Rickter Scale Show 168 - Timanfaya, Visual Cliff, MMEB

[Rick and Roll]

Airing Sunday, February 17 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday, February 18 from 1-4 EST.

The Healing Road (Hanspeter Hess) - "Timanfaya" (2008)

Devil's Garden
The Green Caves
Crashing Waves
Crater Camels
Absynthe
Fire Mountains
Mirador
Blackbeach
Observe and Learn

Brand spanking new, Hans has come out with a wonderful disc. He employs more guests and instruments than his last record (you can find both on the Moon - this one is filed as "The Healing Road" and the first one is filed as "Hanspeter Hess") and sound is much fuller. Not that the last one was chopped liver - the epic "Crovenia" was especially brilliant - just that the music expands in more directions. Hans still plays the majority of the keys, and his arrangements are excellent. Thanks Hans!

Visual Cliff -

from "Lyrics for the Living" (2003) - Conquering Mind (Psalm 118), Wisdom's Call
from "Key to Eternity" (2004) - At Mospheric Reside, Angelic Shield
from "Freedom Within" (2005) - Sacred, Electric Soul, Let It Ring, Radiant Departure, Torn From Expression
from "Into The After" (2007) - Empty Words, My Guardian Angel, 12 Stone Gardens, Into Your Embrace, Separation

I was going to play the new one all the way through, but decided after hearing them a cross-section would be better. The songs played are about 70 minutes, and I feel represent the band throughout the five years. Although I already owned Key to Eternity, having another copy is fine - got all four and a 15-minute EP for 30 bucks

Rob Perez is the guitarist (and a good one!), and has moved to band from a more fusion-oriented instrumental group to more progrock and metal, with Shane Lankford of Orphan Project singing on about 1/2 of the songs on the last two records (six of the tracks played on this show are vocals).

Also confusing matters is the 2006 Fall of Echoes CD "Red Tree" (played here last year) which has Rob, Shane, and Rick Mals from VC and Bill Yost from OP.

Glad I was able to finish off the collection, and hope you like it as well. The first two Visual Cliff CD's are on the Moon.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "The Roaring Silence" (1976)

Blinded By the Light
Singing the Dolphin Through
Waiter, There's A Yawn In My Ear
The Road to Babylon
This Side of Paradise
Starbird
Questions

Although MMEB has always been a favorite of mine ("Nightingales and Bombers" is in my top 10), I kind of let them go after this record. They never really regained their magic. Not having Mick Rogers on guitar and vocals combined with hearing the first cut too often conspired against me picking this up until recently. But it's a fine record, with the requisite Manfred solos and fine work by the band. Dave Flett on lead guitar and Chris Thompson singing cover Mick well, and Chris Slade and Colin Pattenden are still present here.

Alice Cooper - Halo of Flies, from "Killer" (1972)

I'm working on filling in my missing Cooper. This cut and the Love It To Death's "Black Juju" were highly played in my youth, and some of the longer cuts were precursors of prog - "Halo", about the five-minute mark, has a section that is exactly like Floyd's "Sheep". And hearing this played inbetween the bands at Progday reminded me to get some more Alice.

[thehealingroad]

Great news, Rick.

I'll visit the "shout" on Monday. This is 7 pm over here so it should be no problem to attend.

Thanks a lot for the airplay,
hans

[Rick and Roll]

Good hans, you can scold me on my pronounciation of "Timanfaya" (I couldn't find the way to say it)

[thehealingroad]

Tea-
mun (like "sun")-
fy-ya (like a gansta rapper would pronounce "fire" )

Got it, brotha?

I found an acceptable little video at youtube that shows the part of the island where I got inspiration for pieces like "devil's garden" or "fire mountains" ... of course the soundtrack of the video is MUCH better than my little album...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcIQ9...eature=related

See you next monday,
hans

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by thehealingroad

Tea-
mun (like "sun")-
fy-ya (like a gansta rapper would pronounce "fire" )

Got it, brotha?

I found an acceptable little video at youtube that shows the part of the island where I got inspiration for pieces like "devil's garden" or "fire mountains" ... of course the soundtrack of the video is MUCH better than my little album...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcIQ9...eature=related

See you next monday,
hans

shoot I said Tim an faya, just like an anglo

they have gansta rap in Germany?....got it

neat video, but none of the buildings...

[thehealingroad]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

they have gansta rap in Germany?..

Sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W-7dWeAA4E&NR=1


hans