Review in French
A PASSAGE TO CLEAR/ John Miner's ART ROCK CIRCUS [USA]
Updated 7/21/01
After having chronicled a massive trip through 3 CD's in our edition #40, we
have received the 4th work of the excellent John Miner and his Art Rock Circus named
"A Passage to Clear". Miner seems to point to a little world which pays no
attention whether it is part of progressive rock but which is mainly
preoccupied with the quality of the music.
It is evident to us that his style clears a passage.. without ambiguity... to the
womb of our universe, witnessing the recent "Mantra Sunrise" and "Heavens Cafˇ"
which were happy surprises musically speaking. Veritable concept albums
based on quality shows, recorded in Las Vegas.
"A Passage to Clear" again develops a story set into relief by the strong
interventions of two divas of art rock (as John Miner calls them), Karyn
Anderson and Karen Rene'. Miner seems attached to Las Vegas because he has
recently finished performing with a gathering of talented groups and has
an upcoming cameo appearance "Oceans 11" with prestigious actors Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, George
Clooney and Matt Damon on a remake of a film which reunites the members of
the "rat pack", the friendly association of actors around Frank Sinatra in
the 50's and 60's...of which the action takes place for the most part in Las
Vegas!!
Surrounded by Devon Lebsack at the drums and Kelton Manning on bass,
without forgetting the two feminine voices that fly so high, JOHN MINER
develops a whirlwind style of guitar playing and also sings a bit on occasion. We also find a saxophone (Ken Wenzel) and a violinist (Erica Syroid), witnesses of
an ambitious concept (Undergound) which one is not able to qualify by an adjective other
than progressive!! This approach which uses rock, classical and jazz, sends
one back to the baptismal bottoms of our movement and MINER, with ingenuity> and pomposity, so curiously compatible, thwarts the notion of commercialism for
creating an album out of time... a record of pop-music which well flourishes
the musical voyage with few boundaries. Bruno Versmisse
HARMONIE MAGAZINE ISSUE #42
Harmonie Magazine
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