By: John W. Patterson
will have to say this first off, "Whoa!" This funked-n-free-jam fusion
splash is a tricky ride. Though truly off-center and extremely innovative in
many solos and song structures -- you gotta love this release's overall
groove. Everybody seems wide open, slammin', chops-laden, pumpin' and
hard groovin' -- and 100% slick! It is a mine field of genius, crunch,
technical feats of fusion and best of all -- full of soul and fire. This is no
limp-wristed, rag doll fuzak. No! GnHnWnCnK have crafted a must-hear,
nouveau fusion of jazz/funk/rock and treatments. If you dig GnH or Tribal
Tech then just buy this. As Tribal Tech's Rocket Science was one
really wild excursion, so too Uncle Moe's Space Ranch will have
you in orbit above Planet Trippy's Freaked Fusion Restaurant.
Again we have that Weather Report on steroids wall of fused jazz
colliding with GnH's Under the Lash of Gravity type of brutality
and monster-sized stompings. This is not dinner music nor background
dribblings of jazz. UM'sSRanch is strictly for those hip to the trip
of loud, fast, and explosive. Enjoy axes dripping with riffs, bass that
delivers seismically , drums that attack the primal bedrock and keys that
will tie your ears in knots. Even Virgil Donati pops in for some percs too.
2001 has been a year for fusion to stretch itself out into daring new
territories of expression. I listen to this GnH release, T Tech's latest and
McGill/Manring/Stevens' +/- release and I see a new kind of fusion rock
coming into being -- free fusion. I wonder what is next. I wrote my pal
Brett as to what-in-the-heck kind of effects and and/or pedals he and TJ
were using to create the novel sounds found herein. He informed me he
was just playing through his fav LINE 6 settings but TJ had recorded a
solo to vinyl first and then TJ/DJ scratched it in for the final mix. Unreal!
These guys never cease to amuse and amaze me. For those of you wanting
to hear that Exempt and Quid Pro Quo sound just skip to
the outro track for a deep dip into GnH nostalgia. Minx will also
stir those classic GnH neurons too. All other songs will be a brand new
experience I heartily recommend. If you want cool fusion that rocks head-
to-head with anything else out there -- then check into Uncle Moe's
Space Ranch. Head rushes and whole-body shivers included with
assorted solos. "Bravo mates and dudes, izza good'un! Eh?" (Beware
hidden weird bonzodogband zappa sophomoric castrated gnome tracks.)
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