Red Masque, The - Victoria And The Haruspex

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Big Balloon Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 48:03:00

Catch This Aristocratic Ball

How long is your attention span? In regard to that and patience, Victoria And The Haruspex separates the "long" from the "short" and the "haves" from the "have nots." This CD from the Philadelphia-based progressive music band, The Red Masque, could send commercial radio programmers running and screaming for their lives. It isn't just that the first song, the nearly 25-minute "Haruspex," lasts longer than the rest of the songs put together, either; they'd be terrified that the intro to this song takes a good three or four minutes, which is just about the lifespan of most chart toppin' hits. But wait, there's more to the story. Versatile lead singer Lynnette Shelley alternates between mountain singing, operatic singing, chanting and seemingly singing in tongues. Mate that with the band's tendency to travel through the twilight world of percussion and you can divide people who hear this CD into two groups: those who relish these lengthy compositions of bizarre music and those who will cover their ears and run in the opposite direction. Just for kicks, instead of the usual thundering bass occasionally heard throbbing in the car next to me (or you) at a red light, it might be fun to hear some Red Masque music blaring instead.

"Haruspex" is impossible to categorize, but until you hear it and make up your own mind, anticipate it as a sort of cosmic hoedown having no connection whatsoever with country music. It begins and ends with what sounds like the tinkling musical sounds of a mobile attached to an infant's crib. Between those ends lives a circus of sounds. "Why David, whatever do you mean?" you will inquire. Well, there's chirping, swirling, sliding metal, a crazed push-button phone, the banging of pots and pans, and the electronic plucking of chicken feathers; all of which (and then some) sounds are made with musical instruments. Coming from a clearly talented musician named Vonorn are various drum rhythms through much of it and Shelley's vocals take strange flights that enhance the otherworldly ambience of this opening cut. The idiosyncratic "Birdbrain" recalls Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine," but isn't close enough to render it bedridden with a case of plagiarism. While "Birdbrain," "Afterloss" and "Cenotaph" (for those who can't get enough of harp solos) are more accessible than"Haruspex," this disc is for patient adventurers of strange musical journeys.

Want to know more about the folks behind it all? Visit www.theredmasque.com.

Tracklisting:
Haruspex (24:35) / Birdbrain (7:40) / Afterloss (8:43) / Cenotaph (7:05)

Musicians:
Steven Blumberg - electric guitar
Nathan-Andrew Dewin - concert harp, synthesizers, didgeridoo, percussion, toy piano, vocals
Lynnette Shelley - lead vocals, percussion, psaltery, chimes, demonic china doll
Brian 'Vonorn' Van Korn - drums and percussion

Special guest:

Abhi Taranth - electric guitar (1)

Discography:
Death Of The Red Masque (ep) (2001)
Victoria And The Haruspex (2002)
Feathers For Flesh (2004)
Fossil Eyes (2008)
Stars Fall On Me (2009)
Mythalogue (2013)
Live At The Kennett Flash (2018)
Fathomless (2018)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: July 20th 2008
Reviewer: David Lilly

Artist website: www.theredmasque.com
Hits: 2745
Language: english