Customer Reviews

Hammerstrike

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With instrumental music, there is always the risk that the music will not be able to fill and entire album and serve as a complete work. If the instrumental sound is too one sided or flat then an albm can fall woefully short due to the single dimension sound that a band or performer is able to fill into a purely instrumental album. But when a band is able to master a solid instrumental uniqueness that truly forms a niche presence for itself in the music industry then a heightened brilliance to what instrumental albums are capable of shines through.

The band Lotus has a very individualistic sound on their album Hammerstrike. Though there is just a spattering of tracks with some vocal involvement on it, the majority of the album allows the instrumentation to do the talking for the band. There is a very danceable feel to the music of Hammerstrike and the blending of electronica, jazz and a pop-rock sound really pans out nicely for the band. The end product of the mixing of forces for the band is an album that has a distinct sound that is both enjoyable and powerful.

After listening to this album it is easy to see why Lotus draws a rather diverse and large demographic to its live shows since there is a vitality to their music that makes the listener really get into the music of the band. With each track the music becomes more and more impressive and wraps the listener up in an appreciation for the instrumental sounds that the band is capable of. The remarkable thing about this album is that though each track is varied from the next there is a uniform excellence to the overall production of the album that holds true from beginning to end.

Members of Lotus include Steve Clemens, Chuck Morris, Mike Rempel, Luke Miller and Jesse Miller.

The album starts off nicely with the track Behind Midwest Storefronts which is a great introductory glance into the music of Lotus. This track has a perhaps a bit less of a dance scene instrumental sound to it than others on the track but it serves as the ideal introduction into the album since the music is sort of warm, soft and inviting. With a nice repetitive guitar sound clearly at work on the track, the guitar sound brings the listener through the track and serves sort of as the welcome mat to the rest of the album.

Age of Inexperience is one of the tracks on the album that does in fact bring a vocal component into the album. There is a sort of distant and almost club feel to the vocals on this track that almost seems to detract from the rest of the album. It seems as though the band almost could have left this track off as there was not a need to throw vocals into the album.

Alkaline is a quirky little track that encompasses a real electronic sound to the instrumentation. With a sort of old school Nintendo vibe to the music, the band branches out a bit more to show a more modern feel that could perhaps serve as a nice backdrop sound in a posh club perhaps. The beat to this track is very fast and serves sort of as a musical mind trip thanks in parts to the non-traditional sounds that work their way throughout the track. Nonetheless, though different in nature the music is still solidly performed and translates on the album nicely.

Track listing:

1. Behind Midwest Storefronts
2. Age of Inexperience
3. Hammerstrike
4. Bellwether
5. Modicum
6. Invincibility of Youth
7. One Last Hurrah
8. Alkaline
9. Turquoise
10. Disappear in a Blood-Red Sky

After listening to Hammerstrike by Lotus one clearly gains an appreciation for what instrumental music is capable of. Though this kind of instrumental sound might indeed not be for everyone, the music of Lotus is the ideal music to throw on while in the office and simply let the music work in the background of all the clutter and noise around. The music brings the listener into the album nicely and the listener is left appreciating the capacity that this band has to reach into so many different genres of music to create an album that while being varied and unique is still polished and complete.

Hammerstrike is on the Sci Fidelity Records label. For more information about Lotus, check out their website at http://www.lotusvibes.com/.

this is a great listening cd. ive personally have never listened to a studio album of theres, only a 2 disc live album. i would definatly recommend is to any lotus fan.

Awesome album by Lotus. Like most cds I have my favorites, but overall it was greatly enjoyable. Couldn't stop dancing to Age of Inexperience and Bellwether and catch a little bit of nostalgia everytime with Behind Midwest Storefronts. Definitely a must for any Lotus fans.

Lovin this CD where ever I go and whatever I do!!! Can't wait to see them at Wakarusa!!! Absolute music heaven!!!

Wakarusa
June 2-5 2011
Mulberry Mountain
Ozark, Arkansas

BE THERE!!!

Lotus is a unique band with an unforgettable and mesmerizing sound. Live concerts are the real deal, but this album has tasty tracks. Bellwether is sweating electric drops of jamtronica