Italian to English Translation provided by Google
The purposes of description can also be useful to find “labels” in order to understand what kind of music a group is proposing, but ultimately you are exaggerating and speaking of prog rock, or “eclectic”, as happens often in recent years, almost verging on the ridiculous. The fact is simply that there are quite a few artists around who can make a proposal full of music or contamination of a wide variety of influences, so that identifying a specific genre… is totally impossible. Take the case of MarsupiaL. This is a U.S. band of North Carolina, founded in 2000 and composed by Ian Reardon on guitar and vocals, Forrest Smith on guitar, Brad Mehder on bass and Chris Carter on drums and voice. Yes, keyboards, nothing … But, I hope that you readers have already understood that there is no need to use keyboards to be included [as] progressive rock. In fact, prog is only one element that we can find in “Genus thylacinus”, [an] album that shows the capabilities of what [MarsupiaL] brings: energetic rock, long instrumental passages worthy of the best jam bands, intriguing vocal melodies sometimes elegantly modern at times closer to the American tradition, without disdaining incursions into progressive and jazz-rock.
Imagine … Pink Floyd, Phish, Allman Brothers Band, Dire Straits and Radiohead, alternating instrumental oneiric situations and mysterious, fluid electric guitar solos that gives vibrance, and that cross and give the change to drive songs, sung moments direct and catchy, long instrumental moments dictated by the ability of musicians improvising, melodic insights of immediate impact and even leaps of a certain aggressiveness … Imagine all this and you have an idea more or less vague proposal of MarsupiaL. Of course, if your world is made of mellotron solo, symphonic prog, new-prog, fairies and gnomes, I do not think this product might interest you. But if you like those groups able to rotate 360 degrees and always with convincing results, this disc will be a delightful discovery.
by Peppe Di Spirito
This is a bit of an odd cove. Seemingly teetering between the worlds of prog rock, jazz fusion and jam bands, North Carolinas Marsupial can never be accused of easy listening.
They’ve been on the go since 2000 and have released three albums prior to this one - “Dancing About Architecture”, “Moby [Fleck]” and “Curtains”. They hit you hard right from the off, with the eight minute plus ‘Lead On’, um, leading you through an abundance of styles and moods.
However, there are some simpler songs on offer as well, and it’s tunes like ‘The Man Who Knows Things’ and ‘In Between’, which could suck in a wider audience, especially the latter with its countryish vibe.
It’s definitely the jamband fraternity who will respond most favourably to the range of music on offer, with fans of String Cheese Incident and Umphrey’s McGee unlikely to feel lost at a Marsupial show.
An album that rewards repeated plays, I did find myself skipping over ‘Sucker Punch’, but with only 10% of the record lost to me, that’s a mighty fine return.
Sound Track Potential playlist
by Alli Marshall in Vol. 15 / Iss. 50 on 07/08/2009
Genus Thylacinus by MarsupiaL
The eight-song collection, released this year by perennial Asheville rock band MarsupiaL veers wildly from the bouncy, pedal steel-infused, Grateful Dead-esque “In Between” to the thrashing guitars, crashing percussion and general hardcore mayhem of “Sucker Punch.” The easy answer to the schizophrenic feel of Genus Thylacinus is that the band’s four members take turns writing the songs Still, even the compositions of individual musicians are disparate: Drummer/guitarist Chris Carter wrote both the groovy-if-melancholic opener, “Lead On,” as well as the fuzzy, churning “Naked in the Hall of Seduction.” Guitarist Ian Reardon composed jazz-jam “The Tide,” which bubbles through tasteful cymbal rolls and reverb. His slower “The Man Who Knows Things” pairs Allman Brothers flavor with modern percussion. The disc’s final track, “There Is A Better World,” is perhaps its most gentle. Vocal harmonies and Smith’s excellent pedal steel earn the lush (if heartbreaking) song single status.
Marsupial: genus thylacinus
Melodic/Progressive Rock
Rating: 3.75/5.0
Independent/Self-Promotion
http://www.marsupialmusic.com
www.myspace.com/marsupialband
Review: Craig Hartranft, 07.05.2009
I rarely say this, and most artists live for this: Asheville prog rockers Marsupial, though fitting the genre, have their own unique style. On their latest project genus thylacinus (scientific name for an extinct marsupial), this quartet obviously draws inspiration from 70’s rock, prog and otherwise, their southern roots, and maybe some rock-jazz fusion. The mix is not eclectic, but it is creative and more than a bit ingenious.
On the progressive side, numbers like Lead On and Naked In the Hall Of Seduction are lengthy pieces which showcase all the performers. The music is not pretentious or bombastic, but rather leans towards melodic rock or AOR. Sometimes both songs (as well as others) seem merely to be canvases for the lead guitarist to paint. Yet, on the latter, the bass work is marvelous.
Other offerings cover melodic rock (The Tide, The Goodbye Waltz) or near southern style, Allman Brothers, melodic rock and AOR especially The Man Who Know Things and There Is A Better World. At least one song, The Goodbye Waltz, was overly somber to the point of being depressing. My only reservation goes to the vocal performance which are mostly droll and have very little range. The lack of vocals on the the pseudo-pyschedelic heavy rock instrumental, Sucker Punch, makes it the killer track on the album. Overall, genus thylacinus in musical composition, is adventurous and so, quite intriguing and entertaining.
Friday 8 pm - 10 pm
Sunday 7 pm - 9 pm (repeat)
Local Color host Laura Blackley spotlights emerging and established artists from all over our listening area, with a focus on those who are pushing the envelope just a bit. We feature recorded live performances from WNCW’s own Studio B and from area venues, as well as official releases, demos and artist interviews.
