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Interesting proposition, this instrumental “Timestamps”. The music contains a variety of moods, tempos and ideas: from the quietly introspective to the unrestrained Shred, replete with catchy licks and groovy rhythms.
Berklee protégée Hans Platz has previously played guitar with Cyrus Dance, parody medieval-rock band Feuerschwanz and has also collaborated with bands such as J.B.O. and Fiddler’s Green. Most of these names are unfamiliar to me, to be quite honest, but I digress...
“Timestamps” has a cathartic vibe to it, a factor partly stemming from some decent song-writing skills. To be clear, the album doesn’t rewrite the Metal rulebook but it boasts a strong listenability. In other words the compositions are not (just) a smorgasbord of guitar wankery but top notch musicianship without any uncomfortable pretentiousness attached.
Assisting Mr Platz are names that will be familiar to many readers: drummers Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Necrophagist, Ephel Duath, Paul Gilbert, Tony Macalpine, George Bellas, etc, etc, etc) and Jazzist Wolfgang Haffner; guitarist Mattias IA Eklundh (Freak Kitchen, Jonas Hellborg Trio, Evergrey, Soilwork); bass players T.M. Stevens (James Brown, John McLaughlin, Steve Vai, Tina Turner, Little Steven), Pete Griffin (Dweezil Zappa, Terrio Bozzio, Frank Gambale, Steve Vai, Jean-Luc Ponty) and Fabio Trentini (Le Orme, New Trolls, Guano Apes); and Platz’s ex-bandmate drummers Wolfram Kellner and Simon Michael. Each serves the compositions and not vice versa. All in all, this is a well produced effort that’s definitely worth checking out. | ||||||||||||||||||
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