Editors Note: any part of the reviews that 'Rules Of Play' has received that covers only factual material mentioned in the duo's biography, has been left out.
"The latest release from the Dead Earnest label run by Andy G. of C&DServices is a much more sophisticated production than previous spacerock outings. "The Rules of Play" comprises live recordings from guitar& drums duo Snyder & Thompson, whose playing experience togetherincludes 25 years of stints in jazz, folk and rock bands.
The current style has been described as merging Test Department, Faust,AMM and Hawkwind, but in truth it's less harsh than that fusion wouldsuggest. Snyder's MIDI-equipped guitar starts out jangly, jazzy anddistant, while Thompson's drumming is solid, busy and rocky. SaxophonistJohn Surman's jazz improvisations with drummer Stu Martin are brought tomind.
After almost 15 minutes the pace slows, with subtle Fripp-like guitartextures and Mellotron string sounds coming to the fore, while on the9-minute "They Would Not Be Turned Away" these are joined by slow organdrones and chimes under more frantic, abstract drumming. The closing7-minute "The Inertia of Youth" has a more regular, chugging drum rhythmwhich almost takes it into Neu territory, but like the other tracks theoverall mix is distant and swamped in reverb, very much a live recordingand as a result one which probably doesn't show off the full subtlety ofthe duo's performance.
Overall this is a challenging recording, pretty far removed from thelabel's previous outings and one definitely aimed more at thejazz/improvised scene, though having some contact points with KingCrimson/Adrian Belew styles and obvious appeal for enthusiasts of thoseartists".
MARK JENKINS for FAME website and SEQUENCES magazine
"The music on the lengthy 'Rules Of Play' is difficult to describe
It's like a spacey form of jazz-fusion. Snyder solos continuously in a standard fusion
guitar style, but I also hear Frippoid soundscape washes in the background as well.
I gather he's accompnaying himself with loops or something like that. Thompson's drumming
is varied throughout. Sometimes playing driving fusion, and at others creating the atmosphere along with the
guitar. I can't say there's a lot of variety here. The pace of the music and aggression level changes alot and that's what
keeps it interesting for me. The most exciting parts are where Thompson is bashing away madly while Snyder blasts the fretboard, sounding like a Krautrock version of John McLaughlin.
I think this could have been a really good track if it were held to a more manageable 10-15 minutes.
On the second and third track we take a side road into what, for me is far more
interesting territory. On 'They Would Not Be Turned Away' Snyder plays a cool-sounding, high-pitched organ melody which accompanies Thompson's manic drumming.This keyboard/drum combination is continued
on 'The Inertia Of Youth'. On this track Snyder's keyboards have a more spacey prog rock sound, playing anorchestral style, but, again, against Thompson's energetic drumming. A simple melody plays opposite a heavy,
almost industrial, space backdrop, and with a repeating synth pattern thrown in to add to the beat.. Later in the tune, a blazing, almost ear-splitting line that sounds like a guitar, passes through briefly but makes its presence clearly known.
Overall, it was the keyboard/drum tunes that tripped my trigger on this disc. There's a creative cooperation and contrast between the two musicians playing that I found intriguing and enjoyable on these tracks. I wouldn't, however, write off the style
played on the title track, and as Yellow Springs is only a short drive from here, I'd really love to see the two perform live".
JERRY KRANITZ for AURAL INNOVATIONS magazine in the USA - each to his own, eh!
"This is another release by Dead Earnest Records and, in the Dead Earnest tradition, this is so far removed from the crap you hear on the radio. This release will really make you think. The duo has come up with an intriguing mix of grungy riffs, space rock and improvised music.
The first track on here is an epic forty three minutes long that never gets boring. It has so many twists and turns that it keeps the listene sucked in. The drums and guitar duo many to cram in many different mood changes in just this one track. This forty three minute title track ranges from tranquil landscapes
to refrianed power.I personally thought that a track this long was going to become dull, but not in the hands of these two. It's a real breathtaking experience. The second track has a more spacey feel, with organ and keyboard being more at the forefront of the sound. Again it has some truly awesome drumming on the track,
with amazing rolls, fills and crashing cymbals. This track is only nine minutes but still has a majestic grace. The final track is the shortest on the CD but has you transported to another cosmic landscape, another tour de force.Describing this duo is not an easy task at all. I could mention the likes of Can, Faust, Hawkwind,
Robert Wyatt and so on but then a majority of you won't be aware of what the aforementioned bands sound like anyway. So I'll sum this CD up as a supreme, majestic riff-laden sound landscape of grungy space-rock improvisation. You won't believe it's just two people - hearing is believing".
WILL MUNN for RHYTHM 'n' BOOZE magazine, UK
"The 4th release on Andy Garibaldi's groundbreaking label includes a forty three minute improvised live performance by this pair who 1) manage to sound like more than two people, and 2) manage to play for bloody ages without running out of ideas or getting finger cramps or anything like that.
Bob takes drums and percussion, Doug takes midi guitar and keyboards. The promo notes call it 'rhythmic, pacy, spacey, grungy riff-driven rockoid' and I have to admit, I'd struggle to find a better description myself; it is definitely a bit on the unique side. Of course you'd expect these two to jam well together once you realise
they've been doing just that for around thirty years. American psyche, rolling drums, little Germanic touches, good round of applause at the end and deservedly so. Then a couple of live studio takes finish the album off. Sadly, they can't touch the mega-track, but they're not bad. The only difference is that Doug uses the midi-guitar on the mega-track
and keys on the studio tracks; no doubt which his best instrument is".
MICK MAGIC in MUSIC & ELSEWHERE supplement, UK
"A fascinating exposition on the space-rock theme, this American duo drive their guitars through a style that takes the most twisted manic ractions of 'Bleach'-era Nirvana and distorts it through a Soft Machine patina. If this intrigues you, then check out 'The Rules Of Play'. At the very least it will challenge your perceptions and preconceptions; the title
track itself weighs in at more than forty three minutes. Like, way out man.......".
MALCOLM DOME giving the album 5 stars out of 5, for CLASSIC ROCK magazine, UK
"The 45 minute improvised title track dominates this release. Thompson's dextrous drumming and Snyder's equally skillful guitar play off one another throughout. Thompson sets the pace, alternating passages of relative calm with all-out bluster. Snyder's guitar is more problematic, coming over too clinical and burnished at times, but he offsets his duller parts with little melodic note
clusters. The two shorter tracks are less taxing but easier to like, favouring restraint over endurance".
"Kinda Red Crayola go Sub-Pop only with longer tracks - forty minutes longer"
"Consisting of three tracks, it is 'The Rules Of Play' which provides the main focus of attention. Recorded live at Antioch College, Ohio, the musical interplay throughout this extended improvisational piece is, at times, breathtaking.
"Questa musica e un'emanazione della gesta eroiche del power rock anni '70, il rock della santa triade chitarra-basso-batteria - incarnata de Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mountain, Taste - e dalle propaggini progressive del Krautrock, del quale vengono ripres alcune sonorita tipiche
di Guru Guru, Can e Ash Ra Tempel. Una chitarra acida e aggressiva in primo piano, una batteria fragorosa e dinamica; il flusso pare inarrestabile, soprattutto nel prima brans (43 minuti), una colata lavica dai colori accecanti che non disdegna comunque attimi di pausa, di riflessione addirittura attimi di raffinati deviazioni
versa un clima meditaivo, sospeso, nei qualimi e capitata di percepire tocchi di Hawkwind e Djam Karet. Gli altri due brani sonomeno rockeggianti: compaiono organi e synths e il clima diventa rarefatto, spaziale. Un'etichetta completamente
dedicata alla space-rock di qualita, con artisti nuovi da scoprire.
"Around since the early '70's, and in groups with other people, Doug and Bob have largely explored on their own, the avenue of free-rock, started by the likes of Ash Ra Tempel and Agitation Free, but with that American feel that often relates them to Djam Karet.
"Doug Snyder en Bob Thompson houden zich beide al lange tijd bezig met musiek; hun eerste plaat namen ze op in 1973. Deze uitgave bevat drie live gespeelde nummers met een lengte van ruim een uur. Het bijna drie kwartier lange titlelstuk vormt de hoofdmoot en werd al in 1989 gespeeld en opgenomen. Snyder op midigitaar en Thompson op drums en percussie improviseren op smaakvolle en gevarieerde wijze de tijd vol, waarbij ze om beurten het voortouw nemen. Het is wel duiddelijk dat het hier om een improvisatie gaat, een trip langs de Krautrock van Can met sterk psychedelicsche invloeden. Duidelijk is ook dat de heren van wanten weten, vooral drummer Thompson, die met goedgemikte klappen het tempo aangeeft en de muziek van interpunctie voorziet. De serene rust die bij tijd en wijlen over de muziek dallt doet denken aan latere Soundscapes van fripp, maar de benadering is over het algemeen veel losser dan bij laatsgenoemde.
"Doug Snyder ja Bob Thompson ovat soitaneet yhdessa jo lahes 25 vuotta. Tama kahden miehen muodostama bandi soittaa raakaa space-rockia, jossa on alneksia seka 70-luvon krautrockista, H awkwindista, King Crimsonista etta myos Magmasta. Levyn 'The Rules Of Play' ehdoton kohokohta on yli 43 minuttinen livena kymmenisem vuotta sitten aaritetty nimbilisi. Kappaletta kuunnellessa ei millaan uskoisi seri clevan vain kahden muusikon livena tekemaa, silla niin paijon biisiin on saatu aineksia kasaan ja meno on vaillia todella hurjaa. Molemmat bandin jasenet ovat todella erinomaisia muusikoita ja musiikki
on taynna mielikuvitusta ja omintakeista soundia. Suositellaan pitkista jammailuista ja harskista space-rock-meiningista pitaviie.
"Un disco distinto.Por muchas y variadas razones. Doug Snyder y Bob Thompson son dos veteranos musicos del area de Ohio que se han enfrentado con todo tipo de estilos.Pero que juntos llegan a crear uno nuevo. O quiza la combinacion de muchosa.'The Rules Of Play' fue grabado en directo hace ya 10 anos, aunque es ahora cuando ver al luz. En su interior encontramos free jazz, experimental, rock psicodelico, ambient o puro Kraut rock, pero todo hecho a la vez. Algo asi como si juntaras en un mismo escenario a Faust, Can, Magma, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno y Ash ra Tempel. Y son solo dos tios, repito; Su compnetracion improvisadora es asombrosa y su facilidad para concretar pasajes de coherencia perfecta es de una naturalidad que asusta. Es de esos discos que adoro y pincho hasta la saciedad, pues puedes asegurar que el cansancio james hara mella en su audicion. Solo tres unicos temes instrumentales. "The Rules Of Play" (43.44), "They Would Not Be Turned Away"(9.08), "The Inertia Of Youth"(7.30)
"A very brave album indeed! It's about as far removed from Dead Earnest's previous releases as possible. Three tracks make up this basically imrovised session. The title track opens the album and lasts for an incredible 44 minutes. Snyder plays the midi-guitar as Thompson hits the skins and uses plenty of percussion. Granted, the track evolves, changes, grows and dies with each passing minute and showas just how inventive the guys can be. The trouble is though, with long sections like this, is that even with the best musicians in the world, there's bound to be low spots. Admittedly, there aren't that many, and when they do appear, the guys seem to snap out of it pretty quickly. The album as a whole caters for a very limited market, due mainly because it crosses over, through and into many genres. We touch on blues, sniff a bit of jazz, and even head-butt a bit of rock, although it's all improvised - or comes across as that. 'They Would Not Be Turned Away' and 'The Inertia Of Youth' last about 8 minutes each. Again, both explore thousands of boundaries, of which many are stretched to breaking point - there's even one or two where they venture outside! Handle with care as this is, like I say, a very distinctive effort"
Doug and Bob have known each other for a number of years and played their first gig together as long ago as 1985, and this album was originally released in 1999 but has only just come to my attention. The main focus of this album is the first of the three songs, which comes in at just under 44 minutes long. This was recorded live in front of an audience (the other two songs were recorded live in the studio), with Doug providing MIDI guitar and Bob drums. It is difficult to describe the soundscape style that Doug uses, he is obviously influenced by Fripp, but it never sounds as if it is just one man providing all of the melody as not only are there distinct lead melodies but there are also rhythm parts as well. Bob is not to be left behind in the skill stakes either as he is prepared to match Doug with complex and thundering drums parts.
More reviews to follow..........
TREVOR KING showing that old men can still cut it in a young man's world (what's this ageist thing all about, anyway!!) in RECORD COLLECTOR magazine, UK
THE WIRE magazine, UK - Snyder and myself thought the Wire would go a bundle over this but there you go.
ROB CHAPMAN for MOJO magazine, UK
Taking its lead from the rawness of '60's guitar pop, fused with psychedelia and an adventurour rhythmic spirit, Snyder's guitar work fills out the sound, creating depth and an hypnotic attractiveness which, when welded to
Thompson's own self-styled drum works, full of jazz flavourings and a similar spirit of adventure, makes for an invigorating and refreshing listen. The improvisation rarely becomes repetitive or monotonous. Instead it's a testament to the musical vision of two genuine pioneers of the avant-garde".
SEAN McGHEE for ROCK 'N' REEL magazine, UK desrving a pint when I ever get to meet him!!
GIANLUIGI GASPARETTI for DEEP LISTENINGS magazine, Italy, making me wish I'd done that Italian O-level after all
This CD is laregly a 45 minute ramble through a kind of sustained varying rock noodling exercise, performed live with midi guitar and drums. A little overlong for the ideas contained but a nice and different type of meditation, I guess.The shorter tracks have Doug moving away from guitar to keyboards, and in a way
we are taken to another facet of the Djam Karet sound. Also live recordings, I feel these would have been much better if properly developed in the studio. But it seems that is not their mosus operandi"
ALAN FREEMAN for AUDION mag, UK.
Halverwege versnelt de improvisatie en nemt de kracht in die muziek toe. Eigenlijk is het nu een uitgebreide, maar goede drumsolo, waar op de achtergrond de gitarist voor een niet echt opvallende melodieuze omlijsting zorgt. Na deze lange uitbarsting trekt die muziek zich terug om in de stijl van Gandalf's 'More Than Just A Seagull' voort te kabbelen, om vervolgens weer langzaam op te bouwen. Dze op-en-neer beweging is kenmerkend voor dit nummer. In plaats van gitaar bevatten de laatste twee-stukken toetsen, die voor een meer onheilspellend karakter zorgen, enigszins te verglijken met een improviserende Tangerine Dream uit de jaren zeventig. Geen sequencers, maar wel veel steer. Deze composities klinken wel gestructureerder en melodieuzer. Kortom, een plaatje voor de psychedelicus.
JURRIAN HAGE for iO PAGES magazine, Netherlands
RAIMO EURASTO for FINLAND mag 'COLOSSUS'.
Doug Snyder teje melodias ambientales de fluidez incansable, para hada cansinas ni repetitivas, mientras que Bob Thompson utiliza su set percusivo como si de un instrumento de teclado mas se tratara, usando con gran sabiduria todo los recursos a su alcance. Una verdadera leccion di improvisaccion. Para el segundo corte Doug se arama de teclados y nos dirije hacia un viaje mes spacey, de orienbtacion germana, entre Popol Vuh y Ashra con Harald Grobkopf. Con un fuerte debate entre electronics y percusion acustica. Algo similar occurre en "The Inertia Of Youth" continuando con ese inconfundible aire berlines. Aunque desde la perspectiva de unos musicos americanos la mar de originales.
Solo por la super jam que da titulo al dosco ya merece la pena su adquisicion,
Probabalmente es el mejor disco editado hasta la fecha en el sello espezializado en Space Rock Dead Earnest. Y han sacado verdederas joyas del gremio. Fantastico en todos los sentidos.
J.J. IGLESIAS conveying his undying love of this album in SPAIN's ATROPOS magazine issue 14.
DAVE HUGHES for MODERN DANCE, UK
This is a very long piece of music, being performed just by two people, and of course there is always the fear that they are going to lapse into something mundane but although there are a few low points these are few and far between and they soon get themselves out of the spot. In some ways this is quite reminiscent of Ozrics and if there were keyboards here as well I am sure that the similarity would be even more obvious. This is trippy music that is inventive and interesting with a depth and honesty behind it. On the other two tracks (only 9 and 7 minutes long respectively) Doug puts down his guitar and instead use keyboards but I am not sure if it is the change in instruments or the change in recoding situation that makes these two songs seem far more flat. Overall this is worth investigation at http://www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk/
KEV ROWLAND for FEEDBACK, UK - issue 87. Contact feedbackfanzine@hotmail.com
