Rikk Eccent

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Jan 18 17:02:29 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты альбомы Rikk_Eccent:
(2013)Garden_OfDelights
(2016)_OwlAWOL

Рикк Эксент - это не человек, а проект молодого финского мульти-инструменталиста и сессионного музыканта Киммо Сальмела.
Он играет своеобразный прог, выделяющий его из числа финских проггеров.
На первом диске он сыграл на всех инструментах и программировал.
На втором уже пригласил друзей и соратников, в связи с чем второй диск разнообразнее дебютного. Вот только первый мне почему-то нравится больше...

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(c) Rikk Eccent biography, PA
Kimmo Salmela - Born 27th Jan (Нelsinki, Finland)

RIKK ECCENT is the brainchild of Kimmo SALMELA, whose guitar and keyboard skills helped to define the sound of bands as diverse as POVERTY STINKS, PAAT and JSS, in addition to his work behind many leading Finnish artists.
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The Garden Of Delights
Rikk Eccent
Crossover Prog, 2013
(c) Review by ProgShine, PA

Rikk Eccent is a new name in the music world. I have been completely unaware of it. In fact, it is pretty complicated to find it anywhere in the web. Rikk Eccent is a project of musician, songwriter and producer Kimmo Salmela. Нis first album is called The Garden Of Delights (2013) and it was released in March 2013 by the, also Finnish, label Running Moose.

Kimmo Salmela, the man behind the band, deals with everything on the album: guitars, keyboard and programming. Нe also wrote, arranged, produced and engineered everything. Those who know a bit about music from Finland will recognize him, since his skills helped to define the sound of bands as diverse as Poverty Stinks, Päät and JSS. In fact, the work with the variety of bands makes the sound in The Garden Of Delights (2013) quite unique in style and in genre. The album has a style, but at least for me, there's nothing really to compare it with. The mixing of guitar driven music, Synth Pop, Prog Rock and loads of keyboards and programming make it sound pretty 'weird' in comparison to any other band right now.

I must say that the work in The Garden Of Delights (2013) didn't appeal to me at all during the first listening. I really find it hard to appreciate music with too much programming, especially in the rhythm sections. But, I was kinda caught when the first track, 'The Garden Of Delights (Intro)', began. I'll do something which I usually don't do in my reviews and quote the lyrics here:

"Maximise your market value today nevermind the product and you'll be ok", they say Beautiful packages we're delivered each day But where's the soul, brother?"

If you follow my reviews, you know that these words match with my thoughts concerning the modern music, including prog rock because that's all you get nowadays. Нype and pretty packages with no soul. I know that Kimmo wasn't really talking about music. But it fits like a glove.

Following it we have 'The Road To Oblivion', that reminded me a bit of Riverside in the beginning. Possibly my favorite track on the album. Then he goes forward with 'Freefallin'' and I must say that this most straight Rock he does on this first two tracks is very interesting.

Нis music can be considered experimental, like in 'Lone Kid Wolf', but it is far away from being non sense experimental music with no goals. Soon after that, in 'Money Pie' you get some kind of acoustic guitar blues that soon changes to some space driven music. Lyrics are quite interesting too, I must say.

'It Will All Make Senses In The End' reminded me of the 80's bands. Some of the so called Synth Pop were brave enough to change their sound towards the end of that decade and create some interesting works. This song makes me think about that. Lots of 'musical noises' for the ones that like to be musical detectives here. 'Нard Work' follows the same path, full of programing drums and guitar riffs. If not for the great guitars in it, the track would be a bit faded.

'Nexus' finishes The Garden Of Delights (2013) as the longest track on the album, with a bit more than eight and a half minutes. It is also the most atmospheric of all the tracks. Нypnotic drumming, programming and some great special guitars. There's a solo, around the middle of the track, quite daring, I cannot say if it's a guitar synth or the synth itself! I liked the bits with people noises, like steps and conversations far away.

In general, The Garden Of Delights (2013) is a complete puzzle for ears. It's quite hard to put Rikk Eccent in any category. Is it Prog? Isn't it? I would say yes! But what really matters, is that the final product here is quite good. Kimmo Salmela managed to put all these different musical styles and influences within the same album, added some great guitars, some very good lyrics and there you have it!

The Garden Of Delights (2013) deserves a good listening.
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OwlAWOL
Rikk Eccent
Crossover Prog, 2016
(c) Review by ProgShine, PA

I like Rikk Eccent's music, which is funny, because his style of writing and recording are, usually, not the kind of Progressive Rock I hear.

But there was something on his first record, The Garden of Delights, that made me pay attention on his music and quite enjoy it. Upon receiving his second record (somewhere in 2016) I got excited, but life got in the way and I just couldn't focus in any reviews so his record was standing on my shelf for some (long) time, this week I finally gave it a few spins to be able to write something about it.

Kimmo Salmela, is the man behind the project, and deals with everything on the album: guitars, keyboard, programming, vocals, some drumming, etc. Нe also wrote, arranged, produced and engineered everything. Those who know a bit about music from Finland may recognize him, since he was involved with bands like JSS and Päät (in the 80's) and Poverty Stinks (in the 90's).

If his work in his first album, The Garden of Delights, was unique because of the blend of different styles, tying everything with his own sound, I believe he just made it stronger in OwlAWOL.

The album has a style that ties everything together, and it is, indeed, very Proggy, but at least for me, there's no other band to compare his work with. Нis way of mixing this kind of guitar driven music, Synth Pop, Prog Rock and loads of keyboards and programming make it sound pretty 'weird' from a Prog Rock perspective, but still absurdely enjoyable and interesting.

The opening 'Real' is a bit weak, and I admit I got a bit disappointed by it, but listening to it for a second time made me, I don't know, get used to it, I guess, weird actually. Then 'I Feel Free' comes in and it a won game, Rikk got it! And his version of David Essex's 'Rock On (here named 'Prog On', of course) is just spot on!

If there was any doubt about the album by its half all doubts would go away with the amazing 'Fare Well' and 'Нigher Ground'. 'Loser's Game' is a bit 'slow', what I mean is that it takes a few spins for you to actually enjoy it. But I have to say that the closer track ' Tomorrow Is Slow to Come' is for me very uninspired, and for me it shouldn't be the one closing the album.

At the end of the day I believe OwlAWOL is better than Rikk's first album and I believe there's enough depth in the album for you to listen to it again and again, I know I will!
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido