| CD REVIEW (This review has also been published at www.701.com) |
| CRYSTAL CLEAR - CAPTAIN BEYOND |
| After a triumphant return to the stage at the 1999 Sweden Rock Festival and follow-up dates throughout Florida, where they are now based, Captain Beyond has independently released an EP called "Crystal Clear". The line-up on the EP consists of the original founders, Bobby Caldwell (Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer) on drums, percussion, piano, vibes, bells and lead vocals, and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (Allman Brothers, Iron Butterfly) on lead guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and are joined by audio-engineer/Melotron/ keyboardist Dan Frye (Young Rascals, David Bowie, Robin Trower, Tower of Power, 10CC), Jeff "The Count" Artabasy (Billy Preston, Felix Cavaliere, and Evelyn Champagne King) on bass guitar and vocals, and featuring vocalist, Jimi Interval (Spiral Staircase and The Outlaws) on 'Don't Cry Over Me'. The overall feel of this EP is a beautiful blend of psychedelic/hard rock. I found it very similar in style to many Canadian artists, such as Rush and Max Webster, as well as others mentioned below. The opening track, 'Gotta Move', introduced with rapid-fire tinkling bells reminding me of The Flying Snowman's opus 'Umgawa', then breaks into a scorching, albeit commercial, hard-rocker about moving with the times and looking towards the future with a courageous, optimistic, non-judgemental attitude. Rhino's guitar solo work strongly rivals that of Jeff Beck on this track. 'Be As You Were' is an edgy tune, laced with "jazzy" lead guitar, funky bass riffs, and cathedral-atmosphere keyboards, clearly showing Dan Frye's engineering work with Robin Trower. Bobby's full-throated vocals bring to mind Canadian rocker Pat Travers' classic, 'Crash and Burn'. Containing CB's trademark thought-provoking lyrics, including "I've got a fistful of questions on how does a love survive" and "can't imagine how loneliness can dwell with 'No Vacancy' signs", we are cautioned that "we just can't be of this world" and we must "find that place of truth" in order to fulfill our dreams. 'Don't Cry Over Me' is a mid-tempo rock ballad along the lines of Whitesnake, Van Halen (with Sammy Hagar ) or even April Wine, another popular Canadian rock band, about the break-up of a relationship and the ensuing emotional struggles and ambivalent feelings. 'Night Train Calling (Crystal Clear)' is classic hard-driving Captain Beyond, encompassing their "roots" with Johnny Winter and the Allman Brothers, with the rock-steady beat (and hitherto undiscovered and amazing vocals) of Bobby Caldwell! This track sounds fantastic turned to "11" on the volumetric scale! Oh, Canada, let's "steal" these cats and make them our own! N.B. The current line-up consists of Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, Bobby Caldwell, Jeff Artabasy, Steve Petre, and brand-new vocalist, Kyle Rohde, who made his d�but appearance with the band at Club More in Clearwater, Florida, in July 2001. |
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