HR146 - Doug Michael - The Zenith Glare - C46 — 1989
SIDE A:
MONDAY & TUESDAY THE UNKNOWN THE DIABOLICAL WEB BFD |
SIDE B:
THAT'S ABOUT IT.....I GUESS PAP CHASING THE TAIL THE LATERAL DRIFT |
REVIEW by Jerry Kranitz
I first heard west coast based hometaper Doug Michael’s music in 2000, so I’m very pleased to dive into The Zenith Glare. This is a full-blown solo effort, with Doug employing electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drum machine, voice, kazoo, and effects.
The Zenith Glare is an impressive set of spaced out jazz-rock and molten guitar leads. ‘Monday & Tuesday’ opens the set and right out of the chute we’re in space rock realms. Berlin school syncopations, angelic waves, and sci-fi voice samples lurk about. Then halfway through the beats kick in, adding a rocking pulse to the ongoing theme. But this is just an introduction. ‘The Unknown’ is next, with guitar, keys, and effects creating a strangely haunting yet uplifting spaced out atmosphere. Killer ripping guitar on this track and only a taste of what’s to come.
Doug is an amazing guitarist!! ‘The Diabolical Web’ is the most purely musical track so far, with a pleasant melody and a dreamy but cool grooving space jazzy vibe. I love the dual guitars, with one playing standard licks and the other cranking out efx’d guitar like Adrian Belew. ‘BFD’ is even more overtly jazzy and beautifully melodic. And it further showcases Doug’s multiple varied guitar parts and impressive leads. ‘That’s About It.....I Guess’ features even more spaced out jazz infused rock. ‘Pap’ has an accessible prog-jazz flavor, with its catchy, hip-shaking melody and guitar leads trading licks with the keys. ‘Chasing The Tail’ is a space-atmospheric soundtrack piece with a beautiful blend of soundscapes, tribal beats, and strange voices. And ‘The Lateral Drift’ wraps up the set with a seductive blend of electric and acoustic guitar.
I first heard west coast based hometaper Doug Michael’s music in 2000, so I’m very pleased to dive into The Zenith Glare. This is a full-blown solo effort, with Doug employing electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drum machine, voice, kazoo, and effects.
The Zenith Glare is an impressive set of spaced out jazz-rock and molten guitar leads. ‘Monday & Tuesday’ opens the set and right out of the chute we’re in space rock realms. Berlin school syncopations, angelic waves, and sci-fi voice samples lurk about. Then halfway through the beats kick in, adding a rocking pulse to the ongoing theme. But this is just an introduction. ‘The Unknown’ is next, with guitar, keys, and effects creating a strangely haunting yet uplifting spaced out atmosphere. Killer ripping guitar on this track and only a taste of what’s to come.
Doug is an amazing guitarist!! ‘The Diabolical Web’ is the most purely musical track so far, with a pleasant melody and a dreamy but cool grooving space jazzy vibe. I love the dual guitars, with one playing standard licks and the other cranking out efx’d guitar like Adrian Belew. ‘BFD’ is even more overtly jazzy and beautifully melodic. And it further showcases Doug’s multiple varied guitar parts and impressive leads. ‘That’s About It.....I Guess’ features even more spaced out jazz infused rock. ‘Pap’ has an accessible prog-jazz flavor, with its catchy, hip-shaking melody and guitar leads trading licks with the keys. ‘Chasing The Tail’ is a space-atmospheric soundtrack piece with a beautiful blend of soundscapes, tribal beats, and strange voices. And ‘The Lateral Drift’ wraps up the set with a seductive blend of electric and acoustic guitar.