▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: Colin Tench Project ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Hair in a G-String █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2016 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2017-04-16 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: Waters Records ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ I keep getting dragged back to this album. I do █ █ believe it's the best album for many years from █ █ anybody. If a single member of many different █ █ early progressive rock bands got together to see █ █ what happened, this might be the result. It is █ █ simply sublime. I see there are a few others who █ █ say the same in reviews, so I thought I would add █ █ my own. There is not one moment on here that I get █ █ bored or the feeling there is any pointless █ █ noodling going on. All of the vocals are brilliant █ █ and that rarely happens on any album. A perfect █ █ combinatoion of songs and pure music ranging from █ █ Beatles, Santana to Piano and almost classical █ █ pieces to classic guitar rock. Didn't this kind of █ █ record get banned 40 years ago? The Opening Part 1 █ █ draws you in and Part 4b blows you away as a █ █ finale. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ I'm going to straight to the point. It is █ █ brilliant! Everytime Colin Tench is involved in █ █ something I got to have it. It is soooo refreshing █ █ to still be able to find music and musicians that █ █ have an ability to not take themselves 100% █ █ seriously. Except for the obvious talent for █ █ constructing "catchy" tunes Colin and Co. also are █ █ able to put in a huge chunk of humour. It shows █ █ that they are having fun making the album, which █ █ in turn makes it fun to listen to. █ █ The album is very well paced and despite some of █ █ the compositions being quite lengthy, none of them █ █ overstay its welcome. Constant twists, loops and █ █ changes make you feel like you are on a crazy █ █ adventure that can lead you anywhere. That is █ █ something that i find difficult to find in most of █ █ modern music. That sense of discovery, surprise █ █ and excitement. This album has it by the loads. █ █ Even though I enjoy the album and I would put it █ █ on some of the highest of my shelves I think there █ █ is still more where it came from. Can't wait for █ █ the next one, cause they just keep getting better █ █ and better. OH, and don't forget to sit through █ █ the wohle thing cause Part 4b Redux, although █ █ short, might be modern musics answer to Bethovens █ █ Opus 55: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major ("Eroica") █ █ that we all have been waiting for! █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Track Part 4B - Don't miss it! The title of the █ █ album is a take of Bach's Air on the G-String. █ █ While (Unfinished but sweet) is often described in █ █ classic music sheets unfinished suite. This album █ █ as a whole, one can't help but think of Alice █ █ Cooper's UNFINISHED SWEET musical landscape with █ █ explosion of colors taking you to Willy Wonka █ █ Chocolate Factory, to James bond sexy spy █ █ thriller, from the Beatles fun filled tunes and █ █ harmonies, to Nino Rota's latin musical scores, █ █ evolving to a dramatic opera with all the █ █ trimmings giving you Queen with Vangelis █ █ crescendos. █ █ Hair In A G-String opens with Part 1 - The Opening █ █ - Stunning, stunning, song! Acoustic guitars, █ █ piano, keyboards, electric guitars lead in to █ █ "it's time to start the show, sit down, █ █ relax,...", Pete's voice sounds unbelievable, like █ █ Peter Gabriel with lyrics Bowie could have █ █ written. But the best part is yet to come. At █ █ 4.33mins Peter Jones saxophone 'OMG', you feel it █ █ starting right from your gut, an absolute stunner, █ █ reminiscent of Floyd's Dark Of The Moon. █ █ Can't see any other way - Beautiful 70's feel good █ █ song, guitars play lead and response to Phil █ █ Naro's amazing 4 octave vocal range and harmonies. █ █ The bass guitar really shines here and Colin lead █ █ guitar at times sounds like a saxophone. █ █ Part 2 - The Hairy Part - A track full of █ █ surprises - most endearing classical orchestration █ █ beginning, goes into full rock mode, changing to █ █ fluttering drumming and deep inhaling guitars, █ █ fast and rhythmic clever, 3mins into the track, █ █ ... "bang" Santana arrives... in big way... with a █ █ fantastic samba explosion. █ █ The Mad Yeti - Romantic Spanish Acoustic song, █ █ fast and slow beautiful melodies. █ █ And so today - Homage to Four Beloved Artists we █ █ sadly lost last year. Lyrics make special █ █ reference although not obvious to Sir George █ █ Martin (5th Beatle), Glenn Frey, Lemmy Kilmister █ █ and David Bowie... this song hits a nerve, █ █ emotionally grabbing, leaving lump in my throat, █ █ brings me easily to tears. Besides vocals, Pete █ █ plays clarinet with a touch of Genesis and the █ █ Waltz whereby the acoustic guitar, piano, violins █ █ and bass notes, all complement each other. Colin's █ █ small lead-break halfway through adds the right █ █ beautiful touch. █ █ Part 3 - I'm Going Down - The first part of this █ █ song up to 2.17mins, orchestration, guitars hit █ █ every sensitive nerve, one feels, hangs on to █ █ every note. Then the song takes a Queen turn, May █ █ lead guitars kick in, at 2.38mins Pete vocals come █ █ in, soon turns into a darker Queen Opera, and back █ █ to melodic full orchestration of flowing fanfare █ █ 'fom fom fa fom fom fa' accordion to The Beatles █ █ Sergeant Pepper, the last part followed by Pink █ █ Floyd The Wall with my favorite ending Colin's █ █ guitars playing funky chucking notes like Nile █ █ Rodgers to describe it the best I can. N.B.: A █ █ secret backwards message at the end. █ █ Lisa Waltzes Back In With No G-String - Gob █ █ smacking brilliant Waltz! Maestro Gordo █ █ orchestration is huge, Colin's guitars start a █ █ lead and response war, the horns, violins, bass █ █ and drums all join in to produce a marvelous █ █ explosion. █ █ Lisa's Entrance Unplugged - Another big favorite, █ █ acoustic guitars, whistles and the flute performed █ █ by Ian, telling a Sicilian story with a touch of █ █ western, beautiful & touching like Nino Rota's The █ █ Godfather. █ █ Something Old Something New Something Borrowed █ █ Something Screwed - Masterpiece - Exciting █ █ Instrumental song, great guitar tunes, beautiful █ █ lead breaks and magnificent crescendos. █ █ La Palo Desperado - My favorite acoustic track on █ █ the album, Spanish Paso Doble and The Tango. █ █ Exciting full of flavor and raunchy with slower █ █ seductive bits. OlΘ ! And a slight pink panther █ █ tune. █ █ A Beautiful Feeling - Phil Naro vocal harmonies █ █ take you back to the classic early 60's Frankie █ █ Valli and the 4 seasons, a song to be played █ █ anywhere, the soft samba rhythm, slide and lead █ █ guitars added by sweet percussion with shakers, █ █ easy to dance either alone or with a partner. █ █ Dnieper Summer Day - a quirky fast acoustic guitar █ █ track, layers changing and overlapping each █ █ others. You cannot possibly sit still to that. █ █ PART4-B - Favorite ending of an album, The Rat █ █ Pack Sinatra and Crosby with Zappa joining in. █ █ Very clever and funny, Peter Jones and Phil Naro █ █ duet with lead and response guitars joined by big █ █ band orchestration done just right. I have to █ █ highlight the comical middle section with Jay's █ █ drums adding to the whole band having fun. █ █ PART4B Redux - This short piece, I envision Monty █ █ Python and the Holy Grail start of the movie, but █ █ this time they are Minions. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Listening to this album has been one of my very █ █ disappointing musical experiences of the year. █ █ There are many good reviews about it!! So I was █ █ expecting for something really great. I prepared █ █ myself for an hour of great sound, big █ █ arrangements and all I know is a big prog album. █ █ And then it came "Hair in a G string" and I knew █ █ why the complete name has the "(Unfinished but █ █ sweet)" commentary Oh, my boy, IT IS, "Unfinished █ █ but sweet"!!! I will ask Colin Tench. Please why █ █ didn't you finished them all, BEFORE releasing the █ █ whole bunch? To me a prog album is greatly █ █ polished. OK, you got some good tunes here, but █ █ you got to work a lot on them before get a "prog █ █ album" of this stuff. Colin Tench in a very good █ █ musician, he plays guitar virtuously, but that's █ █ not enough to me. In the end, to me this is but a █ █ bunch of pop songs (some with long soft intros): █ █ "sweet but unfinished". I can't rate it as a "prog █ █ album". █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Ed Sheehan once said "I can't tell you the key to █ █ success, but the key to failure is trying to █ █ please everyone" but that is not the case for █ █ Colin Tench Project (CTP). Rather than trying to █ █ please everyone the band take detours into a vast █ █ variety of musical styles and this culminates in █ █ an album with surprises around every corner on █ █ HAIR IN A G STRING (UNFINISHED BUT SWEET). There █ █ are Samba and Latin rhythms mixed with extended █ █ keyboard and lead breaks, sporadic passages of █ █ jumpy beats and dissonance merged in among █ █ beautiful pastoral ballads. One song might sound █ █ like The Beatles and then the next launches into a █ █ full blown progressive instrumental. This is the █ █ type of album that grows slowly on the listener. █ █ It's adorned in an attractive artistic cover and █ █ booklet illustrated by Sonia Mota always capturing █ █ life perfectly at the stroke of a brush. █ █ The real highlights are found in the songs with █ █ lyrics so well sung by Peter Jones. However the █ █ instrumental tracks are musical ear candy █ █ especially the Hair in a G String segments. Tench █ █ is masterful on lead guitar making it soar and █ █ dive at every opportunity. He is joined by a █ █ plethora of musical geniuses each adding their own █ █ quirky intervention. █ █ The album opens with a symphonic space suite █ █ sounding like Star Trek and as soon as we hear the █ █ chimes, a wonderful acoustic accompaniment █ █ vibrates into a romantic sonnet. The harp █ █ glissando signifies a new movement and the lead █ █ guitars layer across the soundscape. This is █ █ beauty in a musical format. The vocals implores us █ █ to throw off some clothes so we can begin. It █ █ sounds as theatrical as Peter Gabriel. Peter Jones █ █ has a sweet timber in his voice and it's magnified █ █ by the cacophony of sounds including a gorgeous █ █ sax sound. A great start to the album. █ █ The next track proves that CTP are capable of █ █ radio friendly commercial excellence. They are not █ █ People pleasers: for such people take most █ █ criticism personally; and Feel an extraordinary █ █ fear of rejection. The lyrics of Can't See it any █ █ other Way speak of making decisions and not █ █ allowing one to surrender their lives to the █ █ opinions of others. I love that Beatles sound on █ █ the song; melodic and calm. █ █ Furthermore people pleasers would find it hard to █ █ express their true feelings. CTP certainly know █ █ how to express themselves in musical terms. On the █ █ Hairy Part of the title track they begin to █ █ channel Santana especially the sound of the early █ █ years. I love this and how the band sound like █ █ they are partying. It's a sexy sound with a ton of █ █ tom tom and Latin rhythms. █ █ The Mad Yeti is an acoustic piece beautifully █ █ played with a very relaxed feel. Though I would █ █ not have a chance of getting such a gorgeous sound █ █ from my old axe. █ █ The Sad Brazilian is a masterpiece. The piano █ █ rings with a melancholy sound and an orchestral █ █ sunset hovers over the keys. The hyper relaxed █ █ atmosphere is a dreamscape of symphonic majesty. A █ █ colourama of dark and light augmented by Psycho █ █ strings and cinematic breadth. The loud guitar █ █ crashes through at the right moment. Absolutely █ █ deliriously brilliant. █ █ And So Today I rediscovered from the film clip █ █ scattered on social media. The ballad is sung with █ █ heartfelt emotion by Peter Jones in a graveyard. █ █ It signifies the passing of musical legends such █ █ as Lemmy. A very emotional detour in the album. █ █ I'm Going Down is the third segment of the title █ █ track. It's a multi tracked song that becomes an █ █ instrumental. This one veers into all sorts of █ █ directions from Gentle Giant madness to Pink Floyd █ █ to Captain Pugwash accordion then into Because by █ █ The Beatles. It's as if a musical shop exploded █ █ and the instruments took off by themselves to play █ █ their own private gig. It's surreal in places, █ █ backmasking at one point, and is the band in an █ █ experimental mood. When they're unleashed they are █ █ at their best. A ten minute mini epic and one of █ █ the highlights of the album - its goodity goodity █ █ good. █ █ Another instrumental follows with Lisa Waltzes in █ █ with no G String. This Lisa has appeared on past █ █ Tench albums so it's a familiar thing. A lot of █ █ fun as we are treated to a cinematic waltz with a █ █ Tarantino western feel. █ █ Lisa's Entrance Unplugged is a medieval █ █ Elizabethan melody. This is followed by Something █ █ Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something █ █ Screwed, an instrumental that encompasses a █ █ variety of musical styles that are striking when █ █ you hear them. There's a tribute to The Wall era █ █ Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Eagles, and others █ █ less obvious. Tench's lead guitar is wonderful on █ █ this track and the harmonies blend perfectly in. █ █ We venture into Spain next as if Red Dwarf's █ █ Riviera Kid were about to make an appearance. This █ █ is followed by a song sounding as radio friendly █ █ as The Eagles Lying Eyes. It's actually a dang █ █ good song and well sung. I reckon Peter Jones █ █ would be a good lead singer for an Eagles tribute █ █ band. █ █ Where to from here? An acoustic instrumental that █ █ is a glorified sped up version of Hotel █ █ California. But it's fun, short and I love the █ █ chord structure so I'll let them get away with it. █ █ Part 4b opens with a nautical feel then really █ █ powerful lead guitar tones and a proggy song, with █ █ theatrical touches and extreme humour a bit like a █ █ Monty Python satire. It makes me laugh so I'm okay █ █ with the downright silliness. Where did these █ █ violins come from? Good question guys. The █ █ nonsense lyrics is a send up of the medium and why █ █ not? Zappa would approve. The Bathory death metal █ █ roar is killer but is soon ended with a Fishermans █ █ Friend. I'm not kidding. The odd time signature █ █ follows and the music spreads out into a nice █ █ piece. They still need to close off the show and █ █ impress the fans so it's time for some more █ █ arguments before a brilliant lead break with a Wah █ █ Wah pedal. It soars heavenly and launches into the █ █ stratosphere. I'm already sold by it all but then █ █ it takes me on a speed metal detour but it's █ █ damned too short. Back to the medium pace melody █ █ and duel lead break showcase. What a nutty and █ █ enjoyable romp. █ █ The redux to follow is like Devo got hold of the █ █ album and added their own quirkiness. █ █ Contentment doesn't come when we have everything █ █ we want but it comes When we want everything we █ █ have. TCTP absolutely nail every track on this █ █ album. We want to hear these tracks even though we █ █ don't realise it till the album is playing so we █ █ become content with it. Every time I put it on I █ █ am surprised at its diversity and how it manages █ █ to deliver so many pleasant musical experiences. █ █ It's a new approach to prog, ambitious and daring, █ █ but when it's played to perfection and with such █ █ passion it leaves little room for us to critique; █ █ on the contrary we can only sit back and bathe in █ █ the instrumental pool of delights. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Wow,The Colin Tench Project Hair in a G String ( █ █ unfinished but sweet) is my absolute favourite █ █ album of 2016. The musicality of the whole album, █ █ every track different yet the genius that is so █ █ obviously Colin Tench shines through every guitar █ █ chord. Can't see it any other way i think is very █ █ much influenced by the beatles ballads, then Part █ █ 4B has hints of the Beatles once again but in a █ █ completely different way, i hear i am a walrus in █ █ parts, the vocals by Peter Jones and Phil Naro are █ █ great. Lisa's entrance unplugged is a fantastic █ █ instrumental it makes me think of Robin Hood and █ █ Maid Marion. There's also a Spanish flavour to █ █ Dnieper Summer Day, another excellent piece. There █ █ is something on this Album for everyone. It's been █ █ so cleverly put together by someone who loves what █ █ he's doing and it comes through in his music. And █ █ so, Today and A Beautiful Feeling are truly █ █ beautiful songs, wonderful lyrics accompanied by █ █ an amazing musical arrangement. Anyone who listens █ █ to this album will be blown away, the name Colin █ █ Tench should be up there with the best, his music █ █ will put a smile on anyone's face, for many █ █ different very clever reasons. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Colin Tench, that progressive rock artisan who has █ █ sufficient strength to season it with sounds █ █ distant to the genre, releases a forceful and █ █ elaborate work baptized from the beginning as a █ █ progressive music album. And it is not entirely █ █ false, but not true either. It is true that the █ █ structure presents itself to us as a concept of █ █ elaborate music, which is not missing, nor █ █ lacking, the progressive foundations that the █ █ British musician residing in a world of Vikings █ █ dominates in such a particular way; but it is also █ █ true that, despite being structured as a concept █ █ album, Colin's emotional and intimate element has █ █ slipped through at breakneck speed for a rich █ █ record of nuances that plummets, with that retro █ █ sound that only Colin seems to dominate, into an █ █ end product that not only pays homage to Pink █ █ Floyd or Genesis, but also to the Beatles or ELO, █ █ and to a large extent Santana, to name a few of █ █ the influences that feed Tench's musical soul. And █ █ it's that the exquisite set of progressive music █ █ of this incomplete but sweet 'Hair in a G-String' █ █ (note the irony referred to Bach), feeds itself, █ █ as interludes, on compositions as personal as the █ █ mastery of its composer. In this album, I repeat, █ █ we can attend a stage filled with an imagery of █ █ elaborate music, reminiscent of his other personal █ █ project, Corvus Stone, but we can also place █ █ ourselves before the naked soul of the artist full █ █ of references to the classics, to television █ █ tunes, to the Beatles, to Chicano sounds, to █ █ orchestral movements, to the intimacy of his life █ █ and his personal experience, definitely. A father █ █ and his son, neither more nor less. An excellent █ █ Music exercise, with capital letters, that wraps █ █ the listener from beginning to end and that has █ █ nothing to do with the cited project, in group █ █ format, which is Corvus Stone. We are facing the █ █ compositional crowning moment of an artisan whose █ █ craft is imagination and melody. We are facing the █ █ personal revelation of a musician who lives by and █ █ for the music and who does not care, at all, to █ █ undress metaphorically before a listener who will █ █ appreciate the enormous effort of a work born from █ █ the heart. A work cared for with great care and █ █ executed, apart from the huge cast of musicians █ █ whose talent is dispersed throughout this great █ █ album, with the delicacy, professionalism and █ █ energy of someone who knows what he wants. We are █ █ presencing, in a rationed but firm way, the █ █ consolidation of one of the musical and █ █ progressive pillars of the 21st century. Colin █ █ Tench is that friendly and effective mainstay of a █ █ genre that cries out for a regeneration that isn't █ █ lacking details and essences that enrich it once █ █ and for all. Colin Tench in the seventies would be █ █ a consecrated musician today, but the best of all █ █ is that we can be witnesses of this confirmation █ █ in these dangerous times for a progressive genre █ █ that, more and more, shows lack of emotion, █ █ technique and feeling. From the darkness of █ █ self-production and the underground emerges an █ █ increasingly powerful light that announces, like █ █ this 'Hair in a G-String', a new future full of █ █ hope, a horizon of events that will drag us █ █ towards the primitive and true condition of the █ █ progressive genre. Colin Tench is one of those █ █ flag bearers. The reason is simple: he is a █ █ musician with soul. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ For those who maybe don't know Colin Tench, I █ █ should say that he is a very talented and skilled █ █ musician, who is involved in various bands and █ █ projects, such as Corvus Stone for example. I knew █ █ Colin and his skillful guitar playing from his █ █ previous works with Corvus Stone, but this solo █ █ album came as a surprise to me. I have no █ █ intention to get into details for every song, █ █ because to be honest, 99% of the times I just put █ █ the CD and let it play. It is one of the best █ █ releases of 2016 without a doubt, and that is █ █ proven by the No.1 position at the Prog Archives █ █ albums chart with the best releases of 2016. As █ █ Colin told me a couple of days ago when we were █ █ talking on Skype, one of his most beloved bands is █ █ The Beatles, and that is something that is rather █ █ obvious throughout the album. One can find enough █ █ influences by The Beatles among a few other bands, █ █ like Pink Floyd for example. The song Can't See it █ █ any other way sounds like it was taken out of The █ █ White Album, and the small passage of ''Because'' █ █ at the start of Something new, Something old? █ █ makes me chill every time. There were many █ █ musicians that participated in the recordings, so █ █ further than Colin and the 6 musicians that worked █ █ on this album, there are also 16 more that helped █ █ as guests; playing a very big variety of █ █ instruments, like flute or violin for example. But █ █ further than each person's personal taste in █ █ music, the important thing is that Hair in a █ █ G-string is a well-structured album, with emphasis █ █ on the details. And you know what? All these █ █ simple and small details are making a big █ █ difference finally. Based on the 6-7 times that I █ █ listened to the album so far, these are my most █ █ beloved songs: Hair in a G-string Part.1, Can't █ █ See it any Other Way, The Sad Brazilian, And So █ █ Today, Something Old, Something New, Something █ █ Borrowed, Something Screwed, and the fantastic █ █ Liza's Waltz with full orchestral arrangements, █ █ that is a bonus track. The album is available for █ █ download on the artists Bandcamp page, but further █ █ than that it will be available in CD near the end █ █ of November. Give yourselves a favour, and buy █ █ this really beautiful album! You will not regret █ █ it! Highly Recommended! My Rating would be: 4.5 █ █ out of 5.0 stars. P.S: Because I can't rate it █ █ with 4.5 stars, I will give 5.0, in order not to █ █ downgrade the very good ratings the album has so █ █ far. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ I have been listening to Colin Tench's past works █ █ and I have always enjoyed it very much, even █ █ rewarding it with five stars. That is a testament █ █ to a young man's brilliance and ecclecticism, █ █ because that is his forte. Tench seems able to █ █ play any genre in a convincing way and ever █ █ evolving. In a progressive sense that is true █ █ strengths. When I learned that he was involved in █ █ a new venture I was intrigued and happy to review █ █ it. Since I loved Corvus Stone II so much I was █ █ fearful that I would not like this as much. I was █ █ proven wrong. █ █ Let me tell you, the opening track is such a █ █ gentle piece and holds a spoken "Welcome to the █ █ show". This section of the song, with a soaring █ █ sax-solo is one of the most beautiful passages I █ █ have ever heard. Breathtaking. The next track is a █ █ very melodious one which brings Beatles to mind. █ █ And then it hits you, "Hair in a G-string part 2". █ █ Santana and latin fusion. It's a vivid celebration █ █ to music and creativity. Part 3 of this suite is a █ █ folky nod to the 70's, I think, and is great. █ █ Apart from the folky nod there is a fantastic █ █ section of free-form characcter, a powerful █ █ workout and a intriguing soundscapes. I love this █ █ song. █ █ "Something old, something new?" is a track in █ █ sections with outstanding playing and a guitar █ █ that is unbelievable. The opening nod to The █ █ Beatles (copying the intro to "Because" is simply █ █ delicious.) And the we head into the Wild West on █ █ "La Palo desperado" before "Part 4 b" starts █ █ summoning all the pieces together in a magnificent █ █ epic and soaring fashion. And then there's the █ █ bonus track, "Liza's waltz" with full orchestra. █ █ Pompous and overblown and as such stunning. █ █ Of all things I have heard from Colin Tench this █ █ is by far his most progressive work. He throws all █ █ and any into the pot making "Hair in a G-string" a █ █ collection of outstanding beauty and power, █ █ blending his hardrock tendencies with folky █ █ intricacy, progressive outbursts and expeditions █ █ to any part of the world, fusing all above with █ █ latin jazz-rock worthy of any and all of the █ █ greats. It's whimsical in just the right sense and █ █ that makes the music even more endearing. █ █ It need to be said that though Tench is the █ █ mastermind he surrounds him with, just as he █ █ always do, outstanding brilliance in his entourage █ █ of fellow musicians. If I was the emperor of the █ █ world, which I'm clearly not, I would prompt for █ █ all to listen to this album. It is a crowning █ █ achievement of 2016 and I urge you to listen. █ █ Brilliance on a plate. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ 1. "Hair in a G String (The Opening) Part 1" █ █ (6:25) is a very dramatic opening (an overture?) █ █ with quite theatric music supporting Peter Jones' █ █ eventual narration singing drawing us into the █ █ story (album). It's like the narration of the █ █ experience of writing and listening to a concept █ █ album 'show.' How self-aware is this █ █ writer/narrator/composer/performer! One of my █ █ three favorites from this album. (9/10) █ █ 2. "Can't See It Any Other Way" (4.36) a little in █ █ the countrified vein of the early EAGLES or GEORGE █ █ HARRISON/BEATLES-like tune. A well-recorded and █ █ -constructed homage to the music of the past but a █ █ little too over the top for me. (7/10) █ █ 3. "Hair in a G String (The Hairy Part) Part 2" █ █ (6.04) continues the "suite" theme that began with █ █ the album's opening song. This one feels very █ █ cinematic, like a lot of the Corvus Stone stuff. █ █ Very Spaghetti Western like (except for the █ █ drums--which are rather lame) with at least three █ █ distinct parts, the third of which is completely █ █ old-school SANTANA. (8/10) █ █ 4. "The Mad Yeti" (2:54) is a guitar instrumental █ █ with at least three or four tracks devoted to █ █ acoustic guitars. Not far from an Anthony Phillips █ █ piece. I like to imagine Colin sitting by a fire █ █ in the fireplace while recording each of these █ █ tracks. (8/10) █ █ 5. "The Sad Brazilian" (7:20) This happens to be █ █ one of my favorite songs on the album--as much for █ █ the wonderful use of orchestra and piano as for █ █ the wonderfully cinematic soundscapes painted █ █ herein. Even Colin's electric guitar flourishes █ █ are contained and restrained, yet they pack the █ █ perfect punch. (9/10) █ █ 6. "And So, Today" (4:12) is a beautiful tribute █ █ to four rock'n'roll greats that passed away in █ █ 2016. Great encrypted lyrics delivered with such █ █ beauty and respect from singer Pete Jones. Another █ █ of my three favorite songs here. (10/10) █ █ 7. "Hair in a G string (I'm Going Down) Part 3" █ █ (10.09) opens like a classic ROY BUCHANAN song, █ █ orchestra and all. Then, at 1:10 the guitar sound █ █ choice shifts into sustained overdrive to give it █ █ a more modern sound. At 2:25 there is a shift in █ █ mood to more Southern Rock--over which the █ █ theatric vocals of Pete Jones are delivered. The █ █ dreamy "feels so good" part at the five minute █ █ mark is pretty--as are the guitar and keyboard █ █ solos that follow. Accordion's presence gives the █ █ song a little beer hall feel. The song is starting █ █ to feel more PINK FLOYD/DAVID GILMOUR-esque here █ █ in the seventh and eighth minutes. Unfortunately, █ █ I find the premise that trimmed pubic hair is more █ █ desirable than the alternative to be a sad █ █ reflection of our paranoid, over-sanitized, █ █ youth-obsessed first world society. (9/10) █ █ 8. "Lisa Waltzes Back In With No G-String" (3:53) █ █ is a solid instrumental with another Spaghetti █ █ Western cinema feel to it--(this time especially █ █ the drums). (8/10) █ █ 9. "Lisa's Entrance Unplugged" (3:09) An oddly █ █ titled song for such a beautiful medieval folk █ █ song. One of my three favorites. (10/10) █ █ 10. "Something Old, Something New, Something █ █ Borrowed, Something Screwed" (7:32) The title here █ █ refers to the many themes from old classic rock █ █ songs that Colin here borrows and varies, █ █ including the BEATLES-esque opening upon which the █ █ song is founded. (As I said in the opening to this █ █ review: "Colin is feeling nostalgic.") To my ears, █ █ it is the Eagles, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles that █ █ are most represented in the collection and █ █ juxtapositions of the riffs I hear. Quite probably █ █ Colin means this as another tribute to the █ █ recently deceased heroes of rock history. Colin █ █ puts on display some wonderfully emotional guitar █ █ and melodic wizardry in his expression of these █ █ familiar themes. (9/10) █ █ 11. "La Palo Desperado (5:54) is pure Spanish █ █ guitar play--as if King Henry VIII's court with █ █ his first wife, Isabella of Spain. Nice concert █ █ material--though perhaps a bit drawn out. (8/10) █ █ 12. "A Beautiful Feeling" (5:58) sounds like a hit █ █ crossover song from the mid-70s--could be from █ █ Glenn Campbell, Charley Rich, Leo Sayer, Ronnie █ █ Milsap, the early Eagles or even The Greatest █ █ American Hero or Grease. Actually a pretty good █ █ song! Let's get it some AM radio airplay. (9/10) █ █ 13. "Dnieper Summer Day (1:38) is a multiple █ █ acoustic guitar piece that though essentially █ █ Spanish in its feel, purports to have something to █ █ do with Russia--though it's really a variation on █ █ The Eagles' "Hotel California" chords and █ █ melodies. (8/10) █ █ 14. "Part 4b (7:56) is stable rock set up for a █ █ humorous vocal drama between musicians, composers, █ █ lyricists, and singers. They really do camp it up! █ █ IT sounds like it could come out of a music studio █ █ version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the █ █ first three minutes it's quite fun, then it gets █ █ weird/silly in a Tim Burton-kind of way (despite █ █ Colin's excellent guitar soloing). Then, at 5:28 █ █ it threatens to become a heavy metal song, only it █ █ doesn't. The vocals disappear and Colin goes on █ █ doing his bluesy electric lead solos (in multiple █ █ channels/tracks). The orchestra joins in at the █ █ end in a kind of Quadrophenia kind of way as the █ █ narrator brings the comicopera to an end. █ █ Entertaining! (9/10) █ █ 15. "Part 4b Redux (0:23) is a brief dance hall █ █ version of the chords and comedy of the previous █ █ song. █ █ There is so much nostalgia present in this album I █ █ wonder what Colin is going through (on a personal █ █ level). I appreciate his commitment to and █ █ reverence of these heroes and influences of his. █ █ Where Colin's music here lacks in comparison with █ █ his last Corvus Stone albums is in the up-front █ █ show of virtuosic flair in the electric guitar █ █ department. The man is an electric guitar god, so █ █ why not exploit it! I mean, there are only so many █ █ albums that one can put out in a lifetime (unless █ █ you're Buckethead, Sun Ra, John Zorn, or the Acid █ █ Mothers Tempe), so let's flaunt it! For posterity! █ █ One last thing: While I comprehend Colin's rather █ █ clever pun-manship with potty humour topics, I'm █ █ not necessarily a big fan: There's always a little █ █ too much implied misogyny (or male locker room █ █ attitude) involved for my comfort. Still, the man █ █ is nothing short of a genius! And a mega talented █ █ one, at that! █ █ A 4.5 stars album; a near-masterpiece of █ █ progressive rock music--and a genius piece of █ █ music drawing on, but making all his own, the █ █ riffs and melodies of past masters. █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. Hair in a G-String Part 1 (The Opening) 6:27 ░ ░ 2. Can't See it Any Other Way 4:37 ░ ░ 3. Hair in a G-String Part 2 (The Hairy 6:05 ░ ░ Part) ░ ░ 4. The Mad Yeti 2:55 ░ ░ 5. The Sad Brazilian 7:19 ░ ░ 6. And So, Today 4:12 ░ ░ 7. Hair in a G-String Part 3 (I'm Going 10:10 ░ ░ Down) ░ ░ 8. Lisa Waltzes Back in With No G-String 3:53 ░ ░ 9. Lisa's Entrance Unplugged 3:10 ░ ░ 10. Something Old, Something New, Something 7:33 ░ ░ Borrowed, Something Screwed ░ ░ 11. La Palo Desperado 5:55 ░ ░ 12. A Beautiful Feeling 6:00 ░ ░ 13. Dnieper Summer Day 1:39 ░ ░ 14. Part 4b 8:01 ░ ░ 15. 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