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What a gem. What a precious find here with Avandguard. Nice. Much love and light from the PStarR family circle!!! 10.
- MC LOGO 65
Strong alt-country ties wrap around Seattle's Mike Kondol, but the selections from his album Avandguard harbor something older in his sound too. "Tornados and Hurricanes" reaches all the way back to the Sixties, with its uncanny evocation of Buffalo Springfield in Kondol's quavering harmonies and gently eccentric instrumentation. But even without the sitar-like twangs and truly strange polka-like saxophone fills, the song's empty spaces and peculiar yet poetic lyrics ("I know I'm supposed to be behind you, but I'm not a rip in your jeans") trigger hallucinations from a time before grunge. More modern technology intrudes in the churning drum loops of "Calculated," though Kondol's near-tuneless, Dylan-like delivery preserves the retro feel. His references are a bit more elusive, yet also more comprehensible, on "Peace of Heaven." Here, the simplicity of the lyric and the easy-going groove reflect modest ambitions: In his nasal and imprecise way, Kondol asks but little from life -- "a little peace of heaven, that's all we need." He ambles through the tune, the instrumentation bare and sparely played. By aiming low, toward the vicinity of the lives we really lead, rather than shooting toward the moon, Kondol proves surprisingly persuasive, and more than a bit moving in his everyman eloquence. Rocket(Seattle music magazine)- Kondol is a professional songwriter.
Robert Doerschuk
- Keyboard magazine
Discography
Avand Guard, Greener, Woodgrain Waves, Bar Chords & Wasted Time
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Avandguard offers fresh acoustic/electric collection of songs mixing elements of folk, country, indie and rock. Kondol started a punk band called the Smoldering Remains in the Seattle area in the 80's. He met Scott McCaughy (REM)who was working at a record store at the time. He encouraged Kondol to pursue completing an independent CD.This became his first cd called "Avand Guard",an album that had a Wilco sound.Kondol's next cd will completed this summer '04 and will be mastered by .Jack Endino
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