Who's the Boss in the Factory ?

Just finished some listening of the swedish prog band Karmakanic.
Consisting of the last 3 albums, Wheel of Life, Who's the boss in the factory ? and In a perfect world.
All three are great releases from the Flowery-tengento-and who-knows-what-else great Bass player, Jonas Reingold.
We're stricly in the traditionnal Flower Kings kind of stuff, Prog rock 70ies, very Jazzy and experimental.
But Jonas tend to let the creative flow be more tight and controlled rather than his comrade Roine Stolt.
The pieces of music are much more tight, even when they keep being long, proggy or experimental.
There is really gret stuff in those 3 albums but it is generally accepted that the middle one, WTBITF ? is really the best of the three. Just simply because all the songs are great either in the long prog stuff, the lyrics, the will and views on the world.
Really great band and strong releases worth checking out.

The Art of Not Looking Back / Uprising

Friday @ the theatre des Abbesses, saw the two creations by Hofesh Shechter, israelian Creator.

Interesting, very active stuff, with lots of heavy industrial like rythmn or even shrieking dissonantic sounds from the mouth on the 'art of not looking back'.
Very physical danse a lot in the movement for Uprising, more in the harsh and dry type on the second.

Very interesting dancing I must say though I'm far from expert about it.

http://www.theatredelaville-paris.com/spectacle-hofeshshechter-376

Pélléas et Mélisande

Saw Saturday the Générale of the Bob Wilson mise en scène of the Debussy Opéra, Pélléas et Mélisande.
Can't say I enjoyed myself much, being in the middle of screewriting, I tend to see all the scenes as quite boring and useless with laughable dialogues (Yeah, I know... it's the opéra...).
The traditionnal japan-inspired scénographie of Wilson amplifies the emptiness and the void of the narration.
As usual, the costumes and background are beautiful,very sober and quite efficient.

Not the best history to my liking (though I do enjoy a bit Maeterlinck) but a great piece nonetheless.

http://www.operadeparis.fr/Saison_2011_2012/Operas/Pelleas-et-Melisande/detail/

Of salt

Saturday 18 february, @Le divan du Monde, I had the honor to witness the brand new Pain of salvation (considering only Daniel G is left from the start and the newest member has only 2 and an Half album under his belt.)

First as always, a small token of appréciation on the first part of the show who was played by a trio named Cryptex.
No the greatest name around but a great and interesting prog folk band who use many instrument and is doing a pretty good job entertaining the people.
Good luck to you guys, hope to see you again.

http://www.cryptexmusic.com/



Otherwise brand new band, new voices going with the flow of the band flirting more and more with 70ies hard rock.
Daniel still has it, great presence and charisma , energy, a smile and one of the most beautiful voice in the business.
As much as I am taken aback by the new direction, the songs LIVE really shine and that is what counts.
Special bonus KISS reprise

The traditionnal Set list then...

Svordomsvisan
Road Salt Theme
1.Softly She Cries
2.Ashes
3.Linoleum
4.The Deeper Cut
5.1979
6.To the Shoreline
7.Chain Sling
8.Ending Theme
9.The Perfect Element
10.Stress
11.Kingdom of Loss
12.No Way (Extended, with verses … morerepeated multiple times and outro jam)
13.Enter Rain

Encore:
14.Black Diamond Play Video
(KISS cover) (Gustaf on guitar, Daniel "D2" … moreon bass, Ragnar on guitar/vocal, Daniel G on drums)
15.The Physics of Gridlock
16.Sisters


painofsalvation.com