TOTO - Tambu +1 [Japan Remaster SICP 3118] (2011)

*

Tambu is the ninth studio album by TOTO released in May 1995, which went gold certified. It includes the single "I Will Remember", which failed to chart in the USA but was the band's first chart hit in the UK since 'I Won't Hold You Back' 12 years before.

The first thing that jumps out about "Tambu" is the rather original design of the CD sleeve, giving off the appearance of a classic dime store pulp novel.
But it's not just the design of the CD sleeve that makes the album pop. This album marks Toto's first studio effort following the death of founding member and drummer Jeff Porcaro.
Perhaps what is most admirable about Jeff's replacement is that Toto didn't try to replace Jeff. They chose the well-established Simon Phillips, a drummer with a style and sound all his own and struck out in a new musical direction than the previous album 'Kingdom of Desire'.

"Tambu" is a more polished and melancholy affair. It's a band saying goodbye and seeking closure after the death of Porcaro, a closure they needed to find before being able to continue in the music business.
This is probably the band's strongest album to date (at least in the lyrical sense). There's an emotional honesty to the lyrics, weaving seamlessly with David Paich's keyboard chops, Simon Phillips soothing beats and rhythms, and Steve Lukather's gravelly voice which had become a mainstay since the previous album.
There's also a natural progression to the songs as you hear the band dealing with crushing grief and a desire to move on with their lives and careers.

"Tambu" is a varied CD with stylized AOR numbers such as "Gift Of Faith", "Slipped Away", the ethereal "I Will Remember", the groovy "Time Is The Enemy", the rocking "Drag Him To The Roof" and a jazzy-hard rocker on "Dave's Gone Skiing".
Of course we have the ballads on "If You Belong To Me", "The Other End Of Time", and the wonderful "The Road Goes On," which has become a staple of Toto's live shows in recent years.


"Tambu" is one of the most inspired TOTO albums ever, both lyrically and musically.
The sound of the songs as a whole is mature, borrowing elements from different genres with the typical class of this incredible band.
The vocal melodies throughout almost the entire CD haven't been this strong since 'IV'. Lukather's chief lead vocals are in such quality that it was puzzling why he hadn't been given the role earlier. He sings here with a deep, melancholic undertone.
Now, that "Tambu" has been brilliantly remastered including a bonus track, don't miss the opportunity to discover this marvelous album pretty ignored when it was originally released.
Top Class.


01 - Gift Of Faith
02 - I Will Remember
03 - Slipped Away
04 - If You Belong To Me
05 - Baby He's Your Man
06 - The Other End Of Time
07 - The Turning Point
08 - Time Is The Enemy
09 - Drag Him To The Roof
10 - Just Can't Get To You
11 - Dave's Gone Skiing
12 - The Road Goes On
13 - Blackeye (bonus track)


Steve Lukather - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass fills, synthesizer, piano
David Paich - lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, piano, Hammond organ, string arrangements
Simon Phillips - drums, keyboards on "The Turning Point", drum loops on "Baby He's Your Man", Roland TR-808
Mike Porcaro - bass, keyboards on "The Turning Point"

Guest musicians:
Lenny Castro - percussion on "Gift of Faith", "I Will Remember" and "The Other End of Time"
Michael Fisher - percussion on "If You Belong to Me"
Paulinho da Costa - percussion on "Baby He's Your Man", "The Turning Point" and "Time is the Enemy"
Jenny Douglas-McRae - backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Turning Point" and "Baby He's Your Man"
John James - backing vocals, lead vocal on "Drag Him to the Roof"
Phillip Ingram - backing vocals
Ricky Nelson - backing vocals on "Baby He's Your Man" and "The Turning Point"
Steve Porcaro - drum loops on "Baby He's Your Man"




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www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SICP-3118

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CIRCA - And So On (2011)

For those unaware, CIRCA: is a neo melodic prog super-group founded by four musicians associated with Yes: drummer Alan White, Tony Kaye (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass, vocals), and guitarist Jimmy Haun, who played on the Yes album 'Union'.

Billy Sherwood continued an on/off association with Yes over the years, joining the live line-up for the Talk tour in 1994, with Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Alan White, and Tony Kaye.
After this, in 1995, Sherwood and Rabin did some writing together, and two tracks on the Circa self-titled debut album (2007) are based on this material.
In July 2008, monster drummer Jay Schellen permanently replaced Alan White, who returned to Yes. The new line-up released 'Circa HQ', in 2009.
An Italian tour with former Toto singer, Bobby Kimball, was announced for February 2009, playing a set consisting of music by Circa, Yes, and Toto.
Kimball and Circa then joined to create a new band; YOSO (already presented here at 0dayrock).

In early 2011, Circa lost two members; guitarist Jimmy Haun had withdrawn to concentrate on his work providing music for commercials, and Jay Schellen, who wanted to focus on work with Asia and Marcie Free's Unruly Child.
Both were replaced by Yoso's guitar man Johnny Bruhns and drummer Scott Connor, and with this line-up Circa recorded their brand new album "And So On".
So, Circa now basically is Yoso with Billy Sherwood's vocals.

"And So On" is a neo melodic prog commercial disc with many modern YES elements, that said; their classic '80s sound with Rock&pop twists.
You'll hear here songs in the vein of YES '90125' and 'Big Generator' eras, as the haunting "Til We Get There", the easy listening and melodic "Notorious" (great guitar work), or the title track.
The midtempo "Cast Away" is in the style of Billy Sherwood's solo albums, "Half Way Home" has an articulated structure like Yes 90's works, while "In My Sky" is an intimate acoustically based mellow tune.
On "Life's Offering" is where the band displays all their individual technical skills, with dynamic instrumental passages, all melodic and entertaining.


"Although the album was not written as a concept record, the songs are somehow tied together and are all symbiotic," Billy Sherwood explains, "it's really just an evolution of Circa: music."
I really like Circa's previous albums, and enjoyed "And So On" as well.
These veterans know how to write good material in this genre, maintaining their prog roots but making their music accessible and melodic to wider audiences.
Good melodies abound, harmony and perfectly pitched vocals and obviously, great musicianship. Maybe the production is a bit more 'ascetic' than their previous works, but it is crystal clear and the album is consummately well mixed.
"And So On" is expected to be released through an european record label to be announced, meanwhile it's only available via the band's website.


1. And So On (9:07)
2. Cast Away (4:48)
3. 'Til We Get There (6:35)
4. Notorious (5:36)
5. Half Way Home (4:56)
6. In My Sky (3:30)
7. True Progress (7:42)
8. Each To His Own (4:40)
9. Life's Offering (10:07)


Billy Sherwood - Vocals, Bass
Tony Kaye - Keyboards
Johnny Bruhns - Guitars
Scott Connor - Drums
Ronnie Ciago - Drums



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www.circahq.com/CircaStore/index.php

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