3RDEGREE

"Narrow-Caster"

United States - 2008

Autoprod. - 47:00

F ormation from New York, 3RDegree has been in operation since 1990, the date of publication of a first single ( "Come my Way"), found on his first album, the likeable The World in Which We Live (1993 ), which also includes a resumption of magnificent "Kindness" by Todd Rundgren. In 1996 with the album Human Interest Story, it was always so difficult to classify 3RDegree radius prog (regardless of the cardboard box), at Utopia least consider (the former group of Todd Rundgren, rightly) as such, which might be a bit too adventurous - the flamboyant album Ra (1976) or the excellent "The Seven Rays" (live 1975) made part.

Like its predecessor, Human Interest Story goes completely unnoticed in our countries to its release in 1996. I do not even know if it was distributed in France. Yet, with compositions far from negligible, as clearly progressive "13 Mistakes" (7:00), the album worth the detour and the name 'crossover prog', if it accepts the idea unlikely to hear a kind of meeting between Gentle Giant and Crowded House (remember "Do not Dream it's Over" in 1986). About Gentle Giant and Todd Rundgren, two names that will be remembered throughout this column, I do not know if you've noticed the community spirit between them? Moi non plus, I can reassure you. Until the day I discovered the surprising "Pulse" on the album Healing (1980) Todd sorcerer. Try it, you may be surprised.

In short, to the low success of their music, 3RDegree separates. What happens to its key members between 1997 and 2005? If you know, thank you to write to the magazine forward. In late 2005, the group will reform, compose new songs, associate with other older, and recruited a new singer who is also the keyboard (previously it was the bass singer who took over the position).

Discographic after a break of almost a decade, Narrow-Caster is the first album 3RDegree to receive a distribution worthy of the name (Cosmos Music, etc.). On this side of our beautiful planet. The first echoes were relatively highly but as we sometimes need a little more for us to listen (and euros), which means we do not expected a priori much. And then, good news, some are beginning to cite us Echolyn as the main reference for us hungry dogs. So Pavlov reflex requires, we have to salivate. It begins to evoke the splendor of the band at Brett Kull. One can imagine, at worst, a new Ritual doped Moog solos and catchy chorus, at best something that would have opportunities for us to finally win the great addiction Suffocating the Bloom (1992), the best album of Echolyn.

It is a fact that Narrow-Caster starts with a flourish with "Apophenia" (4:45) and everything needed for particle acceleration in rhythm as arising from a collision between cyclotron and some Zappa Utopia potables above. "It Works" (5:05) running (sic) well and also extends the hope in a form far more soft jazz, or the side of Chris Buzby Echolyn (cf. Finneus Gauge). Hope carrément torpedoed by the third song. Needing Echolyn? Go your way. Looking for a good group of prog 'American original, unexpected, without complex, close to the ease of melodic pop songs but knowing American trousser also a resumption of Gentle Giant ( "Feel the Paint") and old? So you can keep for later.

So, from the third song, this drift towards a somewhat pop soul WASP (Hall and Oates, see genus), but arranged in a style prog (Mellotron and co) who would not hesitate to speak from time to time good old Hammond organ. With still a few points that guide us vitaminées then side or Saga Act. Everything drowned complex vocal harmonies closer to those of ELO or Spock's Beard (ie the Beatles) and the general YES (hence CSNY). So, verdict? Narrow-Caster, album dispensable? Not at all! In these times of gloom acute, complicated déprimite at an advanced stage, Narrow-Caster is a valuable and even saving, one of the few hopes of finding our desire to embrace all people, including bankers. Doubts? Go directly to the box "Cautionary Tales" (5:05) that shines like a shop window at Christmas. Finally to convince us, 3RDegree concludes by looking for a string orchestra for "The Last Gasp" (5:00) I call simplicity and frankness with sumptuous symphony.

You have noticed, we got far from Echolyn. If you languished for them to return to the front of the stage, and the solo album by Brett Kull you have not met (too folk to rock to your taste), you may do fine on the mouth 3 / 4 Narrow-Caster. But if you do not mind this time Echolyn blocked, you will have no difficulty in recognizing that 3RDegree is part of the recent surprises in the most attractive from across the Atlantic.

Alain SUCCA

(chronic published in Big Bang # 72 - May 2009)

Translated by Google translator from original French

Click link above for original review