Cosmic Nomads

DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK PAGE VULTRESS ALBUM

http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200733.php#cosmic

Tracklist: Another World (7:37), No More Heartache/Approach Of The Vultress/No More Heartache II (6:24), Elephant In My Soup (3:28), I Can't Stop Lovin' You (4:19), Journey of Trelucabeth's Dream/Escape Through the Mews (6:41), Cry Cry Baby (3:42), Winter's Day (5:32), Vultress (5:06), Return of the Vultress/Where the Wind Blows (10:49), We Are Lemurians (8:20)

The Cosmic Nomads are an Australian progressive band whose sound is centred around the Hammond organ skills of songwriter and lead vocalist Ray Vanderby whose musical pedigree stretches back some 40 years. Vultress is the second album to be released under the Nomads name, the first being 2003's Make Love Not War. The other Nomads featured on Vultress are: “King” Con Patogiannis (lead guitar, vocals), Gina Woods (Wurlitzer electric piano and synthesisers), Geoff Brown (bass), Miam Lentini (drums) and Anni Lang (vocals, percussion).

The opening track to Vultress, Another World, sets the scene for the whole album. Following a somewhat, well, cosmic opening, a driving riff led by Vanderby's Hammond pumps the track forward literally forcing the listener to sit up and take notice. Like some bastard offspring of King Crimson and Pink Floyd, with a touch of early Hawkwind thrown in to make things a bit spacey, the music is everything any fan of the Hammond organ craves after. One is instantly reminded of the great 70s Hammond pioneers like Keith Emerson, Jon Lord and Ken Hensley, illustrious names that Vanderby is well worthy of being mentioned alongside. His years of experience has made him a master of his instrument, the characteristic swirls, growls and Leslie speaker-induced vibrato on the sustained chords are present in abundance and effortlessly trip off Vanderby's fingers. Although the band have a characteristic sound, there are some surprises on the album, particularly the Syd Barrett inspired whimsy of Elephant In My Soup, a song that is played, and sung, with an obvious tongue in the cheek, you can practically hear the band smiling as they join in the 'Boop, boop de boop' backing vocals!

The multi-titled tracks invariably include instrumental passages that acts as introductions to the lyrical pieces and are always engaging, 70s-style progressive rock - such as Approach Of The Vultress which is a companion piece to Uriah Heep's Gypsy if ever there was one. Although the Hammond is the predominant instrument heard throughout the album, the rest of the band are not completely overshadowed. Of particular note is drummer Lentini whose complex rhythms are an important component of the music, especially on Where The Wind Blows where his playing takes the lead, which is not something you hear often from a drummer without them indulging in an all out solo. On tracks such as We Are Lemurians and Cry Cry Baby Woods' electric piano provides an effective counterpoint to the Hammond and throughout the album succinct and insightful guitar solos punctuate and accentuate the melodies.

Winter's Day is more restrained and more classically inspired with Patogiannis laying his Les Paul aside for a while instead using an acoustic to great effect, notably on a couple of flamenco-inspired solos. Title track Vultress has a dirty groove and swagger with a delightful undulating bass line, although the lyrical tale is somewhat bizarre to say the least! Then it is straight into Return Of The Vultress which bears no relation to the title track at all, indeed, I kept expecting the band to break in to Deep Purple's Speed King at any minute!

Nothing if not entertaining, this second offering by the Cosmic Nomads is a very enjoyable romp through decent 70s inspired prog. However, best avoided if you are not a fan of the Hammond organ!

Conclusion: 7 out of 10

MARK HUGHES

- http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200733.php#cosmic

http://www.progressivewaves.com

17/07/07 - "Vultress"

http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?ALB_ID=2283

Author / Group: Cosmic Nomads Entitles: Vultress Publication: 2007

Kind: Progressive rock 70'' s Support: CD Label: Autoproduction

Statute: Heart blow

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Cosmic Nomads is an Australian group formed in 2003 by a veteran of the musical scene, having accompanied innumerable artists since near of 40 years! It is a matter of l' organiste/singer Ray Vanderby, of Dutch origin, the mentor of this group that delivers here his second album, but with a renewed line-up for Vanderby completely changed region.

Indeed, this project is purely the baby of this organiste in love of the famous one his of Hammond B3, to which one it adds often a little electric piano, a small hair of synthé. The musicians that the accompany are not any the young first one but pro of confirmed sessions. One wonders why there is two guitarists for the sound is ouvertement dominated by the keyboards. Hot, deep voice and engraves Vanderby, that is of more very well placed, suits wonderfully to this powerful music, finally not very progressive to the strict direction of the term but évocatrice of a certain era where the claviéristes played weapons sometimes equal with the guitarists and tortured their keyboards to leisure!

Cosmic Nomads we play it ouvertement nostalgic style… Ten titles (3:28 to 10:49) sometimes rather long, containing rock elements, blues, jazz and classical (for Vanderby has not poorly student of the composers as Grieg; one there will return), indeed psychedelic of the end of the years 60. This album, as the preceding one, good direction the first Uriah Heep, ELP, Deep Purple, Iron Butterfly or Atomic Rooster, indeed even A Hawkwind that would give more place to the keyboards. Brief, this are not very modern references! Nevertheless, rather than to plagiarize the one or the other of the aforementioned groups to role turn, Cosmic Nomads does nothing but to resemble them by the sound. And which fishing! The organ Hammond to the famous one his says "to phonic wheel" is put forward, hot and powerful. Vanderby does it to roar on melts of rhythmic one often simple but darned effective. Which irresistible groove!

Ah, that feels good the "Smoke one the water", the more rock side of Manfred Mann, etc. OK, the guitars do not take often solo, but when this is the case, this is not for non laugh more. Comparatively brief and catchy titles, to the rhythms inducing mix with more ambitious pieces, freer where the musicians, Vanderby in head, abandon on the part consequent soloists and maybe in left improvised. Side game, our claviériste does not try to show his technique to all price but say that it goes noticeably more far than Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), for example, without claiming to attain staggering virtuosity of a Keith Emerson. Evidemment, the sound voluntarily is dated and more rather more rustic but more well more powerful and more very warmer.

Cosmic Nomads does not avoid some small lengths and of rare deliria bruitistes (some does this is only on the long continuation understanding the three final linked titles) or some a little supported references but on the whole, it is a matter essentially of very good pieces to the varied rhythms, with catchy melodies and on the part inspired and perfectly mastered soloists… to say nothing of the dramatic side coming from the. There is also an autodérision hair with notably runs it "Elephant in my soup" hopping, jazz and funk at once where the choirs do "poop poop pidou" but on which an instrumental dramatic party and more heavy recalls us than those guys are not any the small comic one! History of the to breathe in the middle of all that, "Winter's day" is a beautiful ballad (a not very quick one) where the acoustic guitar of Patogiannis does not do that of the extras, far itself in is necessary.

If you want to soak yourself a good blow in a true atmosphere of the beginning of the years 70, created by a musician that fully lived them and not a pale imitator, "Vultress" is an ideal album! To the last new one, Cosmic Nomads should deliver as early as 2008 of his third inspired album some left by "Trolltrog" of edvard Grieg!

© Marc M


- http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?ALB_ID=2283

"VULTRESS HITS THE RIGHT SPOT FOR ME, EVERY TRACK WILL OFFER YOU SURPRISES. VANDERBY IS AS GOOD AN ORGAN PLAYER AS YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE!" - Andrew Holborn 3rd Ear

"VULTRESS IS AN IMPRESSIVE 10 TRACK ALBUM!" - Australian Musician Magazine

“THEY DELIVER ONE HELL OF A POWERFUL LIVE SHOW!” - Inpress Magazine
- various