STEVE CICHON - review added 23rd April 2010
Live Album Review: Cranial Feedback (Instrumental) (2010)
For fans of: Instrumental Rock... and shiny brains
Cranial Feedback is guitarist Steve Cichon’s third album. When I say this is a solo project I really mean it. The man wrote, recorded and performed the songs, and he even mastered the album himself too. In fact about the only thing he didn't do was the artwork and photography, which is by Sherry L. Grandy and Mike Cichon respectively.
The sound is a fusion of numerous styles including jazz, rock, metal and more, all wrapped up in a progressive instrumental coat. Steve is clearly a talented guitarist, but the results are mixed. For a demonstration of pure technical ability the album is not far off the mark, but as a record to enjoy it leaves a lot to be desired. There isn't a massive amount of character to the recording, and the decision to add the sound effects of a live crowd on every track is an odd one. I'm not a huge fan of the, what is presumably, programmed rhythm section either.
Overall Cranial Feedback is impressive, but it's also boring. It really is little more than very pleasant background music, and that's not enough for me. Steve Cichon is a great guitarist, but he'll need a better showcase than this before people start taking notice.
Check out... ?
Track List:
01. Richochet
02. Crystal Clear
03. Siren
04. Panacea
05. Headrush
06. Great Escape
07. Sedated
08. Northern Lights
09. Kung Pao
10. Backlash
Label: Nightmare Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
