Online Indie Music Review
Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved.
This review maybe be duplicated and distributed as long as credit is given to the author.
ONOFFON – Reviewed by Graven Nor (11/19/2004)
With a dazzling burst of emotion, this power trio with artist styles ranging from David Sanborn and Santana to Phish, can relax you as well as excite. Brilliantly formed compositions of progressive jazz, rock and new age, leaves the listener entertained and amazed.
In listening to “Opus”, I was delighted with the crisp tones of the gentle waves of crashing guitar caressed with the arrangements of sea-born rhythms. “Opus” is totally peaceful in its delivery and structure. The next song “The Gift Must Always Move” is a continuation of “Opus” in its desire to stand still amongst the aquatic serene. Although these two tracks are instrumental, together they remind me of the surreal epic of “Porcelina of The Vast Oceans” by the Smashing Pumpkins, in the sense of texture and the underwater atmosphere.
While listening to “Weekend in Montreal”, I couldn’t help to think that this track must be telling a story of an argument that goes back and forth, the aggression driven by one side. Then, being reminded by the title, I looked at this track in another way. To me, this track conveys a weekend of two lovers as their weekend climaxes and falls, and then levels out to a great balance. I may be wrong, but this song really had my imagination running wild. A completely emotionally-driven song with its ups and downs, as music should be.
“Shadowglass” is an artistic pondering, unfolding ever so slightly, lurking around the listener. The feeling I got from this track is very nature-based, highlighting the truth of all that is, a nice balance of tone and conception. “Mardi Gras” is just one of those songs that dancers love. A tightly constructed work of fusion, the Latin direction of this song is overwhelming. Listening to this song, I feel I was sitting down in a chair amongst hundreds of Salsa dancers.
ONOFFON is Don Lake - guitars, harmonica, vocals; Von Babasin - bass, keyboards, vocals; and Dave Goode - drums and percussion.
indie.official.ws