Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Oho

Bricolage

Review by Gary Hill

I was a little hesitant to tackle this disc. The first album from Oho was a bit weird for my tastes. Well, this one is just plain amazing! It’s a great blend of folk and progressive rock that at times calls to mind such acts as Yes, Renaissance and others. It’s actually one of the better discs I’ve heard in a while, and there have been a lot of great discs released in 2010. This has an accompanying DVD that includes interviews and live performances. All in all, a great package.


This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
The Great Attractor

This is a killer cut. It powers in with a triumphant sort of powerhouse prog rock arrangement. There are some intriguing little changes and alterations, but overall this is a straight forward and soaring journey. There’s a lot of folk in it, but also plenty of prog. In some ways it makes me think of Yes. In other ways it calls to mind Renaissance.

Eros Is a Verb
The early portions of this are closer to Renaissance. The cut is more purely folk oriented early on, but then becomes powerhouse progressive rock as it continues.
Burning Grey
“Burning Grey” is closer to “The Great Attractor” in that it’s a powerhouse pure progressive rock number that’s very tasty.
Close But No Cigar
Here’s a real hot rocker. It’s less proggy and almost all the folk music has been washed away. It’s more straightahead. There is a short instrumental section that’s very Yes-like.
Time
Now, they turn to nearly pure folk for this number. Around the minute and a half mark, though, the progressive rock returns as it is used to build upon the folk elements of the piece. There are some incredible musical moments as this is built up.
Plowing the Sea
This has a driving moment and a complex and layered arrangement. It’s a real powerhouse that’s pure progressive rock.
Blue Fix
“Blue Fix” is closer to Renaissance than anything we’ve heard to this point. It’s a great track. It starts more folk-like and then powers out to more pure progressive rock.
S/he
There’s some crunch to this, but some of the more country/folk instrumentation adds a very different air to the proceedings. It’s a cool tune and not a huge departure, but a bit different.
Dream Lifted Up
Coming in with pure folk, this climbs upward a bit after the first verse. It rocks out as it continues. It eventually becomes pure progressive rock and some killer prog at that.
Penultimatum
This reminds me a lot of Yes for some reason. In many ways it’s not all the different from the rest of the music here, but somehow it seems more Yes-like.
Under Covers
A cut that’s very folk-like, there is still plenty of progressive rock in the mix, too. It rocks out in a very classic rock way later and there’s a smoking hot harmonica solo, too.
Painted Stars
To me, this feels like a cross between Yes, Renaissance and Tori Amos. It’s another strong piece, but not a huge departure.
Moon Draw Your Curtain
This one has a tendency towards more symphonic. It’s a great tune that has more of that Renaissance meets Tori Amos texture.
Limousine
There are male vocals on this number, bringing something new to the table. It’s a more straight rock song, but there is still a lot of progressive rock on the table.
The Secret
A cut that’s closer to the rest of the disc, this one is more folk oriented than some of the others.
Antique Heart
There’s a feeling like a Celtic rock band on this. Taken by itself, I probably wouldn’t call this “progressive rock” at all. There is however, an instrumental section that makes me think of modern Yes a bit. This song has male vocals and is an intriguing change of pace.
Shouts in the Street

Another pretty typical prog rocker, this one has both folk and Yes leanings to it.

Ethiopia
There’s a lot of energy and power on this rocker. It’s got some great progressive rock elements to it.
It Will Not Be Late
With more of an intricate ballad styling to it, this song is pretty and powerful. It’s a killer piece of music.
Angels
This cut is supercharged and very powerful. It’s got a hard rocking element to it, but is pure progressive rock.
 
Return to the
Oho Artist Page
Artists Directory
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com