STYLE: Ambient/Meditational RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 14861-16172 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Mike Rimmer
Not to be confused with the Brits, this Trip is a solo bassman. He plays his bass with altitude turning it into a lead instrument and creating an album which only has three ""songs", the rest are ambient instrumentals. Kicking off with the rocking "Oh But No". Trip proves to be a passionate singer and this excellent track might lull you into a false sense of security unless you heed this warning! Prepare to be absolutely astonished by what follows! "Non-Amorphous Vertical Density For The Moderately Sagacious", yep. that's the name of the track but it's not just the quirky name of the piece which grabs attention, wait until you hear the car defying feats that Trip performs solo on his instrument! I just about recovered from that one when Boom! "'The Annual Thing" kicks in with more incredible solo playing. This man can do things with a bass that shouldn't be legal! Excuse me sir. I am arresting you for being brilliant on bass in a built up area...would you like to accompany me to the station? Talking of accompaniments, "Sledgecramp 28 In Three Parts" features contributions from members of Caedmon's Call (Trip was their original bass player for about three gigs) and broadens out the sound to a fuller ambience. Most interesting is "As We Ponder Big Things" which is simply a Garrett Buell improvised drum solo with Trip playing along! The other songs with Trip's vocals, "'One More Time" and "Harder" both work effectively again showing the breadth of what he can achieve. This album is scarily good and you'll be hearing more from Trip because he's about to sign for Steve Taylor's Squint label but don't wait until the second album, get this! Frankly, it's incredible! Trip is destined to be to the bass what Phil Keaggy is to the guitar!
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