Unstable Matter
Canada’s Spaced Out have once again raised the bar here on their fourth studio release of white hot metallic jazz-fusion, Unstable Matter. While their last album, 2003′s Slow Gin saw the band take a jazzier approach, here it’s pedal to the metal all the way, as the band combines Chick Corea Electrik Band sophistication with the muscular might of Dream Theater or Planet X. Comprised of Antoine Fafard on bass/keyboards/guitar, guitarist Marc Tremblay, and drummer Martin Maheux, Spaced Out play mus
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Video Rating: 4 / 5
Superb instrumental fusion,
I am shocked I missed out on this band until now. Unstable Matter is their fourth album, released on the amazing Canadian prog label Unicorn Digital, and judging by the quality of the songs on this disc, I need to explore their earlier stuff. Spaced Out is arguably the most surprising band I’ve discovered all year.
So what do they sound like? First off, they are an instrumental band, consisting of three members. They play a signature mix of jazz meets fusion meets heavy metal meets avant-garde if it makes any sense. Their previous efforts are said to be more in the jazz field, but Unstable Matter has plenty of metallic riffs on it. Exuding intricate chord progressions, the songs are highlighted by lots of improvised guitar licks, incredibly well-played bass lines, out-of-this-world drumming, and the occasional synth effects. Antoine Fafard is the primary songwriter of the band, and he plays bass, guitar and is also responsible for the programming. It was only after checking the liner notes that I realised Spaced Out is one of the most impressive bands in the world producing impossible bass lines with thick guitar harmonies strung across. The bass playing is ultimately important to this album, considering most of the songs were developed solely around this instrument. Fafard’s playing is not only unique, but impossibly complex, ranging from insane finger picking to slap bass solos to quieter chords to crushing heaviness.
Second guitarist Mark Tremblay lays down the solos, of which “New Breed” and “Event Horizon” demand your full attention to understand what’s really going on. Packed with Meshuggah-precise riffage and chord changes, along with incessant kick drums, “Event Horizon” is merciless in its delivery. Blended with great synth effects, the machine-gun riffery is all the more effective, not to mention the lead solo. However, “New Breed” is the real deal. Lots of synths in the intro, it delves into fusion jazz territory before taking on a funky bass that merges with insane drumming. The dynamics of this song are amazing, ever shifting between calm and busy passages, and climaxing with a solo that sends shivers down the spine. It’s a long yet very well-executed solo and it slowly disappears under a wall-of-sound mix of synths, bass and rhythms.
“Art Attack Pt.1″ and “Art Attack Pt.2″ are more on the laidback side, yet only within the context of this album. Spaced Out’s “laidback” work kills others’ most challenging stuff. The first part is a heavy and complex number with improvised jazz guitars exploring various dynamics and unusual rythmic patterns, while the second one boasts deft percussion and glistening cymbals before a clean Gordian Knot-like passage emerges out of nowhere. Think Ron Jarzombek’s solo on the first Gordian Knot, only more daring and more unconventional.
The album’s best representatives have to the title track for its intense mix of avant-garde textures and full-on jazz attacks, not to mention the ever-present bass and drum battery; as well as the seven-plus-minute “Big Crunch”, living up to its title. Though the overall mood of the song relies on dense synth shimmers, underneath that layer functions uncontrolled chaos with erupting guitars, heavy breakdowns, and octopus drumming. I cannot praise Martin Maheux enough. It is very rare someone will blow me away both with his immense chops and taste rhythmic groove. This guy has it all, as he fearless goes from double bass drum explosions to unusual rhythmic patterns that would give Tool’s Danny Carey a run for his money. No kidding, this guy is a monster behind the skins.
There are also shorter material in the form of “Glassosphere IV” and “Singularity”, the former being a symphonic piece underpinned by fierce finger-picked bass and the latter is driven by an addictive syncopated drum pattern, combining bipolar melodies and marrying them into a single soundscape.
Although very different from anything else I’ve heard, fans of LTE, Planet X, Derek Sherinian, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra should waste no more time to give Spaced Out a listen. By the way, the packaging of this album is possibly the best I’ve seen this year: excellent graphics, superb paper quality, and amazing pictures.
Last but not least, the production is masterful. Antoine Fafard deserves a medal for his work.
_______
Tracklisting- Unstable Matter . New Breed . Art Attack Pt.1 . Art Attack Pt.2 Event Horizon . Big Crunch . Antimatter . Blood Fall . Glassosphere IV . Singularity
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|Premium Fusion,
This release from Spaced Out is likely my favorite. It is hard, progressive, power-fusion music. The guitars, keyboards, bass & percussion all play like a fighting unit@! I never thought I would fine a band that blew me away like Gong’s 1st album with Allan Holdsworth did in 1977. Spaced Out in 2007 did just that. Excellent spin!
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|Interesting Instrumental work,
I ordered this item after hearing them for the first time ever on an US internet radio.
There is no room for progressive, fusion, etc newcomers in South America, invaded by low quality & bad taste production, what makes you stick to old things, sometimes unnecessarily. This is the case. Spaced out outcome “Unstable Matter”, with 5 years, sounds classical & fresh at the same time. Very well played, creative, obviously influenced but still honest and genuine. Demands more than 1 listening session. Play it open minded. You’ll like it.
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|*grabs popcorn*
*watches the show*
I can’t believe these have become classics…(sniff) I’m so emotinal
did anyone notice the clouds easter egg they showed on 0:55?
@MrMeowkid Um no.This is where you are wrong. Exit is that way. Go now. *points*
I love how he says Sad Face xD
how is the best way to put this IT SUCKS
0:49 skip into if you wish
@NoNoobMore caps + lots of o’s
@Machinima I know John wrote it but I would love to know how he did it like No! when I put No! it just says calmly No.
“……………………………no”
@PainCake1337 Yes
Why don’t Jon’s newer episodes get as much views? They without a doubt deserve it
Cock-off-Doody-Modrin-Wurfurrrr
like it on facebook!
thumbs up if you watching this in 2012
man i mniss the good days when this was new shit i almost pissed myself cuz i was laughing so hard
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Man I laughed so hard when i saw this nearly 4 years ago
Chief
Are you masturbating ?
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
When the fuck does moderngayfuckstupid cum out?!?!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…. Moderngayfuckstupid.
@skyrimawsome729 at least somebody got it right!
@brasteen1 it comes with windows Xp ( i know it out dated but thats all i have
) and alsoit doesnt work with windows 7 and i think you can download it for Vista not for sure though.
@iamuriah where can you download microsoft sam?
I love this video~~~keep it on@@@