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Djam Karet : Recollection Harvest

Release

Style

This is my first acquaintance with this L.A.-based progressive outfit, whom I only knew by name and reputation. Perhaps that’s why Djam Karet (pronounce jam care-RAY) is called America’s greatest undiscovered band. This quintet plays instrumental prog in the vein of King Crimson en Pink Floyd since 1984. Copying behaviour however seems strange to these fellows, for their innovative creativity is widely praised. According to Canadian prog watcher Jerry Lucky (ghostland.com), Djam Karet is “one of the front bands in progressive rock today.” If you search through their repertoire, you will establish that they have integrated a wide array of psychedelic music, guitar rock, seventies sympho en electronic soundscapes in their previous 15 albums.

On their sixteenth (and eighth release for the adventurous Cuneiform label from Maryland, US) the emphasis is on melodic beauty. The guitars are primarily concerned about finding the right textures. The overall sound is enhanced by a whole bunch of analogue synths and the ever forbidding Mellotron. In the band’s own words, “we worked diligently to explore a more melodic and orchestrated vision of high energy progressive rock. Deeply disturbing atmospheres and netherworlds await.” A very adequate description!

In fact “Recollection Harvest” is a combination of two albums. The first, eponymous half brings us guitar and keyboard oriented melodies of great taste. Almost every band member adds keys to his instrument. This results in colourful music that really doesn’t need any vocals. Instrumental rock that succeeds in fascinating the listener from A to Z, it’s a rarity. In the excellent rhythm section you can also hear their roots in the fusion.

The second part, “Indian Summer”, is more introspective and experimental. Instrumentation is less conventional en hires from ethnic music: Bazuki, hand percussion, and field recordings from the Middle-East. Obviously Djam Karet is by no means a genre-defined ensemble. New ground is continually broken, which makes Djam Karet one of the most progressive of prog bands.

Considering the excellent new albums by Little Atlas, K², Glass Hammer and Echolyn, 2005 already is a golden year for the American prog scene. This Djam Karet might be the icing on the cake. A record highly recommended to each adventurous listener. I can’t wait for their back catalogue!

Musicians

Recollection Harvest:
1. The March To The Sea Of Tranquility (7.18)
2. Dr. Money (7.12)
3. The Packing House (11.11)
4. The Gypsy And The Hegemon (9.20)
5. Recollection Harvest (10.06)

Indian Summer:
6. Indian Summer (4.10)
7. Open Roads (4.57)
8. The Great Plains Of North Dakota (3.13)
9. Dark Oranges (3.44)
10. Twilight In Ice Canyon (5.16)
11. Requiem (4.16)

Extra Info: www.cuneiformrecords.com
 

No Commercial Potential (1985)
The Ritual Continues (1987)
Kafka’s Breakfast (1988)
Reflection on the Firepool (1989)
Burning The Hard City (1991)
Suspension & Displacement (1991)
Collaborator (1994)
The Devouring (1997)
Still no Commercial Potential (1998)
Live at Orion (1999)
New Dark Age (2001)
Ascension New Dark Age Vol. 2 (2001)
Djam Karet#1 (2001)
Djam Karet # 2 (2001)
A Beginner’s Guide Volume 1 (2002)
Afghan (Live at The Knitting Factory) (2002)
A Beginner’s Guide Volume 2 (2002)
A Night For Baku (2003)
No Commercial Potential (1985) (2004)
Recollection Harvest (2005)

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Last updated: 09 oktober 2005 .
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