Mark 1 - Criminal Element


Year of Release: 2001
Label: independent
Catalog Number: KCB001A
Format: CD
Total Time: 35:31:00

Keith reviewed this and Absolute Zero in the same review; they're listed separately in the database -ed.

Three young musical geniuses got together and formed a group called Mark 1. Now for me the most difficult thing will be to try to explain their brilliance. Kyle Jones (bass, lead vocals), Chris Molinksi (drums, percussion), and Robert DiFazio (electric guitar, voices) are amused minds at work on these two very entertaining and out of the ordinary CDs. The best explanation I could possibly come up with for their sound is Zappa meets Eno, and then they go out and get extremely high and go to the studio to record. Oh well, that's the best I can do at this point. You really have to hear this stuff to understand where I am coming from.

On Absolute Zero they use a lot of synthesizers, and they distort their voices while spouting out strange lyrics. You just never know what direction they are going to go in a song. For five minutes DiFazio could be cutting loose on his guitar riding on the lunatic fringe jumping back and forth between rock and jazz, then it stops and they decide to take you on a totally different journey through a myriad of synthesized sounds and mind bending lyrical content. Their magnum opus is "Meltdown" (9:32), which is the closer. Be careful when you listen to this, do not use any mind altering substances or Oscar the office supply thief will send you to the mind eraser.

The Criminal Element is quite a bit more straightforward rock with a lengthy title track clocking in at 9:08. The keyboards have a stronger, more solid presence, as does the guitar. Both instruments have more direction and don't veer off into too much freeform fusion. This is a very good recording but not nearly as experimental and fun as Absolute Zero. Both CDs are both definitely worth your time. If you enjoy an intense prog-rock workout you will love all of this music.


Tracklisting:
The Criminal Element (9:08) / Another Commercial Casualty (4:25) / Captain Labrador's Unceremonious Disengagement (0:51) / The Raven (9:23) / I Want To Go The F*ckin Zoo! (3:06) / The Life... (5:49) / ...On The Run (3:30)

Musicians:
Kyle Jones - keyboards, vocals
Chris Molinski - drums, percussion
Robert DiFazio - guitars, bass

Discography:
Absolute Zero (2001)
The Criminal Element (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: February 23rd 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Hits: 2452
Language: english

  

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