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The Perc Meets the Hidden Gentleman

The Fruits of Sin & Labor

Review by Gary Hill

I can definitely see people arguing with this getting set under progressive rock. I think that few would disagree that it is adventurous and progressive music, though. This is often weird, and I’d say that it borrows from enough varied musical styles that I think the classification fits. Prog purists, though, will probably want to stay away.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2016  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Bronx Vanilla

Folk music, world drumming and more are heard on this. It starts with the acoustic arrangement, but some noisy guitar emerges in the mix before the vocals join. This is like rudimentary post prog music. Multiple layers of vocals lend some magic.

Feed Your Heart To Beat
There’s an almost dance music vibe here. It has a driving beat with something that’s not far removed from Kraftwerk in some ways. It has a soulful groove to it, though.
The Comics Suite
This is a multipart suite. The lineup of the sections goes like this: Part One: The Fruits of Sin & Labor, Part Two: Pete Meets Margo, Part Three: A Funny Afternoon, Part Four: Newborn. It starts with a keyboard based proggy section. Then it moves to a bit of theatrical dialog. From there we gets another prog styled treatment. This still has keyboards, but they aren’t the driving factor as they were at the beginning of the piece. This is not necessarily family friendly in terms of the lyrics – or the sounds of passion later. As the jam continues further down the musical road, it includes some cool piano soloing. There is more theatrical stuff later.
The Widow on Strings
This is quite classical in nature. It also has world music and more built into it, though. It’s unique and intriguing.
Bronx Vanilla (Reprise)
Here we get a return to the opening piece. There is some cool guitar soloing here.
Hungry (Live)
This live cut is weird, but very cool. There is a minimalist blues rock element, but it also has elements of shoegaze. This is artsy and yet quite meaty.
Respect & Devotion, Part One (Live)
While there is a noise element here, this is very much a space rock type prog jam. Still, it’s minimalist and a little raw.
Niteride (Live)
With noisy guitar soloing over the top, this is industrial. It is proggy, but in a modern sort of sense of the word. It’s definitely artsy.
Rock the Widow (Live)
Very much a proggy jam, this is cool. It an extensive piece at close to thirteen minutes in length. Parts are space rock oriented. Other parts are in a noise rock or industrial direction.
I Want Ya Scalp (Live)
The set is closed with a cool electronic styled jam. It’s bouncy and fun, and still proggy.
 
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