Unbranded (music from the e.e.c. surplus) by PO90 (PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES) songs, tracks list, members, credits, reviews, information, discography on ProGGnosis

ProGGnosis Database Quick Search:

Unbranded (music from the e.e.c. surplus)

a Studio Release

by: po90 (Parallel or 90 Degrees)

Release Year:

2000

Recommend/Like this album on facebook

Added To Proggnosis on: 02 Jul 2001
Last Updated on: 16 Sep 2011 by: Rob

Track Listing

Gods of Convenience
Migraine
Unbranded
Shoulder to Shoulder
Space Junk
[Bonus Track] An Autopsy in Artificial Light

(Afterlifecycle Part 2)

Performer Credits

Andy Tillison
vocals, keyboards, guitars, drums

Sam Baine
piano, synthesizer

Ken Senior
bass

Gareth Harwood
guitar

Alex King
drums

Guest:

Martin Orford

Reviews

review by: NunoParallel or 90 Degrees is making some noise in the progressive world for its recovering of some lost musical approaches used by magical Van Der Graaf Generator.
The first albums show that in an undisputable way, but for Unbranded: music for the EEC surplus the band has really taken a big step forward to its own style and has settled a very personalized sound.
If God of Convenience shows us a very familiar way of singing, that really resemblances Peter Hammill from the Still Life or World Record era, for the rest of the album Po90 evolve and twist its approach into a new, original result, mixing old with very actual sounds.
Migraine has a very infectious grooving rhythm, sometimes electronic, with distorted vocals that set some darkness to the song. The keyboard solos in this music are really perfectly introduced in the concept. This is clearly one of my favorite songs in the album for its originality and the way it is constructed.
Unbranded has, sometimes, a bluesy feeling to it, with a awesome keyboard basing work. The music changes between some more aggressive approaches and calm parts with piano. The lyrical content is also a must.
Shoulder to shoulder starts in an old fashion way, calm flute, relaxing vocals returning to a very Van Der Grafian sound. Beautiful stuff. This is an 11 and ½ minute voyage through the different perspectives the band has to look at its musicality. Again, electronic sounds are mixed with awesome bass work and keyboards. The music is very complex in terms of changing its direction, there are pure piano parts, depth guitar solo, introspective lyrics and sentimental vocals. A very complete song, and an enormous high point in this album.
Space Junk bursts in high velocity then slows down, just to explode again. It’s a really cool song where the band again explores new galaxy’s to its sound. Progressive music in its higher standards: Energetic, complex, mind-blowing and that makes you bounce around like a lunatic.
An autopsy in artificial light is a 25 minute epic that even further take a dive into the bands wide boundaries. This song travels it all, the quietness, the energetic fields, the violent and then calm vocals…it’s the imploding of a Supernova in form of a song.
Essential!!

review by: DBSilverWith PO90D's 5th CD, the really step up the distinction in their sound. While there is certainly a strong Van Der Graff Generator influence here - forming the base point of all the compositions, the songs remain original and distict from these roots. I might say that the sound is more 'original' and distant from VDGG than Discipline another band I like!
The structure of the CD is to have 5 songs and a bonus track (25 minutes!). All are a basic rock or jazz/rock with prog elements. Because a feature of this music is the intellegence of the lyrics, it may requrie multiple listens before you are hooked on this wonderful music - - but it is sure worth the time invested.
A key departure from the VDGG sound the music is rooted in are the expositions of the dual-keyboard instrumental attacks - but you will certanly recognize the rather straight forward functions of the bass and drums in most songs.

Highlights are the first track Gods of ConvenienceUnbranded (about social and ecological concerns) with a vocal that is far more Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) than Peter Hammill, the fourth track Shoulder to Shoulder with Martin Orford (IQ & Jadis keyboard player) guesting on flute. There is a nice (although short) guitar solo and this song (about overcrowding on earth) and has vocals which dance between Anderson and Hammill,. The music which closes in a very techo and space-rock feel. Space Junk is a mixture of space and fusion with Hammillesque vocals.

These are highlights - but not the only songs worthy of exploration on this CD. In reviews I have encountered, the bonus track An Autopsy in Artificial Light (Afterlifecycle Part 2)," following in the vein of the band's fourth CD - Afterlifecycle is either the highlight of the CD or the weakest track. I will not weigh in on this point. What I will say is that PO90D have produced their best work to-date and have given us a CD which will provide repeated pleasures as you explore both the music and lyrics in greater depth.

Artists Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9
List Artists by Country	List Tribute Recordings	List VA Label Samplers	List Various Artists Recordings
Releases by Year:	Releases Added On:	Releases Reviewed by:

	Running Rings 1989	No More Travelling Chess 1992	The Corner of My Room 1996	Afterlifecycle 1997	The Time Capsule 1998
Unbranded (music from the e.e.c. surplus) 2000	More Exotic Ways to Die 2002	Jitters 2009