REVIEWS
CROHINGA WELL - Issue #14 (Belgium) -
"Searching For The Elusive Rainbow" & "Inner Translucence"
German 70's Krautrock sure is sweeping across the Western world. The list of current American bands alone is getting very long and it's good to discover a new group who does not translate these influences from the past into just another set of feedbacking guitar drones without any beginning or end. Escapade is a relatively new band formed by drummer Hadley Kahn. The group includes guitarist Christian Doscher, bass player Joey Murphy, and Paul Hilzinger and John Ortega on keyboards, samples, noise generators, etc. Their 1996 debut CD "Searching For The Elusive Rainbow" contains four long tracks (56') of purely instrumental improvisations, built up from a tight rhythmic structure with various distorted guitars and sampled keyboard layers filling the sound spectrum. Comparison with well-known legendary names like Amon Duul, Faust and Can is inevitable, though Escapade lays enough personal zest in its 'live-in-the-studio' recordings (no overdubs).
"Inner Translucence" was canned in the same technical circumstances. Guitarist Christian Doscher's replacement by Paul Casanova meant no essential mutations in group sound, though this second effort has alot more musical variety and excitement to offer; it features 5 shorter, more intense compositions and 2 long improvisations: "Destination Somewhere" (a spacy flight in the realms of Pink Floyd's "Umma Gumma" - with special guest Robb Ross on flute) and the 21' "Colorfields", a visit to Faust's wonderful world of experimental rock and electronic surprises.
Escapade plays a form of psychedelic improvisational rock that attracts alot of attention these days. The competition is getting fierce, but these guys deserve to be heard; they're creative musicians and they don't clone the past, but rather use the standards of Krautrock to create their own musical space. Fans of European bands like Tribe Of Cro or Kreidler are bound to like this lot, and so they should: it's too good to miss.
Implosion - Issue #7 -
Well, here's something you don't hear too often; a spontaneousley composed hour of music that I can best describe as Edgar Winter on acid meets...well, let's just say a whole bunch of odd characters. A combination of space-rock with elements of tribal and industrial and who knows what else rhythms, Inner Translucence is the neural energy of five musicians recorded on convienent compact disc format.
The disc's seven tracks, all instrumental, range from two and a half to 20 minutes, and vary greatly in style. "Destination Somewhere, a 12 minute track, makes use of the flute and sounds almost tribal. "A Disturbed Sleep", on the contrary, is much harder and guitar driven. But, on every track, the improvised nature of the music is apparent, and I don't mean that in a bad way. There is structure to the music, but you never know what's coming next. It's unpredictable but enjoyable; and in this age of cookie-cutter music, it's exactly what I need.
Atropos Magazine - Issue #6 (Spain) -
(Translated from Spanish)
"Searching for the Elusive Rainbow" & "Inner Translucence"
Escapade is a current instrumental band from New York City created by the experimental drummer Hadley Kahn. It's roots are in the firm tradition of Improvisation such as the original Krautrock. The records from Escapade are conceived from enigmatic giant jams recorded live in the studio and without touchups. All the music is created spontaneously and collectively; for that, the level of invention, ability to improvise, technical knowledge and creativity must be immense. These New Yorkers supersede all the limits. "Searching for the Elusive Rainbow was their debut in 1996. It contained the macro size "Immersion"-17:54; "Stone Writings Erased"-16:06; and "Onward Towards the Leave of Moderation"-16:39; and the more brief "A Thing Happened"-4:50. You can imagine the adventurous psycho-surrealist universe without being bored for an instant. The roots of Escapade are well defined in historic bands of the genre like Can, Faust, Harmonia, or Limbus. Hypnotic music ("irritating" to "weak" stomachs) in which is interwoven all kinds of cohesive melodies of the guitar, bass and keyboard arrangements. Joey Murphy is the bass player that compliments the percussion spider webs of Kahn. Christian Doscher is an imaginative guitarist who reminds me alot of Michael Karoli for his electric acidity. Paul Hilzinger uses all kinds of strange keyboard arrangements and other "inventions" (feedback noise generators) to give a convenient environment to his sound. And John Ortega plays with processed bass sounds (it says in the credits that they are unlike a normal bass and I believe it; come on, you have to imagine it!) and electronic guitar (the same explanation as before).
I assure you that Escapade, far from being an eccentricity of non-musicians like Eno or Gavin Bryars, is psychedelic space-rock of the most experimental and risky type, but the most valid that I have heard since the glorious days of German rock. Pure electro-acoustic rock philosophy.
For the new CD, Hilzinger, Ortega, Murphy, and Kahn remain. However, the position of Guitar has been taken by Paul Casanova, a guitarist less vanguard than Doscher, but more refined and with clearer "arrangements". "Inner Translucence" has shorter pieces: "Prologue"-3:24; "Another Mirage"-4:19; "A Disturbed Sleep"-4:49; and "Evanescence"-2:38, but without forgetting the politics of adventure in a single moment, and creating new psychedelic-monsters to fly to impossible places as if it were a "pathfinder". The remaining tracks are "Moving in Limbo"-6:21; "Destination Somewhere"-12:49; and the glowing "Colorfields"-20:39. The improvisational experimental character of "Searching..." predominates but with more adjusted coordination, more concrete objectives and an occasionally more mystic orientation, like in "Destination somewhere", due in great part to the flute of guest Robb Ross.
"Inner Translucence" is somewhat closer to the first Tangerine Dream or some records by Popol Vuh and Agitation Free. Its incredible what the US is offering us from a past time to now. I will conclude everything I've already said with a phrase from the insert of Searching: "Music can communicate at a more profound level than language." If this is true (and it is), what am I doing writing about Escapade? Nothing better than an attentive and open listening.
PROGRESSIVE NEWSLETTER (Germany) -
(Translated from German)
SEARCHING FOR THE ELUSIVE RAINBOW & INNER TRANSLUCENCE
With their first work, "Searching for the Elusive Rainbow," New York quintet Escapade leans far towards the territory of experimental music, which in the truest sense of the word, is progressive. Totally without a fixed song structure, and with the music totally improvised in the studio as the basis of this celestial Krautrock sound, in the style of Guru Guru or Klaus Schulze, but also the expressive & experimental side of Djam Karet, Ozric Tentacles or Porcupine Tree finds its place. Slowly the tone structure shows itself, and even after awhile, no melody builds, but nevertheless it's somehow fascinating. Psychedelic & Avant-Garde rock which, from time to time, in total hypnotic ecstacy, lets the guitar or samples screech and the sparse instrumental noise experience leaves the listener with some amazement. Skirmishes and odd noises, but over a space-rock structure undergirds a ruthless process of change. This CD sits clearly in the style of grandiose full-blown experiments with electronic noises.
The 2nd CD, "Inner Translucence," in a similar style to the debut, is knowingly more rhythmic, with one song even performed with a mystical flute. This was also craftily improvised. The noises are fragmented, tossed around and abandoned, however one can find interesting aspects.
As to the worth of such experiments, each person must decide this for themselves.
PROGRESSION - Vol 11, No. 24 -
ESCAPADE "Inner Translucence"
Escapade is an improvisational, impressionistic space/ambient/psych instrumental band that can sound like Ozric Tentacles on quaaludes. The instrumentation says it all - feedback generator, wave machine, guitar, bass, drums, synths and a guest flautist on one track.
"Moving in Limbo" and "A Disturbed Sleep" are the closest things come to rock; elsewhere, it's trippin' through the cosmos in various altered states. "Destination Somewhere", at 13 minutes, introduces flute, which could have added extra dimension to other tracks in this collection. "Colorfields", at 21 minutes, closes the album with a particularly trippy jaunt into otherworldly realms.
INNER TRANSLUCENCE is an exercise in color and texture, light and dark, with little melodic sensibility. Another solid entry in the burgeoning space/psych scene.
MUSICIANS EXCHANGE -
INNER TRANSLUCENCE *****
An aural hallucinogenic for the 90's if there ever was one, this album combines the mindset of the school of jazz with the laboratories of science, producing sounds you just won't hear anywhere else. Slap on a pair of headphones and journey through parts of your mind you didn't even know existed. There's no drug quite like music, after all.
AUDION - Issue #38 (UK) -
Underneath the track details and musician credits on the CD case linlay it says "All Escapade music is composed spontaneously and collectively" otherwise all Escapade music results from jam-sessions. So, like early Djam Karet, their music is free, flowing and highly creative. Their previous CD was wonderful with some brilliant riffing space-rock. An instant success.. But, I must admit to having a few reservations about this new one. It's nothing to do with the music, but just some of the sounds used, there's some bizarre use of electronics that sound like telephone and burglar alarms that's most off-putting. Apart from that, it's great, and really just more of the same, but with the focus on different ideas.
C&D SERVICES (UK) -
"INNER TRANSLUCENCE"
You can hear it now - the group saying, "Right, now that we've got all THAT out of our system, we can REALLY start to explore the universe!" and sure enough, on this follow-up, they do just that, as the opening 22 minutes will testify, with the 3 compositions being a lot more intricate and less immediate, with all sorts of layers from synths, treated guitars, electronics, flute and guitars over a steady and powerful rhythm section in classic 'Eugene'-Pink Floyd meets Agitation Free manner, all carefully studied and constructed to breathtaking effect, mostly spacey-cosmic in the same way that the early Krautrock pioneers could be while still having a pronounced rhythm section presence. Track 4, at just over 4 minutes, drops the rhythms entirely for a voyage into the unknown on waves of scorching electric guitars, cymbal splashes, synths and space swoops to superb effect. Track 5 at just over 5 minutes, immediately goes for the kill with a lead guitar that is nuclear hot over rumbling drums, bass and assorted electronic backdrops, guaranteed to leave you and your system in a heap of smokin' rubble. Track 6 is just over 2 minutes of spacey synths, guitars and effects before it's on to the 20 minute track 7, the final track, which is not a fast and furious outing but a slow moving, multi-layered, space music track, but not just any old space music, this begins with smooth synths and cascading guitar lines, all very 'out there' before percussion and bass enter with a subtle rhythmic drive, and the composition unfolds, always changing, with the group all contributing to the proceedings making it so much more than your average cosmic track. It's more solid, more interesting, well cohesive, flows along, has an underlying power to it and is a wealth of guitars, bass, drums, and synths/effects playing a highly charged yet restrained and brilliant 20 minutes of Kraut-influenced space music, again near things that were heard on the amazing live album from Agitation Free and less noisy early Guru Guru. As a complete track it's absolutely superb and completes an equally faultless album. So, overall, more essentially 'low key' than its predecessor, which it complements quite perfectly; a fantastic instrumental album and equally essential listening.
Music News Weekly - (Russia) -
(Translated from Russian)
Inner Translucence
Music which is performed by Escapade is rather difficult to describe. What is it? Jazz? To some extent. "Inner Translucence" is an improvisation from the beginning to the end. Is it Avantgarde Electronic? Yes, to a certain extent. In essence, Escapade is a duet of electronic musicians Paul Hilzinger and John Ortega with the addition of "living" musicians: Paul Casanova - guitar, percussion, Joey Murphy - bass and Hadley Kahn - drums. Compositions of the album can be presented as collective mediation of project participants lacking of melody. Then, maybe the music of "Inner Translucence" is new age? In a certain sense, this statement is true. To be convinced in this, one can hear original dialogue of synthesizer and flute of specially invited guest, Robb Ross on "Destination Somewhere". Therefore, trying to characterize "Inner Translucence", one can state that this project goes beyond the borders of any definite style.
The closest analogy to the music of Escapade could be Aquarello, Aqueous, or solo works of inspirer of these projects, Felix Jay. But, if Felix himself characterizes this music as jazz (though his original electronic music I would not call jazz), then Escapade can be compared with Felix Jay in another aspect: here and there we have a really spontaneous music.
Besides the above named "Destination Somewhere", I'd like to mention the short electronic composition "Evanescence". While listening to it, one can sink as if in a cold belly of space.
In general,"Inner Translucence" is a rather original and interesting project, though for the unprepared listener it can be presented as a chaotic conglomeration of sounds. Then there is a probability that you'll completely sink into the unknown space being sometimes hostile,sometimes friendly,but a space which is left mysterious. This is the space created by the brave musicians of Escapade.
EXPOSE - No.14 -
ESCAPADE - "Inner Translucence"
In the long line of "space rock" groups that have been covered in detail by Expose, Escapade belong in the grouping of latter day psychotropic explorers such as Ozric Tentacles, Architectural Metaphor and Melting Euphoria. The greatest difference here, is that Escapade never go for the power drive, loud and barreling bass-riff led jams. The music is far more subtle, and in many ways this is a good thing, as Escapade avoid being just another Ozric clone. The musical landscapes here are what's interesting - there is still an impetus set by the rhythm section, yet the analog synthesizers and heavily effect laden guitar playing are the main focus here. I like Escapade because they are never obvious - they never go for the frivolous oscillator fluctuations or imitate Tim Blake or Steve Hillage in any way. The quiet of most of the album is very dreamy and peaceful and reminds one more of the early days of Tangerine Dream while never quite getting there. So in these days of Magic Mushroom Bands and "progressive electronic music" (read: techno) Escapade come as a continuous surprise and thankfully never overdo it.
Art Zero - No.12 -
(Translated from French)
ESCAPADE - "Inner Translucence"
Along with groups like Alien Planetscapes, Escapade celebrate a musical genre quite foreign to the type known as space rock. A mixture of influences from Hawkwind to Heldon, this album is undoubtedly a success of the incandescent rhythmic type, powerful throbbing bass and always a perfect comnbination with presents a musical cross between hardcore electronic and ambient. Included here are direct references from Mahavishnu Orchestra and a rhythm section which gives a very jazz feel to the overall sound, sometimes even leaving an innocent melody of flute floating away in the distance. The music of Escapade moves inside the mind - not in the music the black cliches and post industrial sound of the current post rock. Power and lightness intertwine inside "Inner Translucence" with good humor, the textures weave themselves, untangle themselves and wilt in the duration and out of the dangers of improvisation for the musicians, to arrive at some simple moments of musical magic. Without being radical but yet always guarded in tis sense of adventure, the group amazes and seduces the difficult and bigoted public of the prized Knitting Factory. A musical oxymoron, Escapade will give pleasure out of the little things as much as out of the big ones.
REVIEWS OF OTHER ESCAPADE RELEASES:
Searching For The Elusive Rainbow
Obscured Dialogues
Citrus Cloud Cover
Due to a Faulty Premonition
Remembrance of Things Unknown
Rule #3
A Thousand Shades of Grey (split w/ ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE)