Death of the Red Masque EP
Fan
Comments from Rec.Music.Progressive
June 2002
Anyone listen to The Red Masque (http://www.theredmasque.com)? They only have two releases, an EP and a brand new album. It is hard to pin down their sound, but King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator, and H.P. Lovecraft (the author) would appear to be influences. I am still absorbing the new album, but the EP has three long tracks: 2 composed (or mostly composed) pieces, and an improv. I forget the exact line-up, but at the very least, there are guitar, bass, drums, keys, and female vocals.
TRM is among the best new stuff I have heard in a long time. I've never seen any traffic here on rmp about them, and I'm surprised that major distributors such as Ken Golden (Laser's Edge) or Greg Walker (Syn-phonic) don't have them in their online catalogs.
Regards,
--Andy
I just got the TRM EP about a month ago from http://bigballoonmusic.safeshopper.com/
- I was very impressed with how Lynnette Shelley's vocals brought
the music togther - their influences seem to come from Univers
Zero, King Crimson and VDGG however, I feel they go out of their
way to achieve a sound that is unique which comes out of their
improvisations. I hope to pick up their full-length CD this
weekend at Nearfest because the music, from what I hear, evolves
beyond the EP's sound further into unchartered waters - for
RIO and Crimson fans - you may definitely want to check them
out because I feel, with some support, they will continue to
be heard from in the future!!
--Raymond D
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Fan
Comments from Progressive
Ears
June 2002
...Also can't say enough about The Red Masque, whose EP I also just got. Lynette, your voice is not at all what I expected...it's always a trip to read people's writing, and then to actually hear them, or even funnier, meet them! The Red Masque is really powerful stuff...I hear the VDGG darkness and majesty...as well as many other influences...but the end-result is truly unique.
Kudos to you all...as I continue to listen, I hope to comment on some of the other offerings...and I guess I'll have to put .... the Red Masque's new LP on my "Must Have" list...ah, well.......
--WideOpenEars
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Polish
Art Rock Net
June 2002
Kindly translated from Polish to English by Adam Baruch of www.jazzis.com.
The Red Masque is quite a new name which recently appeared on the US avant-prog scene. Their creative output, as they describe it themselves, is influenced by music from horror movies, RIO, zeuhl, goth, improvisation and art-rock. The group's debut was the release of "Tidal", which was warmly received by critics, issued on the "Progressive Ears" compillation, and which also opens this EP.
And it really
starts like a sound track of a horror movie: mysterious bangs,
whistles, solitary string notes, phrases seemingly out of context,
and a high tone whining by the vocalist. All this slowly grows,
creating a dark, scarry atmosphere, only to develop after a
few minutes into a devilishly broken avant-prog rhythm. All
this has in it a bit of King Crimson, some Univers Zero, but
it's also abvious that the group has its own identity and strives
to develop its own style, which by the way works pretty well
for them. Large part of this success is due to ther vocalist
whose voice brings to mind a cross over between Diamanda Galas
and Anna Meek from Catapill, but is not as much extreme. The
out of tune keyboards also create an additional effect to the
crazed climat of the tune.
Next comes the over 13 minutes long "A Moon Falls", which start in a strangely innocent, quiet and melodic, but as we can easily guess, this is misleading, since very soon it's apparent that this is only one of the many faces, which this tune has in store. Slowly the acoustic parts become intertwined with ferrocious guitar and a mass of twisted rhythms. This one is quite different from the previous tune mainly due to the much more extensive use of keyboards, which with their organ sounds add to the ghotic and dark climate.
The EP ends with the improvisation "Ways", which basically consists mostly of dysonant guitar noise, which in certain moments resembles the last project by the musicians of GBYE "Set Fire To Flames". On can hear that the whole piece has an improvisational character, in the backgroud there are irregular pecussive outbursts, appeaarances of surreal vocals, which towards the end generate an almost ambient climate.
Very, very promising release and group. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the EP has a relatively shorp playing time, but this material is a great fun to listen to!! The group has a unique identity and style and interesting ideas and already I can't wait for the promised next EP. A very special meritt goest to the dark, crazed, schisophrenic climate of the compositions, mostly eveident on the tune "Tidal" opening the album. Especially recommended to the fans of Univers Zero, Thinking Plague, or simply everybody who loves those "sick" sounds. Spine chill guaranteed!
PS: EP is available through Musea Records and I recommend to visit the group's web site.
8 out of 10 stars.
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Progression
Magazine
Spring 2002 Issue
Lynnette Shelley's strident, quirky vocal delivery dominates proceedings on this very curious three-track offering by way of introduction to East Coast proggers The Red Masque. DOTRM is very impressionistic-equal parts dissonant art-rock, spacey psychedelic and symphonic, delivered with theatrical flair...a bit of processed guitar here ("Tidal"), some gothic-flavored organ flourishes there ("A Moon Falls"), and a sense of proggy adventurism throughout. It's capped off by an improvised freakout, "Ended Ways."
Portions of these tracks are brilliant, but compositional coherency proves a bit elusive on the first two epics. Plenty of promise here, though-it'll be interesting to see what this quintet comes up with on their first full release.
- Dartanyan
Cousteau
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Fan
Comments
May 2002
IMHO, Red Masque is intensely - very cool stuff - which I just got turned onto via The Philly Music Homepage earlier last week.
They have a singer who can - GASP- actually sing!
Plus, it sure looks like they have tastefully competent musicians/instrumentalists who can authentically handle borderline - noise - ambience and complex melody - including - clever and simple song structures with both ease and comfort without the amateurish indulgence of noodling-digital/analog-delay pedal cliches or the bitter prog-rock aftertastes associated with the style of music they play.
Here is a band who has clear & definite influences, but rather their influences don't seem to have them held hostage.
Red Masque isn't "derrivative" ( Derrivative = evil = bad = pathetic ) as much as it is evocative ( Evocative = Good = Desired = more than just the sums emulated and or copied ) - this is all a series of good things I see happening here w/ Red Masque which is all too rare in any genre of music today.
These guys have got their craft and professional polish very well honed as they take dusty old "psychedelia" and make it seem fresh, new & vital to these Hyper & critical ( some say hypocritical :) and - jaded - ears of mine.
Might it be that Red Masque is finally something outta Philly which is deliberately and - resplendently - way outside - of the all too commonly embraced/espoused "Brain Wilson-Pet Sounds", School of Thinking?
I certainly do hope so & I really do wanna catch Red Masque Live and in Person.
i would also emphatically say that Center City needs more bands which play in this rare realm of both compelling "quality" and "masterful proficiency" featured more in the ..."more adventurous", live music joints both in and around town.
Warm
Regards,
John Price/AKASH
www.akashmusic.com
www.mp3.com/akashmusic
http://stations.mp3s.com/stations/210/akashradio.html
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Progressive
Ears
May 2002
I
just heard The Red Masque for the first time tonight after downloading
Tidal off
mp3.com. I listened to the entirety and now know why people
are nutz about TRM! Man, it (music through the Inet) just all
gets cooler by the minute. For those of you that were not seriously
into collecting music 20 years ago, plundering through the waste
deep rubbish & commercial ersatz media bombardment, you
have no clue just how wonderful this Inet business is. By directly
exploring and sampling esoteric sources of music you can actually
cut through the BS and support the groups to further the expansive
progressive cause. For many true ARTISTS such as Lynnette, my
hat is off as I bow as far as I can bend in your direction,
for carrying a virtuous musical torch that must have seemed
to impose an unbearable amount of weight at times. When you
simply had to "beat the band", no pun intended, to
get people to wake up and listen. I salute you and all those
that have worked hard to promote this wonderful music that is
no less than art in all mediums!
Jeff
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ZNR
CDS
February 2002
Nice little
CDR introduction to a new American band. Three tracks of slighty
dark prog rock ranging from Gong-ish space explorations to VDGG
inspired intensity. Singer Lynnette Shelley has a sultry alto
voice that sorta sounds like Grace Slick in her early Jefferson
Airplane days crossed with a more classically trained voice.
A welcome repose from all the Annie Haslam-like sopranos that
make-up the rather sparse population of female prog vocalists.
This is definitely a band to watch! The disc is 34 mins long
and has nice artwork & labeling.
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Prog
4 You
February 2002
...Obviously inspired by the Edgar Alan Poe story "The Masque Of Red Death", among other literary ingredients evident in their music. I particularly get a feel of the man adrift and desperate at sea; so Taylor Coleridge is clearly present there somewhere... Improvisational, atmospheric, dissonant and jarringly creepy music.... They don't aim to please anyone but themselves....
...The disc definitely has things, which I really enjoyed. I can't help but imagine this sort of music being played at a weird, highly decadent S&M party in someone's dungeon ... At times, it plays like much of the early-extended Floydian jams, circa Ummagumma ... I will encourage folks who dig RIO and other similar sonic oddity to check them out. For the rest, proceed with caution!
Their website is actually quite nice (though it is also Pretentious), and it's a good place to read more and hear what these musical freaks are cooking up.
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Zoltan's
Progressive Rock Webpage
Reviewed by: Steve Hegede, December
2001
Top
10 Prog albums(both studio and live) for 2001
1. Dreadnaught - The American Standard
2. Tie...KoenjiHyakkei - NIVRAYM/Ruins - Live at Kichijoji Mandala
II
3. Tie...The Red Masque - Death of
the Red Masque EP/ Sh'mantra - Formula Orange
4. La Torre dell'Alchimista - Same
5. ARTSRUNI - Live
6. DFA - work in progress live
7. Cast - Castalia
8. Paranoise - Ishq
9. Land of Chocolate - Unikorn on the Cob
10. Lunar Philharmonic - Songs of Home
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Progressive
Ears
December 2001
"Death of the Red Masque" is so easily the best new release of 2001 that it's really not even funny. Yes, there are a lot of other great new releases this year but, IMO, it's clearly the best ... I was blown away by their performance at pre-Near Fest '01 and the CD captures a lot of the power and emotion of their performance. Been a fan from the first note I heard.
Brian White, Wichita, Kansas
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The
Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock
Reviewed by: Fred Trafton, December 2001
The Red Masque have an EP that is available from both MP3.com and Musea named Death of the Red Masque. Or, you can do what I did and download all three cuts from the MP3.com site and build your own version of the EP. It's worth the work, or if you don't have a CDR burner, it's well worth the pittance they're asking for the DAM CD.
This music is a mixture of avant-garde anarchy, metallic guitar (in a Crimsonesque sort of way) stylings, and a dash of space-rock improv. Imagine the early noisy guitar-oriented music of Daevid Allen (Camembert Electrique era Gong or Bananamoon), but without the glissandoz guitar; add some early Hawkwind space metal (e.g. Doremi Fasol Latido) to the mix. Finally, add Lynette Shelly's soprano vocals which can switch from breathy, wordless operatic loftiness to Janis Joplin growl at any moment. A dash of gothic feel (a particularly interesting pipe organ section) and you have the vaguest of ideas about what this band sounds like. Heavy, chaotic, dense and quite captivating. I'm sure they're a blast to see live ... too bad I missed their pre-NEARfest concert in 2001, but I got to Allentown too late to see them.
This
EP is clearly only a hint of things to come, and they are working
on an album as of this writing... This album will contain an
extended version of "A Moon Falls" from their EP,
as well as some live favorites and several improvised tracks.
I'll be looking forward to it. In the meantime, click on over
to MP3.com and check out the EP. I hope you like it as much
as I did.
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The
Giant Progweed
Reviewed by: Greg Northrup, November 2001
The Red Masque is a fledgling avant-progressive band from Philadelphia that, while bearing influences from Rock-In-Opposition, Zeuhl and King Crimson's more experimental moments, also introduces more surprising traits such as semi-gothic atmospheres and a biting metallic undercurrent. The Death of the Red Masque is a promising debut release from the group, serving as a statement of intent by means of their unique approach, as well as hinting at a well of brilliance smoldering just beneath the surface. The music is heavily angular, aggressive and dark, highlighted by the stark, haunting delivery of vocalist Lynette Shelley, and complemented by a churning, forceful musical backdrop; punctual, repetitive bass and drum rhythms along with walls of searing guitar that float across the mix.
Certainly,
being the band's first release, there are some areas that keep
this from being completely solid, but the important thing is
that the group has a idiosyncratic, experimental approach that
will undoubtedly bear fruit in the future. Firstly, the album
is rather short, and while the two composed pieces are enjoyable,
I would gladly have sacrificed the ten minute improv for the
opportunity of hearing another full piece. In addition, compositionally
speaking, The Red Masque lack the kind of dynamic, sophisticated
approach of bands like Thinking Plague, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic
or Henry Cow, fans of which will probably make up much of the
band's potential audience. By that I mean that my impression
is that the band comes from more of a "rock" angle
as opposed to the base of 20th century classical, heavily composed
experimentation and tonal and rhythmic oddity that makes those
other bands so damn invigorating. Rather, The Red Masque's music
seems to begin as rock songs, with "noisier" sensibilities
overlaid upon the basic structure, such as grating guitar or
Shelley's haunting voice, rather than evoking dissonance or
experimentation by the laying of the notes in and of themselves.
That said, the approach works from time to time, as closer "A
Moon Falls" illustrates. Here, the band band builds to
a series of melodic climaxes that essentially represent the
emotional peaks of the release. Great stuff. For me, the aforementioned
"Ended Ways" improvisational piece does not work as
well, generally droning, abstract sounds that lack a sense of
any kind of instrumental interplay. That could work in the context
of a full length, but for a short release such as this I'd rather
hear a proper composition.
Death of the Red Masque is not
in the same league as many of the other phenomenal avant-progressive
albums of the last few years, though for a debut EP release,
it is promising. A little tightening up and a focus on arrangements
while retaining the intense Mardi-Gras-Gone-To-Hell atmospheric
and spatial talents of the band could result in a very solid
full length album in the near future.
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European
Progressive Rock Reviews
November
2001
The Red Masque originate from Philadelphia. This EP is a highly interesting combination of ideas, with infectious rip roaring riffs from the guitars, keys and mini moog which blend with the harp and in turn create varying mood swings of sometimes frightening dimensions. The music portrays many styles such as metal-tinged prog and dark gothic passages that on occasions cross into Eastern block pagan rhythms and eventually end up in psychedelic areas. The end result is, on occasions the music almost makes you feel like staying indoors on dark nights.
This music grabbed me instantly and was a welcome change. The
vocals of Lynnette Shelley give these tracks a surreal edge
with her banshee wails and siren calls that soon entice you
into her web, they work brilliantly. I was almost disappointed
when this EP finished, although the track "Ended Ways"
did go over the top slightly in its portrayal of psychedelic
eerie sounds.
Still, that is only a minor point as "A Moon Falls"
and "Tidal" more than make up for the aforementioned
chaotic/nightmarish landscape visions.
A band to keep an eye on. 75%
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Sonic
Curiosity
Reviewed
by: Matt Howarth, October 2001
Hailing from Philadelphia, the Red Masque craft a dark form of avant garde progrock that explodes with sparkling appeal.
The first track, "Tidal", commences with a pleasant abstraction that sets a moody stage for the drama to come. When things go coherent and melodic, rich vocals croon amid a seething pool of searing guitar and hyperactive percussives and rumbling bass and sultry keyboards. There is a Fripp-mastery to the snarling guitar that grabs the attention and vibrates the soul with compelling riffs.
The second track, "Ended Ways", is mainly instrumental. It swarms upon the listener with dynamic impact. Grating but sinuous guitar ascends to break through mystery-shrouded clouds. Frantic yet sensual drumming cascades with impulsive command, establishing driving rhythms that plunge off into seemingly chaotic snake-pits. Amid these chasms of ominous darkness there surges a spacey air mixing with cosmic desperation, a sound struggles (and wins) to coalesce with fervent passion and triumphant victory over pandemonium. The final passage of this piece achieves a soaring calm that maintains a inspiring agitation as the sonics fade into a higher plane of wisdom and peace.
The final track is "A Moon Falls". It begins with delicate guitar and vocal airs that convey strong renaissance sensibilities. This fanciful mood builds into grandiose proportions with dense keyboards and electrified guitar and growling bass and momentous drumming. Lyrical vocals communicate intricate and prosaic emotions, leading to a powerful passage of epic percussion and keyboard grandeur. Throughout it all, the guitar swims like a friendly but dangerous shark. Church organ resounds to produce a breather for the listener, peppered with sultry guitar slidings. Then the song returns to an ascendant structure, unfurling masterful prog-rock tones and lyrical content for a riveting conclusion.
This is quite a astounding debut release that fuses Fairport Convention with King Crimson--and pulls it off with considerable style and acumen.
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ProgFreaks.com
Reviewed by: Marcelo Silveyra, September 2001
Weird, bizarre, demented, over the edge. All fitting expressions to describe The Red Masque's debut EP, Death of the Red Masque. Did I forget to mention Chtulu-cool? Well, add that one to the list too, because it's sure as all hell included. In these days when a good hook is worth millions, and the vast majority of new progressive rock acts stay within relatively "safe" parameters, this Philadelphia quintet has just turned its back on traditional harmony and prettiness, lit a destructive Molotov cocktail, and in a macabre glee thrown it behind, sending static conformity sky high. Zero for the home team, one for the visitors.
The Red Masque is admittedly a band with a style that will undoubtedly
be hard to stomach for most out there. Then again, any group
that can be referenced in one way or another to RIO and Zeuhl
isn't exactly going to be just anybody's cup of tea. Certainly
not Winston Churchill's, who'd probably take it upon himself
to eradicate the whole of Philadelphia in a blinding fit of
fury after listening to ten seconds of Death of the Red Masque,
but, ahem, forgetting nonsensical historical references for
a moment, this EP could easily qualify as one of those nightmarish
fevers that sick souls enjoy. Lynnete Shelley's ghost-like vocals
drift in and out of chaotic and unexpected musical changes,
dissonance reigns supreme after short bouts with melody and
sane harmony, Steven Blumberg's guitar sounds like the despaired
wails of a revenant, and the heaviest and most jagged riffs
this side of Black Flag jump out of nowhere like a wild boar
on amphetamines.
A word of warning though. If I mentioned that this could be
hard to stomach for some out there, it's certainly not because
it's heavy, dissonant, or unique. It's because, excepting the
more accessible passages of "A Moon Falls," where
majestic progressions appear sporadically throughout, a certain
eerie vibe reminiscent of goth metal stalwarts Moonspell floats
menacingly, and a hint of King Crimson is mixed in the musical
paraphernalia that The Red Masque commands, this is nowhere
near standard. For those interested in a band that would have
scared the living hell out of H.P. Lovecraft himself via dissonance,
clashing elements of harmony, and an intense female vocalist,
however, this is what you've been waiting for.
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Progressive
Music Society,
September 2001
Is there anyone here who has still not tried this young band from Philadelphia, then please DO IT NOW! The great news is that The Red Masque have just received an email of intention to [distribute] from Musea Records, and will be working on an album for release [next spring].
The Red Masque are very dark and original. Their debut EP is available from the following link (http://www.mp3.com/the_red_masque) and has been in heavy rotation since I received it last week. Lynnette Shelley reminds me at times of a proggified Siouxsie Sioux, which a very deep and powerful, almost operatic, voice. This band is not one that is afraid of taking risks and the three songs on this EP each have a very distinct personality. The opening three minutes remind me a little of Genesis' "The Waiting Room", while the second track is amongst the best post-rock that I've heard - an extremely original guitar style is employed throughout. The final track is in one word GOTHIC - an extended VDGG influenced prog classic in the making.
But these comparisons with other bands do a disservice to The Red Masque. Their sound is their own, and they are definitely among those rare beasts that are actually expanding the boundaries of what we call music in an original and adventurous manner.
Rob
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Zoltan's
Progressive Rock Webpage
Reviewed by: Steve Hegede, August 2001
The Red Masque are an avant-prog 5-piece(g/b/k/d/v) group from Philadelphia, and The Death of the Red Masque is their new 3-song EP. After my first listen, I was quite impressed with this group's direction. The music here tends to mix Krautrock-like experimentation, American avant-garde(John Cage, Henry Cowell, and Cecil Taylor), and King Crimson's(or if you would like, Bubu) dramatic instrumental interplay with Gong's spaced-out psychedelia. Each of the lengthy tracks on the EP offers a different musical exploration. The first track, for example, starts off with a John Cage-like build-up, that includes Gongs and other percussive instruments, but soon the band enters a lengthy avant-prog section featuring dissonant vocals, and unpredictable instrumental turns(sounding like a mellower Il Balleto Di Bronzo). The second track slowly builds intensity until it explodes into a colorful, Gong-like, space-rock jam. The third track, which comes closest to pure prog rock, reminded me of a mixture of Faust and Bubu. All of the musicians in this band are impressive, but there are two that really stand out. The first one is vocalist Lynnette Shelley. Her voice brought Thinking Plague's Deborah Perry and Rufus's Gudny Aspaas(from the album New Born Day) to mind. Lynnette's vocals are dissonant, soulful, theatrical, and generally unpredictable. Her lower register, and avoidance of 12-tone like melodies, also gives the music an eerie sound that is different from standard RIO and avant-garde classical. The other musician to stand out is guitarist Steven Blumberg. His style leans more towards the avant-garde side of the wall, as he has the tendency to use his guitar to create noises, and sound explorations, that sound like something out of Faust's The Faust Tapes or one of the early Amon Duul II records. Many sections also feature heavier, riff-oriented, guitar lines. Overall, this group really stands out. The Red Masque will appeal to fans of RIO, 70s krautrock, and complex progressive rock.
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Progressive
World
Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, July 2001
The Red Masque aren't what I was expecting, though I can't exactly tell you what I was expecting. Perhaps I was expecting another Ameri-prog band in the mold of Echolyn, Spock's Beard or Tristan Park, or something. But instead The Red Masque's sound is arty, avant-garde prog along the lines of King Crimson, if even more angular than that. Vocalist Lynette Shelley sounds like a Lana Lane possessed by Siouxsie Sioux, Martha Davies, Ann Wilson, and Laurie Anderson. A very rich, deep, and sultry voice but not at all masculine. The music itself is very angular with a metal ferocity without the metal attack. Although there wasn't an official pre-NEARfest show, The Red Masque and Land Of Chocolate played a pseudo-pre-NEARfest date. This band would have fit snuggly in between Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic, Djam Karet and White Willow, with more emphasis on those first two. There's a raw power here that is quite attractive, it's like a brutal accident that you can't tear your eyes away from as the bodies are splayed quite spectacularly in positions you didn't think were possible for the body to be in. Well, that's just the first track, "Tidal," of this three track EP.
"A Moon Falls," begins as a much gentler tune, light and lyrical with shimmering percussion, high and airy vocals from Shelley, and harp. There's a medieval feel here that seems more right for my expectations, but...never fear, this band is soon back to it brutal, beautiful self. Mastermind suddenly came to mind, though I think The Red Masque are little more eccentric in their arrangements. This medieval is evocative of how it must have been, dark, harsh, dirty, dangerous ... not the stuff of fairy tales. The Red Masque throw in a lot of stuff here, as you get some heavy symphonics here, too, the underside of Yes, the Yes that Yes doesn't show...Yes gone over the edge. Those keys are courtesy Nathan-Andrew Dewin who also plays harp (perhaps that wasn't acoustic guitar then?). Rounding out this Pennsylvania-based quintet are Steve Blumberg on guitar, Kevin Kelly on drums and percussion, and Brandon Ross on bass...here these three together, you can't help but think they were at least a little bit influenced by the mighty Crimson.
"Ended Ways" is said to be an improv track -- this is so angular as to be abstract. Sheets of searing metallic guitar shred over booming bass and pounding drums, taking this into prog metal realms, the pulse of it almost hypnotic. Then, as the furies are slowly subsiding we get keening guitars and keyboard effects swirling about in a temporarily contained eddy, the entity it is howling for release. Drums and percussion provide sit below the demonic presence, in a strange area of calm. But, it is a calm this is slowly, almost imperceptibly shrinking -- in that the musical space between guitar-keys-bass-wordless vocals and the drums-percussion is growing smaller. Spatially, as the floor and ceiling are slowly coming together, joining the two masses together. By the end of the track, the calm has subsumed the fury...ended ways, indeed. But it all leaves you curious as to what happens next, where the band goes next.
All in all, this some terrific stuff that I really recommend you check out. It might be a little thick for those who like music with more breathing room, but if you want an intense sonic experience, then this is your band. This isn't the Death Of The Red Masque as the album is called, but the birth, and you get to play witness to it.
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September 2001
PEOPLE!!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME SPONSORING PROG ROCK WANNA BE'S. RED MASQUE IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF PROG, THIS IS THE STUFF, THIS DA BOMB, THIS DA SHIT!!!!!!
Omar G.
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September 2001
For all you folks that haven't heard this new progressive band you need to. The Red Masque is really one of the few new prog bands that I've listened to in the last three years (and believe me, I've listened to a lot) that gives me hope for the direction of "truely progressive music." Most of the so-called new prog bands coming out are simply rehashing old school prog or playing a watered down version with sappy cliches thrown in at random hoping that with a few time changes, folks will flock to buy their album.
Not this band. Truely fresh and they do something I've long admired in some prog bands and that is they let the guitar add texture and atmosphere instead of being the dominant instrument. Wonderfully dense, dark and moody stories filled with awe. Lynnette sings some of the best female vocals I've heard in a long time. Awesome bass and drumming laying a wonderful bed for the vocals to intertwine with the keys.
Can't wait for the full-fledged LP as this three sogn EP simply just leaves me wanting more. Fans of RIO i.e. Thinking Plague/ Henry Cow/ 5UU's/ Totem/ Univers Zero/ Art Zoyd would be wise to add this band to your musical collection.
Mike - suppers_ready101@yahoo.com
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June 2001
After about 15 good listens of this wonderful new prog band, I need to re-review this cool new progressive band. I guess it helps if your an HPL [h.P. Lovecraft] fan but not required for pure musical enjoyment. This next comment is solely my opinion and not meant too inflame members of this band. This band has such awsome potential and really shows it on this way too short EP. It really is hard to lump this band into a sub-genre of Prog because they have kinda carved out a new niche in the Progressive rock vocabulary.
Fans of Symphonic/AG/Improve/Technical/RIO/ - I feel handcuffed using these terms as the band is completly fresh, drawing off "many" influnces and yet being totally themselves. (Rare in New Prog) Brillant and tastfull muscainship from all. And there's a lot to listen for.This isn't reading music. I implore members of this room to seek out and support this "bloody brillant prog band"
Mike - suppers_ready101@yahoo.com
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Progressive
Ears
June 2001
I met I believe 3 of the members of this brillant new prog band at NF [NEAR Fest] and now wish I had made it to the Fri. night pre show. After 5 listens I'm still digesting the nuances of this wonderful band. Space rock/Zehul/chunky prog (Red)/Symphonic all have a place here. Wonderful female atonal vocals, loads of percussion and a great drummer provide the backdrop for some serious axe riffing. Lots of post rock/space textures happening all over the place that lend an almost soundscape feel going on in the background. I can think of at least 4 bands this band could have easily replaced at NEAR Fest and the band should have Headlined over PT [Porcupine Tree]. (My point in an earlier post about junk being adored and brillance being ignored).They have all the songs from their EP on their web site for download and I encourage all members here that are fans of Magma/Univers Zero/Present/KC/VDGG/Thinking Plague to give them a listen. I want to be the first guy to know when a full length LP comes out. Truly a fresh approach on a genre that in many ways seems to be stuck in rehashing the past. 11 stars out of 10.
Mike - suppers_ready101@yahoo.com
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Fan Comments
August 2001
comments: Just got your CD a couple days ago in the mail (Thanks so much!!) WOW!!! To call this overpoweringly stark and darkly beautiful and inventive would be an understatement!! Great job, keep up the great work!! Pop is for WIMPS!!!!
Phil McKenna, Owlsounds.com
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Fan Comments
July 2001
Comments: OK...it's been about 3 weeks since I picked up a copy of your EP at the pre NEARfest show. I have a problem with it...a BIG problem with it! How in the heck did you folks expect us to actually get this disc out of our CD players? Since I got back in town I've been listening to it almost non-stop!!! It's one of the best CDs from a new band that I've heard in a long, LONG time!!! In fact I like it so much that the other 20 or so discs I picked up at the festival have hardly received any play at all!!! Now I've got over $200 worth of new CDs sitting around, basically being ignored, all because your EP is SO AWESOME!!! (chuckle) Anyway, thanks again for a great show at CrocRock (one of my personal highlights from the entire weekend was your set) and especially thanks for the EP!!! I look forward to hearing more of your music in the future! Best of luck to all of you and, if you ever get to Kansas, drinks and cheesecake will be on me!
Brian White, Wichita, Kansas
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June 2001
The Italian Web zine, Stargazer (www.stargazer.it), has published a review of the The Red Masque's new EP, Death Of The Red Masque, in it's new edition. For an English translation, read below:
Founded in April of this year, The Red Masque are one of the many new progressive outfits coming out of the USA of lately, with ever interesting musical ideas by their side. This debut EP is made of three long compositions showing us a band playing a kind of indefinable sound, not easy to digest at the first listen. Dissonances, only a little melody, dark moods, experimentations and quite a lot of improvisation: these are the main ingredients of Red Masque, who describe their music as "intense and angular". This definition might seem a bit vague, but it's true that these adjectives to suit well a piece like "Tidal", whose dark and oppressing moods are perhaps a reflection of the Cthulhu mythos it sings about. "A Moon Falls" is a bit more structured song, with an acoustic opening and a frequent use of big, church-like organs that reminded me of Swedish band like Anekdoten: quite a brilliant piece, I must say. An improvised song called "Ended Ways" closes this disc, paying a much more clear tribute to Red Masque's influences (audible throughout the 3 songs), from King Crimson ("Red" era) to Van Der Graaf Generator. They are just beginning, but I see a lot of potential in The Red Masque's music: to give a complete judgment, we should wait for a full length album or some other material, but for the time being all the prog-heads out there should check out this band. In their website you can find some musical clips.
Lorenzo
Capellini
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Budzilla Productions
May 2001
The eerie prog is not dead and The Red Masque proves it tonight!
-Ed Jones
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Jonn Buzby, Land of Chocolate
May 2001
The Red Masque, an angular 5-piece from Philly, PA, features an intense blend of avant rock, Red-era Crimson-like passages, and ethereal and intense song structures that recall Crimson, Floyd, and Van Der Graaf Generator... if you like female-fronted eerie prog, and lengthy and angular song structures, you will love The Red Masque!