Biography
Avant Garden is a
Sacramento based quartet consisting of flute, sax, guitar, bass
and drums. Formed in 1993 as Spiritcircle, the band originally
featured a keyboardist and dedicated vocalist, and after some
early personnel changes, the current lineup was established
in 2000. Since then, the group has featured Flamp Sorvari on
flute and sax, Brian Gould on guitars, Jason Gardemeyer on bass,
and Jason Kenney on drums.
They have
played many concerts in the S.F. bay area & Sacramento with
acclaimed bands such as Melting Euphoria, Deus Ex Machina, and
Mushroom, receiving much praise in the process, including a
favorable review from Exposé's Peter Thelen. Recently
released, their debut album Maelstrom features Steve
Roach, contributing multi-layered didgeridoos, percussion, loops
& atmospheres. For a fiery blend of instrumental prowess,
these guys do not disappoint.
- Mike Prete [December 2001]
Maelstrom
(2001)
Holy shit. What
more can I say about an album that grabs you by the balls and
won't let go for the first ten minutes? And if this wasn't enough,
the grip is loosened for only the occasionally brief respite,
leaving the listener in the wake of the pummeling aural assault
for the remainder. Make no mistake, these guys are out to kick
your ass. Don't take it personally though - they only have the
best intentions in unleashing this hybrid of psychedelia and
jazz-rock.
"Dragon Feed"
starts the proceedings with massive guitar riffage and sax honking,
leading into a steady groove before again exploding. Steady
interplay between guitar and sax advance the piece along, aided
and abetted by the deft rhythm section. The overall sound here
is fairly reminiscent of the intense moments of Trilogy-era
Gong, or Hillage's Fish Rising; taking the best of the
fiery instrumental passages. Certain parts are not unlike the
Ozric Tentacles, minus the sequencers. While the instrumental
flair is instantly captivating, there is no lack of well crafted
writing underneath. The songs stay perfectly focused and dynamic,
while still allowing for the loose feel necessary for the searing
passages that threaten to burn a hole in the speakers.
The beautiful
intro to "Oceania" shows the band knows when to shift gears,
with lucid flute and acoustic guitar strumming. The later part
of the song features ethnic flair courtesy of Steve Roach on
didgeridoo and assorted hand percussion, adding another distinctive
element to the sound. "Into The Maelstrom" is the most successful
in striking a balance between the dichotomy of frenetic and
tranquil, with Sorvari providing the impetus for the chosen
direction, echoing the spine tingling sax tones of "Master Builder"
during the chaos, and switching to flute to ease off the climactic
highs. A
breath of fresh air breathed into a retro sound, Avant Garden
are waiting to give you a sonic beating. Embrace it.
- Mike Prete
[December 2001]
