flex-AbleSteve
Vai, SluggoMike Keneally, and Sol Niger WithinFredrik
Thordendal's Special Defects.
I'm currently
playing gigs in London with a tribal/world music ensemble called Urubu,
which is a really great high energy live event which also gives me
a lot of scope for improvisation. Recording wise, at the moment I'm
finishing off the companion remix album to Dance With The Anima
called Deeper With The Anima, which includes lots of exciting
new pieces based on the original project. Then I have a lot of material
that I recorded in California with Marco Minnemann, Bryan Beller on
bass, and Mike Keneally on keyboards, vocals and guitar, and the first
album from these sessions Reality Is My Plaything should be
out later this year. So its already gearing up to be jam packed year
musically!
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