4Front - Radio Waves Goodbye

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Spec Records
Catalog Number: Spec01001F-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:07:00

Radio Waves Goodbye is the third album from this American band called 4 Front. It's formed by three musicians, Zak Rizvi on guitars and keyboards, Frank La Placa on bass, and Joe Bergamini on drums.

I have to admit I had doubt about its successfulness; I was captured by this release. In fact, in my opinion, it has the style that every instrumental record ought to have: great technique, but without any parts that are too long; great importance given to the songwriting; and much difference between tracks. 4 Front has a particular style, as I had problems trying to find some evident influences. But you can notice a lot of references on it, which make this CD very interesting.

Zak Rizvi seems to be Steve Morse on the guitar, and this consideration is well represented by the sound that sometimes is similar to Dixie Dregs, but there is some stuff that is near to Dream Theater, Genesis, Rush, Return To Forever, and Chick Corea's Elektric Band of the eighties, too. As you can read above, I spoke of some fusion groups; in fact there is some fusion stuff mixed in with the prog elements. Moreover, this is evidence this mix; that is, Joe Bergamini, a refined drummer, reminded me of Simon Phillips, the Toto member and great session man.

With a little more originality, this could be a top class release.

Tracklisting:
Airtime (1:58) / Tunnel Vision (5:53) / Hideaway (3:21) / Special Patrol Group (3:00) / Space Oddity 2001 (6:34) / Burial At Sea (5:13) / Fuse (4:05) / Learning To Crawl (5:53) / 747 (2:21) / Memories Of Kansas (5:54) / Descent (5:23) / Radio Waves Goodbye (4:32)

Musicians:
Frank LaPlaca - bass
Zak Rizvi - guitars & keyboards
Joe Bergamini - drums
Leo McClusky - whistling (4)
Jimmy Wilgus - keyboards & choir vocals (4), choir vocals (5), keyboards (7, 8)
Bob Magnuson - alto saxophone (8, 9)
Karl Kessler - solo violin (6), violin & viola (10)
Tom Mulvaney - congas, bongos, woodblocks (2), marimba, crotales (10, 12), shaker (10), glockenspiel (12)
Steve Kelly - congas & bongos (8)

Discography:
Gravity (1998/2002)
Radio Waves Goodbye (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: September 8th 2003
Reviewer: Davide Guidone
Score:
Artist website: www.joebergamini.com
Hits: 2790
Language: english