[Vai Freak] Glacius

Mood: Terrified
Listening To: Nothing.. Just yet.









.. Especially since I bought another book last night by Sophie Kinsella, titled The Undomestic Goddess.  An addictive read, especially when I'm on the RapidKL busses to move around from my place to college and while waiting for classes.

Now, let's get straight to the point.. Not.  When I drive around in KL these days, I always pop Joe Satriani's Super Colossal album, there's one point of the album and a certain riff/solo that Satch plays, which would make me always think:

"Haha .. This sounds like what Kelvyn Yeang would play or something.."

And today, I got more than that minor riff - Because instead of wasting my RM15 on a pirated Windows Vista game, I managed to meet up with Seok Kheng, all the way in Subang Jaya, to get my copy of the Ocean of Fire album (An instrumental RockFunkJazzyNotSoMetal Project).  When I put in the CD, I cut down the volume by so much expecting so many technical heavy attacks, but I did that on the wrong track.  The first track was rather.. soothing.  Entitled Ctrl Alt Dlt.

This is the song that would be famous in terms of every member's showmanship.  In a YouTube.com video (if you look hard enough), you'll be able to find the drummer, Jonathan Scully, pulling off one of those Mike Portnoy moves, where he does a drum solo, and hits just about everything in his path - mic stands, tom-tom holders, the ground, etc.  And what I really like about this song is that you're able to listen to just about everybody's talent when it comes so solo.  I am seriously digging Jon's bass solo.  <3

Okay, first impression would be that this could be a full jazz album - which I don't think would happen since the guitar wizard's Home Studio EP.  The next song blasted my hair off my head.  Titled Critical Strike, (take note that I was driving, so I wasn't expecting whatever songs that were coming up next to shock me while I'm driving).  Yep.  From jazz, the band through their recorded materials, smacked me with some Metal material (Notsometal konon..).  Wonderful.

But besides going through the songs and all, I went through the lead guitarist, Kelvyn Yeang, style.  Unfortunately, he had evolved tremendously in terms of musical aspects compared to his material presented on Home Studio.  Now, he is just like one of those guitarists you manage to listen through albums.  Mostly, I admit, I'm unaware if he was putting feel into his music, but now, he puts both feel and soul into his musical presentation.

Maybe I am turning gay, or whatever, but I can just feel the raw essence depending on the theme.  Like the part in Critical Strike where he doesn't really shred, but uses the wah to play a melodious soulful lead that expresses pain, regret, and sadness in the same time.  That's just one of the songs.  Songs like Ctrl Alt Dlt can pretty much make you imagine that the whole band is doing nothing but just having fun with several musical spices.

Especially trying to have more than one music genre in an album, that's one huge leap Ocean of Fire has taken.  It's a dangerous thing if you ask me, but then again; who is there to question them?  As long as they do it good, and way above average, all's well!

Okay, so details of this album would be that it has 10 brand new songs, and 2 bonus tracks taken from the Home Studio EP.  I love the last song, Final Step, it's the closest I can ever get my ears to listen to Kelvyn's instructor, Danny Lee, style of playing.  Definitely out of this world.  Not him, but the both of them.  Anyways, the songs would be:

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1) Ctrl Alt Dlt
2) Critical Strike
3) Arch Angel
4) Dreaming
5) Riverdance Topsy Turvy
6) Seashell Song
7) Neo Classical Nonsense (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA LOLOLOLOL)
8) Walking In The Rain (this one features Ray Cheong on Acoustic Guitars..)
9) X'Mas Meddley Riverdance
10) Topsy Turvy X'Mas Meddley (Video can be found somewhere on my Multiply too.. Haha)

Bonus Tracks

11) Space Man
12) Final Step

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Please take note that there was a printing error, so track 5 is actually Topsy Turvy and track 10 is actually Riverdance for those who have the copy and who doesn't know if the songs are titled correctly or not.










Anyways, for those who stays close to Kelvyn or something, (especially in Penang, unlike me) grab a copy of this album.  It fuses Rock, Jazz, Metal, formal ballad and the list goes on.  All only for RM 15.

Uh.  For those who are in KL and who are interested, I suppose I might be able to work something out?










Also the mixing credits goes out to whoever mixed the songs for Kelvyn.  This is extremely good.. mixing.. Is it Danny Lee who mixed the songs too?  x)










Mmmm.. Seashell song.......................................... Reminds me of D'Cuzzy's Hokkienstien track no 5 or 6 .. I can't remember that song.. Lol










EDIT:  SPECIAL THANKS TO TAN SEOK KHENG FOR GRABBING A COPY OF THE ALBUM FOR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, major thanks goes out to Ocean of Fire for existing..and also for producing such a unique album!