Customer Reviews

Rama 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Warning: this disc is intense and may take several listens before sinking in.

"Mad March" is an upbeat rocker with a repetitive dual guitar line that produces a very cool swirling effect that words can't explain. "Meetings" a vibrant tune has some great solo work. In parts, "Herd Instinct" sounds vaguely similar to a Dregs tune. "Bloomsday" starts heavy but thins out from too much repetition. "Old Meat Frame", the only vocal tune on the disc, is sort of a rappish alternative rock tune. "Memento Mori" another great tune is filled with intriguing changes. "Qubit" is strange. "Government" is another upbeat rock/jazz/prog blend of goodies. Finally, "Resonate" is a mid-tempo jazzy tune.

Recommend for Dregs and Keneally fans.

This is composed instrumental progressive rock with flair and swing. Well thought-out song structure and colorful arrangements. Soloists are used judiciously and with a sensitivity to their strengths. Andy has a long relationship with progressive rock and his history and thoughtful attention to all aspects of this release are evident. While one would expect no less from a musician of Andy's caliber it is always refreshing to hear a fulfilled promise. I am not particularly familiar with the Magna Carta label but I would think that any progressive-rock music label would have been proud to release this one.

Driving, thunderous bass lines with intelligently interwoven guitars and keyboards makes for a mouth-watering anticipation of Rama2. Mike Keneally and Rod Morgenstein bring their respective "A" games to this outstanding effort, and the contributing guitarists and guests help create a seamless hour or so of pleasantly in-your-face tunes. Andy West proves that he has become his own man (if he wasn't before), and he's still got the chops and the sound to deliver music welcomed by at least a few denizens of the third mellinnium. Call it prog-rock if you must, but that's not really doing it justice. I see many a movie-maker calling for soundtracks. The next Matrix is begging for this music. Great stuff!!

Rama 1 is progressive, experimental, kick-butt rock. One would expect no less from Andy West, a rock fusion pioneer back in the day with The Dixie Dregs, who has many musical accomplishments to his name.

Here's hoping there will be a Rama 2, 3, 4...!

The album is an outstanding work of instrumental rock.

Hardly can i speak to the detail of the musiccraft, but it seems to me reminiscent of a myriad of previous work of Andy West, and as a lovely and balanced rock album. I've listened to it over 20 times so far. I would recommend this album to anyone who likes instrumental rock... (like satriani) except more complex.

I hope Andy is planning many more albums of such lovely touch.

I knew Andy West was an excellant bass player having seen and still listen to the Dregs. But this CD toasted my cookies! Killer bass, guitar and keys with three of the best drummers in my book. BUY IT!!!

If you are a fan of the dixie dreggs or not you'll get into this album. By the way, Andy was the bass player for the dixie dreggs. If you like good progressive rock, this is for you. This album takes it to kind of another level with great bass and drum driven songs. Only one tract with lyrcs, this is a musicians album. I highly recomend it to any prog rock fan.

This music is fun and riveting. It's a blast of wakefulness! Great for driving and celebrating sunny days. Hope there's more to come.

Any fan of progressive rock will enjoy this album. Fantastic stuff done with an "ad lib" style. Anything Magna Carta puts out is quality progressive rock! They never let me down!! Buy this and anything Magna Carta!