Electric Outlet: On!
 Wow
these cats are indeed “on”.
Lion music makes a serious
foray into the prog funk
fusion world with this
scintillatingly produced and
performed album. The music
will remind listeners at
different times of the
funkier more playful side of
Return To Forever, bands
like Gamalon and Tribal Tech
as well as more recent
offerings like Niacin and
CAB.
Electric Outlet is a
collection of veteran German
studio musicians who have
mastered their craft
providing backing tracks and
live work to many artists
over a variety of musical
styles. The band includes
Marcus Deml, guitars (Kingdom
Come, Saga, Bobby Kimball),
Tom Aeschbacher, keyboards,
Ralf Gustke, drums (Chaka
Khan, Xavier Naidoo) and
Frank Itt, bass (Pili Pili,
Errorhead and Bobby
Kimball).
Has there ever been a better
first track on any album of
this genre than “Comprendes”?
Can’t think of one. The
rhythm section is locked
tighter than a WWF half
nelson with a compelling
groove and impeccable
soloing. The recording
quality and guitar tone in
particular are simply
superb. Marcus is a straight
ahead player relying more on
contra punctual dynamics and
serious tone than on
dizzying technique and that
serves this music well
indeed sounding at times
like Vai, Beck and most
noticeably Satriani. Were
Joe to seriously entertain
this type of music, no doubt
it would sound a lot like
this.
Not to be outdone, the other
musicians each add their own
flavor to this brew the
keyboards in particular
shining on many tracks.
These musicians are
obviously rejoicing in the
opportunity to do their own
thing and it shows with a
fun and precision filled
performance throughout. If
you enjoy any of the artists
referenced above you will
love this one.
Track Listing
01 Comprendes
02 Propellerhead
03 Odd Garage
04 We Need A Plan
05 Wanna Energy
06 Tekky
07 Gold III
08 Miles Ahead
09 Miles Away
Added: October 3rd
2006
Reviewer:
Mike Blackburn
www.seaoftranquility.org
Score:
 
ELECTRIC OUTLET - ON!
(A-) Lion Music, 2006
9 tracks, RT: 50:58
[ http://www.electric-outlet.com/
]
[ http://www.lionmusic.com/ ]
Man, what a cool addition to Lion's jazz-fusion department! Electric
Outlet is an amazing four-piece of accomplished musicians playing some
really smooth fusion which is technically adept but easy to listen to.
You've got to love an album that starts off with John Goodman (from the
movie "The Big Lebowski") saying "Aw fuck it dude, let's go bowling!"
This unique intro leads us into the high-energy jam "Comprendes,"
reminding me of underrated fusion kings Gamelon. One of the things you
notice immediately is the positively awesome production, with each
instrument perfectly separated in the mix. Each musician is at the top
of his game, locking into an incredibly tight groove on pieces like the
Joe Satriani-meets-Saga funk of "Propellerhead," and the Jeff Beck
inspired "We Need A Plan." "Tekky" takes us into more funky territory
with some electrifying musicianship and the album ends with the
satisfying atmospherics of "Miles Away." The only complaint I have i
that a few of the segments meander a bit but this is a small issue for
such a gem as ON! If you are a fan of '70s and '80s fusion or modern
day combos such as CAB, you would be well advised to hunt down a copy
of ON! right away. Smokin'!
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@gmail.com)
DEITRIUS E-Zine
Electric Outlet - On!
Lion Music
(2006)
Every time I find new music from Lion Music, I always wonder how they
constantly find out quality music in the field of instrumental and
progressive music. What Electric Outlet perform quality rock and
fusion music with fantastic chops on their official 1st album from Lion
Music. If I am not mistaken, they are mainly playing in Germany. However,
their main influences might come from U.S. fusion rock groups, such as
Steely Dan, Weather Report, Mike Stern, and Billy
Cobham group I guess. Even though their music is centered around fusion
and rock, the group can pull off blues-based rock, technical prog, and jazzy
parts as well. As you see that this group can do anything very tasty and
nicely. From beginning to the end, the cd of 'On!' is easy to digest
and have fun for instrumental funs while listening to it entirely. Unless I
read the info sheet and website from the label and their official page, I
would have thought that Electric Outlet is a purely American fusion-rock
quintet. The compositions are perfectly arranged and technically proficient.
My favorite sections of this group is definitely both guitar-featured ones
and proggy keyboard-oriented performance. While performing lots of guitars
and keyboard leads, the rhythm sections do their own things to build-up
foundation and rock hard. This is a very pleasant fusion rock music.
Recommended for U.S. fusion rock music in general.
Pilgrim World, Japan
Electric Outlet –
On!
2006 Lion Music
Call it jazz fusion groove metal,
Electric Outlet, as the band themselves
say pertaining to their name, perplexing
power, energy, & electricity, which leads to
spontaneous reactions and flowing circuitry
to provide the all the melodies that this
band exposes. Mixing heavy metal with soul,
funk, and jam band pastures, along with the
occasional improvisational techniques
Electric Outlet firmly implant their
musical stance with their record titled
On!
Regardless of the whole jam relevant factor
being present, the compositions are refined,
without out going way into experimental
territories, making the music much more
accessible to the ear. On! features
many different musical styles playing out,
you have space rock tinged jazz/metal (“Propellerhead”),
funk-rock (“Comprendes”), soulful hammond
driven ditties (“We Need a Plan”), slick
Steely Dan reminiscent rock (“Miles Away”),
and more hard rock moments (“Tekky”), these
guys know how to write material that
deviates from being redundant.
Filled with guitar leads, synths, Rhodes,
Hammonds, and a tight rhythm section,
Electric Outlet sounds like Joe Satriani
fronting Niacin. Fans of the jazz/rock genre
or jazz metal fusion/musician oriented music
dare not miss out on this one.
Added: July 18th 2006
Reviewer:
Tommy Hash
www.ytsejam.com
Score:
Related Link:
Lion Music Link
Electric Outlet
On Lion Music
by Matthew Hoffman www.hardrockhaven.net Staff
Writer
Comments: Need a funky
rock fusion album that is chock full of energy?
Well Electric Outlet is the CD for you. This
band puts the P in Progressive but in a fun, up
tempo way.
Electric Outlet is a foursome comprised of
Marcus Deml (Kingdom Come,Saga, Bobby Kimball),
Tom Aeschbacher on Keyboards, Ralf Gustke on
drums(Chaka Khan, Xavier Naidoo) and Frank Itt
on Bass Guitar (Pili Pili, Errorhead and Bobby
Kimball). The Lion Music Web site cites “the
basic idea for the band came while listening to
the album Spectrum by Billy Cobham. This
attitude and the idea, putting Rock-musicians
(Tommy Bolin, Jan Hammer, Leyland Sklar)
together and make them playing fusion-orientated
stuff, made the musicians think about doing an
album with a similar approach but 30 years
later”. In this light they have been very
successful at recapturing that sort of magic.
The CD is really produced and mixed well,
especially for fusion. This is high energy
fusion for sure as clean clear guitar leads meet
really solid high toned keyboard work on every
track.
The album starts out with a blues rock guitar
led track entitled “Comprendes.” It is laced
with aggressive drums and a wonderful melody
carried out by the keyboards throughout. The
second track is “Propellerhead,” a cut with
powerful ‘70s guitar leads “taking off’ around
every corner. This track also shows the pure
bass playing talent of Frank Itt as well, as he
lays down a mad line to be played over.
A jazz lounge act styled cut is “Odd Garage”
played in a cool smooth relaxed way. These guys
find the ‘70s jazz/funk groove here so well,
they probably were wearing polyester leisure
suits when they recorded it. The boys stay funky
and reflective with the next ditty “We need a
plan” a really light and carefree keyboard led
cut. After a 31-second track “Wanna Energy” that
sounds like they landed on the moon they go to
work on a faster paced cut “Tekky” with lots of
rock guitar leads that sounds like it was on the
“Starsky and Hutch” soundtrack.
“Gold III” is more music straight out of the era
of huge cars and Star Wars, and this cut has
spaced-out asteroids sound effects. The last two
cuts are “Miles Ahead” and “Miles Away” the
former is a 36-second track that provides the
ambience and the latter is more smooth grooves
from the rock fusion treasure chest. This last
cut includes the best lead guitar work on the
album.
While uncertain of the appeal, this is a solid
effort and certainly achieved all that the band
could hope for. Great job boys!
Band Members
Marcus Deml - Guitar
Tom Aeschbacher - Keys
Ralf Gustke - Drums
Frank Itt – Bass
Track listing:
01 Comprendes
02 Propellerhead
03 Odd Garage
04 We Need A Plan
05 Wanna Energy
06 Tekky
07 Gold III
08 Miles Ahead
09 Miles Away
HRH Rating: 8/10 |
