Progressive Rock Review: Coloratura-WTF Was That?!

Release Date: June 1, 2024

Label: Melodic Revolution Records

Website 

I can explain what the band Coloratura is on their newly remastered version of WTF Was That?! It's wild, weird, and wonderful. Progressive rock as it should sound, with music with room to move around, change, and evolve as you listen. This album got a reboot because the band wanted to improve on the sound, which they did successfully with this vinyl release.

Side A opens with a short instrumental, "WTF Was That?!" It is an exciting beginning with strongly paced drums, some wah-wah guitar, and cascading sounds. At the end of the track, they say, you guessed it, WTF was that?

 

"Toy Soldiers" is a total shift in sound (big surprise, well, not really), with solid sounds and changing colors and emotions. The guitar cranks with a robust bottom end. The vocals are also excellent, and as the song ends, they sing, "They are just play things anyway."

 

"Flim-Flam Man" is funky and rocking as they repeatedly sing, "scum bag, scum bag," about the character. The flute is a good addition, giving it a more progressive feel. There is a funky bass run, and the guitar joins in. The vocals reminded me of 10cc, one of my all-time favorite bands. Once again, there is a good rhythm and backbeat. A mountain of sounds comes together at the end, extraordinary musicianship!

 

"Side Hustle" is one of my favorites. It starts differently (all their music is different but dissimilar to the previous track) as the flute arrives again to meet the guitar, drums, and bass. Some very cool vocals follow along. The rock-solid rhythm section continues to serve as the foundation for this castle of musical mastery.

 

"Lousy Smarch Weather" has some very complex music, with those 10cc-like vocals again and some interesting sound effects. As I mentioned at the outset, it's weirdly wonderful. The track gains momentum with an instrumental break showcasing the command of their instruments, providing one hell of an auditory ride.

 

"Away" takes a step to close out side A. They go mellow and acoustic, giving the listener another extreme change to take a bite of. You end up appreciating their diversity even more now as they turn out a 70s AM radio pop tune to blow you away, leaving you wondering what could be in store for you on the flip side.

 

Side B begins with "Palace of Blood," another instrumental opener, a monster of a song to keep your excitement and anticipation high; the opening bass line is strong, with cuts like a knife guitar accompanying it. The guitar adds more noise to the mix, and everything else happens simultaneously to give you an immersive experience. As the music ebbs and flows from softer to heavier, it becomes more complex with abrupt stops and changes. Some of the passages sound like metal, but that is all part and parcel of the package of this blockbuster track. Look at the title, and it all makes sense.

 

"SIMR" segues from the previous track with more instrumental fun. It sounds like a carnival of sound, noise, and color merging into the best ride at the carnival passing through; it's the one you keep going back to ride again. The vocals say, “Someone in my room,” the extended version of SIMR. There are remarkably progressive sounds, and then they close the door suddenly. It's over.

 

"The LSD No-No" starts with a bass line with some sophisticated effects. Then, a synth begins, and within a minute, it becomes a gathering of every instrument they can muster. Their stamp of change works well here, going from seemingly ordinary to the edge of strange. It makes sense after taking a hallucinogenic drug. It is exciting while they maintain their stand-up professional musicianship at each position.

 

"Mothman" is the perfect closer to this fantastic album. The legendary creature, or myth, or what? In this instance, he is a superhero. The bass begins, and the drums enter, followed by the flute, as the rhythm section grooves. The music is as quirky and strange as the story, which now seems appropriate (and always did from start to finish). It could have been a TV theme for a show like Batman in the Sixties. Some good guitar licks are featured, and the vocals have a definitive humorous inflection, making light as the lyrics fit along with the music. And wouldn't you know the last thing you hear on the last track is WTF was that?!

 

Coloratura is crazy good. If you like progressive rock with all the twists and turns, you must hear this album, preferably on vinyl. You can get your limited edition light blue splatter copy for $20 on Bandcamp now.

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-TFOV Founder

July 31, 2024

Tracks

Side A:

1. WTF Was That?! (2024 remix) 01:47

2. Toy Soldiers (2024 remix) 03:49

3. Flim-Flam Man (2024 remix) 05:23

4. Side Hustle (2024 remix) 02:40

5. Lousy Smarch Weather (2024 remix) 04:27

6. Away (2024 remix) 04:37

 

Side B:

1. Palace of Blood (2024 remix) 05:47

2. SIMR (2024 remix) 03:18

3. Sleeping Giant (edit) (2024 remix) 05:14

4. The LSD No-No (2024 remix) 05:03

5. Mothman (2024 remix) 06:13

Progressive Rock Review: Art in America - Cloudborn

Release Date:August 1, 2019

Label: Art in America

Website

Like a book, music can catapult you into an imaginative adventure. Art in America most definitely built their latest LP, Cloudborn around the concept of an alternate universe where all your troubles just disappear and the listener cannot wait for what may lie ahead.

The theme of experimental simplicity is fitting for this band as the band members started, as they state on their site, “in their living room kicking around some musical ideas with guitar, bass and some unusual instrumentation - … and a Japanese Koto.” Band members and siblings, Chris Flynn – lead vocals and guitar, Shisonee Flynn – harp, koto, tamboura, and vocals; and Dan Flynn – on drums and percussion, began the venture of artistry and bringing together the framework of a band. Soon, after adding Jim Kuha – on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Garry Galloway on the keys; the band was finalized and two albums later, Art in America is on the rise to become a part of every Progressive Rock N’ Roll lover’s collection and earworm.

“A Tale of the Unexpected” sounds like that of a videogame cut scene. It offers the listener a way to both, relax and get introduced to a realm of unusual instruments that typically is not included within Progressive Rock album concepts. The harp, an Indian piece called a tambura, and a Japanese koto are fused throughout the track list.

Much of the rest of the album gives off a blend of 80’s and 90’s Progressive Rock/Pop vibe. As soon as I heard the first few lines of “I Am I,” I felt like I was inside a Classic Progressive Rock or Action movie soundtrack music video. “Someday” hits right in the heart of any listener with half a sense of aspiration and hope. It proclaims that one day soon he (the singer), will get to where he needs to be.

Just take a look at this particular album art. It is of a vast and new unexplored world that leaves an imprint of a powerful image on the listener’s mind. “Drool,” on the other hand, gives the feel of a traveler that is in search of something but; no one quite knows what. The singer may just be wandering down an endless road. Rounding out the first half of the track list, “The New Swami” is one of those songs that you just cannot exactly place your finger on how to react. It contains elements of the tambura giving the tune some peacefulness. It is sung so brightly but, if you listen to some of the lyrics: “The new Swami smiles, as rubies turn to rubble;” the Swami is not as peaceful as proclaimed.

“Someone Called My Name,” is all about looking for answers. It’s a journey where all but, the voice he keeps hearing over and over again remains a constant in his life. We never do learn if he discovers who or what he has been searching for. Art in America goes back to a wild-western-type of a theme on “For Shelly.” It sings of coming to a realization of whom he had however, now she’s gone out of his life Trying to find any remnants of back to when he and his friend or lover back to simpler times, the singer is in a daydream-like state and the rhythm remains constant to maintain that feel of flashbacks. It’s a very mellow peace to bridge the album together, it almost becomes instrumental.

Going from an almost monotone beginning to an action-packed four minutes and twenty-one seconds, “Facelift” is a fun changeup from the rest of the record. It feels like the singer or the listener could be charging up to something blending with a somewhat mystical sound towards the end. It becomes one of the standout tracks on the album for the simple reason that it brings some life and rejuvenation back into the record; like a reawakening of sorts.

The last three tracks create their own personalities. “Don’t Look Down” keeps with the upbeat sequence of the prior track. It’s guitar solo, is on the shorter side but, still offers what every Progressive Rock lover desires, a pure shred of the strings through your speakers. “No Wonder” finds its way on this record perfectly as its unique sound, almost like a movie scene, or story time sequence. The lyrics do not reflect much in terms of positivity because the man in question has made some mistake that he cannot seem to identify but, she knows quite well what he did. It’s the typical couples’ flare-up of arguments, disagreements, and sometimes breakup. Finally, taking a look at the last track “Goodbye My Love / Mind’s Eye / Peace of Mind,” it is truly an ideal finale to a perfect Progressive Rock album. It begins slow and swing-like, then, by the time it gets to “Mind’s Eye,” it blossoms into an up-tempo grand finish to make the listener feel as though they are leaving the concert of their life.

Cloudborn is that album that defines experimental. It pushes all types of Progressive Rock boundaries and draws the ear of various listeners. If you are looking for a record that makes you daydream, that makes you feel good overall, and that can turn any day around; this is the album for you. Often, Progressive Rock is misconstrued as angry – when commonly dealing with Metal, or disturbed when playing a bunch of Alternative artists; there’s a third avenue of eclectic and experimental sound that can accompany a typically positive intonation.

Key tracks include: “A Tale of the Unexpected,” “The New Swami,” and “No Wonder.”

Gregg Keniston- MuzikMan.net Staff

February 15, 2020

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Track Listing: 
01. A Tale of the Unexpected
02. I Am I
03. Someday
04. Drool
05. The New Swami
06. Someone Called My Name
07. For Shelly
08. When We Were Young
09. Facelift
10. Don't Look Down
11. No Wonder
12. Goodbye My Love / Mind’s Eye / Peace of Mind