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Hear The Madeira on Spanish National Radio (KTVE)
here.
Reviews
Pipeline Magazine Review of Carpe Noctem
Named #1 Instrumental CD Release For 2nd Half Of 2008!!!
The Madeira: Carpe Noctem
The latest from American guitar group
The Madeira manages to be exciting and dynamic whilst still being as
varied and polished as we have come to expect from one of the best groups
around. The 13 tracks range from clean echo ballads through six-string
bass twangers to soaring exotic pounders and the group’s brilliant,
expressive playing is matched by inventive arrangements that wring all
possible emotion out of every melody. Additionally notable is the fact
that all bar two of these melodies are originals. It takes a couple of
plays to familiarise yourself with the material and then the investment
really pays off, giving you an album that will delight for many years to
come with its scintillating lead work and oh-so-effective real rhythm
guitar throughout. Patrick O’Connor’s mastery of this underestimated
art is the perfect foil for Ivan Pongracic’s accomplished lead and he
also shares the writing credits.
The album opens quietly with the title
track Carpe Noctem, which features duetting guitars before building to a
mean and moody climax and then breaking down again. Wreak Havoc! is a fast
flying east European flavoured piece with lightning licks and furious
drumming that gives way to Undercurrents, a beautiful uptempo echo guitar
theme that recalls the finest from the ‘60s with its emotive treble
lead. Rolling Thunder is another fast and furious piece with an eastern
influence, featuring echo lead and reverb embellishments. Shimmering
chords support the edgy slowie Infidel and the first cover is the Euro
bass twanger El Flaco with its proud melody over a classic galloping
rhythm, embellished with tasty guitar touches.
The Indian-flavoured foot-tapping
acoustic raga Hamsa provides a break midway through the album and then
it’s back to the fast flying style on The Saracen with its exciting,
catchy whip-cracking guitar breaks. The second cover is, unsurprisingly
for an Ivan Pongracic project, an Atlantics track. This time it’s SOS
(Stomp on Stomp) with its furious pace, deep driving lead and flying
treble fills – great stuff. Tangaroa is a pretty electric twang ballad
with acoustic backing and Surf Fidelis the closest to a traditional surf
rocker with some delightful damped picking. A quick-fire rhythm riff
drives the exotic Sahar and the finale End of the Circle is a dreamy piece
featuring tasty echo guitar phrases over a simple, sympathetic backing.
Without forgetting the fabulous playing
and fine melodies, it is the time spent polishing the arrangements and the
care with which the album is sequenced that ensure Carpe Noctem will be a
favourite for years to come.
NGD 5518 The Madeira - Carpe Noctem
(Double Crown) DCCD30
It's the second full-length release by The Madeira, who again
exert a very different, mystic, middle eastern feel to their clean cut
rock instrumentals. Most of their tracks here have a very different
'mystic'
guitar sound on strong originals and two lively covers including "SOS
(Stomp
On Stomp)" by The Atlantics. The title track is a wistful
kaleidoscope with
a 1962 Jet Harris sounding lead. (There's also the Jet Harris 6-string
bass
sound on "El Flaco"). "Wreak Havoc!" carries the Dick
Dale thunder trill
while "Rolling Thunder" has great galloping drums, typical of
the great
drumming throughout. There's acoustic, there's percussion, deft playing
and
skill all through this set. A unique album by a unique band. Loved it. * *
* *
(Davy)
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The Madeira - Carpe Noctem - Five Stars
(Out Of Five)
This band just keeps getting better and better. Ivan's crew are superb
players, and the writing and arranging are top notch. This disc is
chock full of mysterious melodies, fast rhythmic energy, lush sound,
and compelling tracks.
By Phil Dirt (www.reverbcentral.com)
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The Madeira - Carpe Noctem (Double Crown
Records)
They have a fun, enjoyable sound... the
tracks, "Hamsa" and
"Undercurrents" are my personal favorites because they have a
mellower feel to them that slightly venture into uncharted waters.
What's Up Magazine - Bellingham, WA (www.whatsup-magazine.com)
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