At first glance, the cover of the new Bela Fleck and the Flecktones album 'Rocket Science', it looks like their self titled debut album. At second glance it looks like the rocket ship that was in the background of their 'Flight of the Cosmic Hippo' album. At third glance, you come to realization that it very well is that rocket ship, but with more mature tighter group of musicians with an old original member.
That original member is Howard Levy, who has come back to hone his piano/ harmonica skills back in the trios atmosphere. In which he feels in the empty spaces with delightful sounds to the ears.
The first song Gravity Lane opens with a light banjo, which is like the way Bela played in the Big Country. Then the horn comes in, with a nice soprano sound that encapsulates the melody, while the rhythm section makes it possible for this group of musician to make it their individual solo unique enough that it doesn't shy away from the songs legitimate direction that feels like a journey.
Prickly Pear opens up with a nice sythn axe drum patterns, followed by a funky bass line, and the blues harp, and electric banjo provide the groundwork for this song while it is primarily controlled by the bass. When the soloing comes in Bela starts it off with a nice solo, then starts a duel with Victor. Then Howard busts out to a old time piano solo. This solo seems like the inspiration or at least the starting point. Then it comes to a nice halt.
there is a graceful piano to open up Joyful Spring and echo the piano pattern with a little bit of drums and smooth bass line in three layer. The banjo is the next part to makes it way in. It pulls at the thread of all the other instruments, by dividing them and eventually leading them back to a synced place. There are a lot of pauses and an abrupt ending. This segues into their quote unquote “single” which is Life in the Eleven. This song starts if really upbeat, the bass and drums are really present in a Stomping Ground way. The blues harp takes center stage at the beginning, filling in the silence that the bass & drum give him. The banjo then aggressively takes over and then all the instruments change up the tempo, by slowing it down, and then Victor does his famous slap bass, making the cartoony Flecktones sounds that we love. In the final 3 minutes they are jaw dropping solo's be each of the musicians. Then Bela puts on the final touches and tapes the song together weaving in and out of patterns.
Falling Forward leans it way slowly. I can picture them right now on stage all leaning forward to do the first measure of this song. There is a nice chord structure that everyone seems not to stray away from. The keep this song within the bounds that the piano is giving them and don't seem to stray way. Once each individual musician does a solo, it seems like the piano is pulling them back as they don't get to far. Overall the song is a lullaby on a cliff, or close to edge. Then slowly fades away.
The longest song on the album is also one that takes the most twists and turns. There is about a 3 second moment of silence before a deep bass line starts Storm Warning. This one is primarily lead by the harmonica with an eerie feel that sounds as though something is approaching. The song is very stereotypical up until the bass solo where it. There is a part, like in Stomping Grounds where they share a measure. The song has multiple parts, rhythm changes, melody gets slower, speeds up. The last 2 minutes are essentially where the song comes plunging down, as if itself were a storming raining down on you.
Like Water has a smooth feel to it. If you can picture a cosmic hippo swimming that’s how the song starts off. Starting off in dry land is just the harp & the banjo. Once the hippo hits the water, the bass & synth axe drumatir get into the picture. It has a lot of similarities to a certain Hippopotamus amphibius of the grandiose that has a passion for aeronautics. Over all it's a great song. Earthling Parade is a very suspenseful song. A lot of random riffs taps and scratches with an instrumental sound effects. Both the banjo sound & the bass sound are tip toeing around the melody, for about a minute till they actually combine and make a beautiful sound as the Flecktones have come accustom to. It's cartoony yet very mythological. Half way through the song they play a similar parts as the did in the beginning but all at once, not in pairs of two. The Harmonica starts the solo sections, it's a small solo, then bass, back to banjo & then banjo & bass dueling.
The Secret Drawer is Future Man's pride and joy. It's his little perc enthused song that not only sounds pretty cool, but is probably really cool to watch him perform it. Sweet Pomegranates has a very ethnic feel to it. It grabs you attention and leaves you wondering where the song will end up going. While having a classical Indiana feel. There are also teases from the Wizard of Oz, by the piano. The scene with the Flying Monkey's yea, that one. It is a rising theme throughout the song. Don't want to ruin the last few minutes of the song...but let me tell you Howard Levy helps push the Flecktones' boundaries.
The bass lead Falani starts off with harmonics and nice easy beat in the background. Roughly about a minute late the banjo enters with sort of Big Country / Sunset Road feel to it. It's definitely a head nodder. I Would like to see this song performed during the day at a festival. Just sitting back on a summer day having a beer, or whatever you like to drink, and realizing things are okay. Lastly, Bottle Rocket is up, it was one of the single or one of the singles. There are a lot of layers to this song. It is very fasted paced. Quite a very nice hook, too. Each band member finds the hook and rolls with it in their unique way. While trading off the signature hook, they expand on it and have the band follow them in the own direction. Whether it be, slowing it down, speeding it up, adding notes here or there. Right before the end there is a section of organized choas, before they finally all hit the hook together.
Now this next song is only for those people that got the deluxe edition. Wolf Laurel,it makes you wondering who is this Wolf Laurel and why is he or she a bonus track? The song fits right in with the album, the banjo solo is up to normal Bela Fleck standards. It's not Rocket Science to want to pay the extra money for the song. It's worth it.
The first song
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