SCiZZORMAN
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SCiZZORMAN

Perth, Western Australia, Australia | SELF

Perth, Western Australia, Australia | SELF
Band Alternative Rock

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Music

Press


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Awake to Dream" was a Commended Entry in the Adult Contemporary category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Awake to Dream - Adult Contemporary


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Awake to Dream" was a Commended Entry in the Adult Contemporary category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Awake to Dream - Adult Contemporary


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Goddess Child" was a Commended Entry in the Rock category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Goddess Child - Rock


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Goddess Child" was a Commended Entry in the Rock category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Goddess Child - Rock


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Ballerina" was a Commended Entry in the Love Songs category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Love Songs - Ballerina


"2011 UK Songwriting Contest"

This is to certify that "Ballerina" was a Commended Entry in the Love Songs category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2011. - Love Songs - Ballerina


"2012 January Drum Media Perth Magazine"

Take funk and embellish it with rock riffs, soul and groove; percussion patriarch Terry Vinci and guitarist and bassist Hugh Bartley have really gotten sticky here, in a good way. They have their fingers in all the pies and the result is a seriously delicious and courageous melange of musical styles. The album opens with a nice soulful swagger of a track titled Feed The Lie, running under 45 seconds. It isn't the perfect little taster of what's to come because what this album brings forth is somewhat miraculous in its experimentation with genre. Title track Awake To Dream is hard to escape. It has an element of mariachi with rhythmic guitar using its halting strums as extra beat, combining with almost buried Spanish guitar solos scattered nonchalantly over the top. The addition of tinny drums and something that sounds a lot like castanets takes you elsewhere, and this elsewhere involves serious movements of the hips.

A true highlight is the second track Goddess Child, which relives a blues-rock feel with supplementary distortion. A true gem is the simple female spoken vocal that replies "whatever" in the most Australian-tongued accent reminding you this is a Perth band (check it out at 3.03). It doesn't matter how discombobulated the music on this album may seem because you can't help but enjoy how versatile each track is and the small superfluities, which make each song likeably individual. Scizzorman has eluded the conformist, safe, non-experimental style that rock can easily fall into and the result is a fusion of selected favourite genres: funk, soul, elements of blues and luscious licks. Crack open the brandy, tonight's groove night. - Katie Rolston: Street Press Australia Pty Ltd


"2011 June Review You Ariel Publicity"

Back in the late 1970s, the “death to disco” crowd insisted that rock and funk could not be mixed in a coherent, logical fashion. That was utter nonsense, of course; Sly & the Family Stone, Funkadelic and Ike & Tina Turner mixed rock, funk and soul with splendid results. So did Mother’s Finest, a gem of a band that sounded like Ike & Tina by way of Led Zeppelin. But with the popularity of Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Living Colour and Run-D.M.C. in the 1980s, that whole notion that rock and funk were incompatible was shattered once and for all. In fact, funk-rock bands have been so plentiful since then that it can be challenging for club owners, publicists, music journalists, promoters, etc. to keep up with who the good and great ones are and who the lousy, pedestrian and mediocre ones are. On Awake to Dream, Scizzorman demonstrate that they are among the more interesting and exciting funk-rock combos of the 21st Century.

The approach that they favor on this 2011 release is funk-rock with a jazz edge; the jazz edge is more assertive on some tracks than it is on others, although it is usually there to some degree. And the influences that Scizzorman display on Awake to Dream include, among others, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, George Clinton, Primus and the late Frank Zappa. Scizzorman aren’t as metallic or as hard rocking as the Red Hot Chili Peppers can be, but melodically, the Peppers influence is there nonetheless. And even though they aren’t as left-of-center as Primus or Zappa, Scizzorman do appreciate the eccentricity of those artists and make that appreciation known on Awake to Dream.

That said, one of Scizzorman’s strengths is their ability to display some eccentricity and strangeness without making their material difficult to absorb. Actually, most of the tunes on this album are relatively accessible. “Truth under Handshakes,” “Philosophical, Part 1,” “Letter,” “Aunt McClucky” and the opener “Goddess Child” are downright infectious.

The title track is a moody, dusky offering that brings to mind Funkadelic’s more moody and dusky offerings; it’s a bit odd, but without being overly abstract. Meanwhile, “Philosophical, Part 2” and the dissonant “Enough Energy” are among the album’s most self-indulgent tracks; they’re bizarre and off-center, although not as far to the left as, say, the stubbornly avant-garde Huffamoose.

The laid-back, oddly sexy “Ballerina” is easily the most overtly jazz-influenced tune on Awake to Dream. There is a jazz influence on other Scizzorman songs, but “Ballerina” is especially jazz-minded and contains some trumpet playing that hints at Miles Davis. It is also a song that finds Scizzorman having fun with some languages other than English, which is their primary language; “Ballerina” includes some spoken female vocals in French, and while the male singing is mostly in English, some phrases in Spanish and Italian are interjected. Linguistic purists might cringe upon hearing the phrase “señorita, tu sei bella,” which is mixing Spanish and Italian (it would be “señorita, tu eres bella” or “señorita, tu eres hermosa” in Spanish or “signorina, tu sei bella” in Italian). But the way Scizzorman combine different languages on “Ballerina” is part of the song’s oddball charm. Remember, this is a band that has been influenced by Zappa, Primus and Parliament/Funkadelic founder George Clinton. So it stands to reason that they are going to do some strange and self-indulgent things. But again, one of the plusses on this album is the fact that Scizzorman can, for the most part, indulge their goofier impulses without making themselves too difficult to absorb. Scizzorman are eccentrics and oddballs, but ultimately, they are eccentrics and oddballs who like to groove and like to pull the listener into that groove. They are eccentrics who want to be relatively accessible, and more often than not, they are.

Awake to Dream is a winner.

Review by Alex Henderson
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
- Alex Henderson


"2011 June Review You Ariel Publicity"

Back in the late 1970s, the “death to disco” crowd insisted that rock and funk could not be mixed in a coherent, logical fashion. That was utter nonsense, of course; Sly & the Family Stone, Funkadelic and Ike & Tina Turner mixed rock, funk and soul with splendid results. So did Mother’s Finest, a gem of a band that sounded like Ike & Tina by way of Led Zeppelin. But with the popularity of Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Living Colour and Run-D.M.C. in the 1980s, that whole notion that rock and funk were incompatible was shattered once and for all. In fact, funk-rock bands have been so plentiful since then that it can be challenging for club owners, publicists, music journalists, promoters, etc. to keep up with who the good and great ones are and who the lousy, pedestrian and mediocre ones are. On Awake to Dream, Scizzorman demonstrate that they are among the more interesting and exciting funk-rock combos of the 21st Century.

The approach that they favor on this 2011 release is funk-rock with a jazz edge; the jazz edge is more assertive on some tracks than it is on others, although it is usually there to some degree. And the influences that Scizzorman display on Awake to Dream include, among others, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, George Clinton, Primus and the late Frank Zappa. Scizzorman aren’t as metallic or as hard rocking as the Red Hot Chili Peppers can be, but melodically, the Peppers influence is there nonetheless. And even though they aren’t as left-of-center as Primus or Zappa, Scizzorman do appreciate the eccentricity of those artists and make that appreciation known on Awake to Dream.

That said, one of Scizzorman’s strengths is their ability to display some eccentricity and strangeness without making their material difficult to absorb. Actually, most of the tunes on this album are relatively accessible. “Truth under Handshakes,” “Philosophical, Part 1,” “Letter,” “Aunt McClucky” and the opener “Goddess Child” are downright infectious.

The title track is a moody, dusky offering that brings to mind Funkadelic’s more moody and dusky offerings; it’s a bit odd, but without being overly abstract. Meanwhile, “Philosophical, Part 2” and the dissonant “Enough Energy” are among the album’s most self-indulgent tracks; they’re bizarre and off-center, although not as far to the left as, say, the stubbornly avant-garde Huffamoose.

The laid-back, oddly sexy “Ballerina” is easily the most overtly jazz-influenced tune on Awake to Dream. There is a jazz influence on other Scizzorman songs, but “Ballerina” is especially jazz-minded and contains some trumpet playing that hints at Miles Davis. It is also a song that finds Scizzorman having fun with some languages other than English, which is their primary language; “Ballerina” includes some spoken female vocals in French, and while the male singing is mostly in English, some phrases in Spanish and Italian are interjected. Linguistic purists might cringe upon hearing the phrase “señorita, tu sei bella,” which is mixing Spanish and Italian (it would be “señorita, tu eres bella” or “señorita, tu eres hermosa” in Spanish or “signorina, tu sei bella” in Italian). But the way Scizzorman combine different languages on “Ballerina” is part of the song’s oddball charm. Remember, this is a band that has been influenced by Zappa, Primus and Parliament/Funkadelic founder George Clinton. So it stands to reason that they are going to do some strange and self-indulgent things. But again, one of the plusses on this album is the fact that Scizzorman can, for the most part, indulge their goofier impulses without making themselves too difficult to absorb. Scizzorman are eccentrics and oddballs, but ultimately, they are eccentrics and oddballs who like to groove and like to pull the listener into that groove. They are eccentrics who want to be relatively accessible, and more often than not, they are.

Awake to Dream is a winner.

Review by Alex Henderson
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
- Alex Henderson


"2011 June Review You Ariel Publicity"

This is an incredibly talented group. The sound they create is diverse and often experimental. Yet, despite the far reaching explorations the group show, there is still an accessible quality to their sound. Those looking for a quick explanation or comparison might be placated with a simple “Red Hot Chili Peppers type music,” but really this band stretches further than the Chili Peppers ever did, both in terms of musical styles and instrumentation.

This is truly creative music. Perhaps a closer explanation can be found by calling this a merging of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with Frank Zappa, jazz and Soul II Soul. In fact, that leaves an open enough swath to cover pretty much everything on this disc. It wouldn’t be out of the question to call this album progressive rock, at least in the respect that it is progressive in terms of stretching the boundaries of rock music. There are a few moments here that actually touch pretty directly on that genre, too.

With the amount of musical diversity on show, it’s likely that different listeners will be attracted to different parts of the set. The thing is, in terms of quality, it’s all equal, and at an exceptionally high standard. This is experimental and expansive music, but the talent never wavers. Of course, with that span of musical range, it’s also likely that listeners will never get a feeling of monotony or boredom from the album.

The lyrics of the set seem to stretch well beyond the mundane and reach into the realms of political and social discourse and spiritual topics. This is, at times, heady stuff. Yet, it’s all held together with music that keeps it accessible.

In some ways, recommending specific tracks here is a futile approach. That’s because, as mentioned before, each listener’s musical history and tastes will come into play. Overall, though, the opener “Feed the Lie” and closer “Philosophical Part 2” seem among the strongest numbers on show. In some ways, putting such strong pieces as the first and last thing heard, makes the whole set feel that much more effective.

The truth, though, is that every song on the set is exceptionally strong. There’s just such a wide range of musical expression that the listening experience will be deeply influenced by personal tastes. This release, though, shows that SCiZZORMAN is a musical force not to ignore. The songwriting and talent are formidable. Perhaps fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Frank Zappa will be the ones who “get” the album the quickest, but the appeal should stretch to all fans of creative and unique music.

This is also one of those releases that benefits from repeated listening. With added familiarity the mix of sounds and the complexity of the music works better. That is often true of some of the best music to be found. This album is likely to make the “best of 2011” lists of more than a few reviewers. It’s that good, and not in a pop sense, but in a real artistic way. Yet, the groove is never lost here.

Review by Gary Hill Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
- Gary Hill


"2011 June Review You Ariel Publicity"

This is an incredibly talented group. The sound they create is diverse and often experimental. Yet, despite the far reaching explorations the group show, there is still an accessible quality to their sound. Those looking for a quick explanation or comparison might be placated with a simple “Red Hot Chili Peppers type music,” but really this band stretches further than the Chili Peppers ever did, both in terms of musical styles and instrumentation.

This is truly creative music. Perhaps a closer explanation can be found by calling this a merging of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with Frank Zappa, jazz and Soul II Soul. In fact, that leaves an open enough swath to cover pretty much everything on this disc. It wouldn’t be out of the question to call this album progressive rock, at least in the respect that it is progressive in terms of stretching the boundaries of rock music. There are a few moments here that actually touch pretty directly on that genre, too.

With the amount of musical diversity on show, it’s likely that different listeners will be attracted to different parts of the set. The thing is, in terms of quality, it’s all equal, and at an exceptionally high standard. This is experimental and expansive music, but the talent never wavers. Of course, with that span of musical range, it’s also likely that listeners will never get a feeling of monotony or boredom from the album.

The lyrics of the set seem to stretch well beyond the mundane and reach into the realms of political and social discourse and spiritual topics. This is, at times, heady stuff. Yet, it’s all held together with music that keeps it accessible.

In some ways, recommending specific tracks here is a futile approach. That’s because, as mentioned before, each listener’s musical history and tastes will come into play. Overall, though, the opener “Feed the Lie” and closer “Philosophical Part 2” seem among the strongest numbers on show. In some ways, putting such strong pieces as the first and last thing heard, makes the whole set feel that much more effective.

The truth, though, is that every song on the set is exceptionally strong. There’s just such a wide range of musical expression that the listening experience will be deeply influenced by personal tastes. This release, though, shows that SCiZZORMAN is a musical force not to ignore. The songwriting and talent are formidable. Perhaps fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Frank Zappa will be the ones who “get” the album the quickest, but the appeal should stretch to all fans of creative and unique music.

This is also one of those releases that benefits from repeated listening. With added familiarity the mix of sounds and the complexity of the music works better. That is often true of some of the best music to be found. This album is likely to make the “best of 2011” lists of more than a few reviewers. It’s that good, and not in a pop sense, but in a real artistic way. Yet, the groove is never lost here.

Review by Gary Hill Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
- Gary Hill


"2011 WAMI Music Festival Video Showcase"

Video for Aunt McClucky from forthcoming album AWAKE TO DREAM on day & night rotation from 21-28 May at the WAMI Music Festival Perth, Western Australia. Featured on the big screen at the Northbridge Piazza on 22 May 2011 - Amicko Films


"2011 WAMI Music Festival Video Showcase"

Video for Aunt McClucky from forthcoming album AWAKE TO DREAM on day & night rotation from 21-28 May at the WAMI Music Festival Perth, Western Australia. Featured on the big screen at the Northbridge Piazza on 22 May 2011 - Amicko Films


"2011 WAMI Music Festival Video Showcase"

'A colourful and refreshing take on the video clip genre, it was a delight discovering Scizzorman's playful clip'. - Amy Broadfoot: Australian Manager/ Future Shorts & General Manager/ Amicko Films


"2011 WAMI Music Festival Video Showcase"

'A colourful and refreshing take on the video clip genre, it was a delight discovering Scizzorman's playful clip'. - Amy Broadfoot: Australian Manager/ Future Shorts & General Manager/ Amicko Films


"2005 National MusicOz Awards"

SCiZZORMAN debut single BUBBLE from self-titled album nominated as Finalist in the World Music Category - SCiZZORMAN


"2005 National MusicOz Awards"

SCiZZORMAN debut single BUBBLE from self-titled album nominated as Finalist in the World Music Category - SCiZZORMAN


"2007 USA College Radio Report"

" ... 80 stations have added the record. WLHS (Liberty Township,OH) charted the disc at #12 on their Top 30, and you also have support from WMPG, KRSC, WTCC, WSYC, KSMR and many more. These stations are spread across the US, indicating widespread support for the album." - Planetary Group


"2007 USA College Radio Report"

" ... 80 stations have added the record. WLHS (Liberty Township,OH) charted the disc at #12 on their Top 30, and you also have support from WMPG, KRSC, WTCC, WSYC, KSMR and many more. These stations are spread across the US, indicating widespread support for the album." - Planetary Group


Discography

SCiZZORMAN Self-Titled 11 Track CD!
AWAKE TO DREAM follow up 12 track Digipack!

Debut single 'Bubble' Finalist - National MusicOz Awards!

COMPILATIONS 2012:
Awake to Dream: Diversity Music Group - Epic After Dark CD
Awake to Dream: Songsalive! CD Sampler 12
Truth under Handshakes:Songsalive! CD Sampler 12

RADIO 2011:
Awake to Dream & Goddess Child - Pongid Radio
Goddess Child & Goodbye - Midnight Special Blues Radio
Truth under Handshakes - Indie104 - iRADIO LA
Truth under Handshakes - TheEdgeOnAir.com

MANTS ME BACK for Nemo Boston sampler
ELEPHANTS video for OZGIGS DVD Sampler
GOODBYE for Fremantle Sailing Festival Launch

AUNT McCLUCKY on Rage ABCTV

Photos

Bio

Core members Terry Vinci & Hugh Bartley, bring together a myriad of exceptional artists to deliver an open approach to musical creativity. Their ability to work with different Artists, reflects the variety of sound on offer. SCIZZORMAN has a self-titled CD with 11 unique tracks, with 'Bubble' being voted as a Finalist in the National MusicOz Awards. A new animated video from the forthcoming release, AWAKE TO DREAM, has been released, receiving airplay on Rage ABC TV. The new album features more diversity as before and delivers a sound hard to pigeon hole. With tracks ranging from the sheer rock glam of GODDESS CHILD to the alluring folk mood of AWAKE TO DREAM to the Bacharach-esque ballad of BALLERINA, there is plenty here to be enlightened by.