| 7th
September, 2005
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PICTURE:
Courtesy Small House Records Australia
"'A Time To Gather' teems with melodies
that tell beautiful stories in your mind's eye, textures
that entice and move and a strong composition technique
that remains evident throughout."
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JUSTIN
MICHAEL
Artist: Rod Gear
Album: A TIme to Gather
In A Word: Intelligent
If you know names like Sons Of Korah, James Morrison, Wilbur
Wilde and the Moscow Circus on Ice, then you know great music.
But do you know the people behind the names? Rod Gear is an
artist who has contributed to all of the above and more. This
is his first solo instrumental recording on the newcomer label
Small House Records out of Melbourne.
For most people 'instrumental' conjures up an image of an
an appetite-killing, post office-bought, whale music type
image, or, at the very least, the overkill of Kenny G soprano
sax. Feel free to throw that impression out with the late
Nineties collection of ‘relaxation CDs’ you bought
and replace it with Gear's A Time To Gather.
This collection of 10 thoughtfully produced guitar pieces
are not indulgent, 12 minute journeys that require an expert
musician to explain. They are instead instrumental songs that
will appeal to all the senses, including the radio-trained
pop sensibility we all possess without even knowing it.
A Time To Gather teems with melodies that tell beautiful
stories in your mind's eye, textures that entice and move
and a strong composition technique that remains evident throughout.
The album leaps into life with 'Mercy', a melody more known
for the Sons Of Korah treatment it was originally given on
Psalm 123. From the brightness of 'Arkana' to the melancholy
lilt of 'Beauty for Ashes', the album is one that remembers
to consider the listener throughout. I cannot find a ‘filler’
here. Very refreshing.
It’s hard not to hear the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Slava
Grigoryan and Phil Keaggy in among the melodies, but Gear
certainly stamps his own style on an CD that will carry you
further than dinner and will serve as a welcome addition to
a time of devotion, reflection or celebration.
Justin
Michael can be heard weekday mornings on Geelong-based radio
station 96.3 Rhema FM - www.rhemafm.org.au.
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