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Clarion Fracture Zone - reviews |
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"Another highlight
was Clarion Fracture Zone's superb performance. A full house of
all ages received this rapturously, proving once more that there
is much that is exciting and accessible in contemporary jazz..."
"...the best band in the world...this
is a band that unwind the unconscious in a manner that is nothing
short of physically, emotionally and intellectually devastating.
Their music possesses a grace and sensitivity that most musical
artists can only dream of capturing." "Canticle was a celebration of the
joy of making music with out stylistic barriers; music which fosters
that unique magic when improvising players are completely attuned
to one another." "Less Stable Elements" from the
Australian quintet Clarion Fracture Zone... "blends free
bop, funk backbeats, quiet melodicism, and improvised abstractions
with freewheeling abandon... This is a fresh, well-played session
full of variety and surprises that led me back to repeated listens."
"The group's identity now emerges fully
formed, an exciting and beautiful fusion of influences from Mingus
and Eric Dolphy to gamelan. Every talented band deserves a breakthrough
disc; this ought to be theirs." "Wine culture could be tasted through
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon while in the concert hall at
the same time "Clarion Fracture Zone" pushed the culture
of their native country to the front of the jazz league."
"from Australia came Clarion Fracture
Zone, making an auspicious European debut...,a sound evidencing
an emergent collective voice familiar with the heritage of more
continents than only their own. Things are looking up for jazz
down under" "A band of fascinating contrasts, whose
special perspectives are an enrichment to the international jazz
scene" "a truly contemporary band sensitively
mixing acoustic playing and electronic sampling to produce a confection
of influences that sound as if they were meant to belong together
rather than just thrown in a blender and spun" "There's no doubt about it...astonishing
and surprising as ever....This is contemporary world jazz at its
pinnacle. Open your ears and let yourself be ravished by its focused,
yet also decadent and hysterical beauty." "...a sumptous musical feast"
"...full of sublime melodies"
Tom Gilling THE BULLETIN 9/96 "...another kind of utopia..." Goa Today 4/92 "One of the most compelling performances of the Festival was produced by Clarion Fracture Zone. Again demonstrating that adventurous music and a broad audience need not live on separate planets, the group received an enthusiastic reception for its inspired playing." P Jordan & J Shand - Manly JazzFestival 10/95 "Clarion Fracture Zone make one curious....about their original development as protagonists of an Australian sound and of those jazz secrets which are yet to be discovered down there" Jazzthetik, Germany 2/92 "Clarion Fracture Zone punched a hole in the musical firmament with a blitzkrieg of sometimes transcendental jazz... all of it original, all of it accomplished" Brisbane Courier Mail 4/94 "...Clarion are strong on melody. About half their material has a ravishing, almost opiated atmosphere to it...some of their other stuff is full of jolts, free-form dances and dervishes - but the humour and spirit with which it is attacked have opened these areas up to the casual listener" Gail Brennan-Sydney Morning Herald 3/93
Minimalistic, almost chambermusic-like
parts with influences of folkloristic roots, delightful ironic
persiflages of waltzes and marches with tricky rhythms and grooving
Mainstream-bop - the Australian quintet offered a most enjoyable
mix". "These are real compositions,
and each player brings as much character to his or her part -
written or improvised - as an Ellington sideman."
J. Clare SMH 8/96 "I like the way the suite builds up,
each section having its unique dynamic variations, to the intense
release of the last movement...I heartily recommend this release
by Clarion Fracture Zone and await future recordings."
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"Clarion
Fracture Zone's 1990 album Blue Shift confirmed that an era in
Australian jazz had begun. Here was a unique, unified diversity
created by three major composers, an exploratory but often ravishingly
beautiful blending of electronic and acoustic sounds. And now,
their fourth and best CD to date!" 
"Discipline
and spontaneity acting in connection with high ensemble density
and brilliant soloistic parts....perfect arrangements and enormous
musical charisma..." 
"With
their debut album, 'Blue Shift' Clarion Fracture Zone effectively
set the pace for Australian modern jazz in the '90s...their long
awaited follow-up 'Zones on Parade' actually surpasses their previous
award-winning work" 
"...ethereal
and rich earthy sounds fill these constructions to the brim. It's
about the most beautiful recording I've heard....." 