'Round about the early 70s' there
was an ensemble, I can't remember the name of it, that played
(ahem) mood music. Each track of each album (no CDs yet)
was full of lush strings that would turn a good brain into mush
and occasionally featured sappy narrative. Each was built of a
theme. A particular favorite was Highway One, which had titles
like "Big Sur" and "Sausalito" and
"Golden Gate"; you get the picture. I had lived in
California for awhile and had all sorts of stories which were
interesting if you'd lived in Ohio all of your life, and I was
in law school, so if I could get a nubile wench into my
quarters, tell her some stories, slap Highway One on the
turntable, and, uh, bring out some recreational substances I was
usually good to go, as long as the lady was of particular skill
as to keep my stiffy from evaporating under the glare of the
schmaltzy music.
Well, I thought for just a minute that we were back to those
days when I popped open the mail and the Hyptonic CD fell out,
what with the name of the CD being "when it rains" and
lightning and stuff on the cover and titles like "Waterfolk"
and "Moon and Stars" and "Space Love." All
that evaporated, however, within the first few seconds of
"Listen to Me, Listen" the CD's opening track. This is
all good stuff, (almost) from beginning to end.
Hyptonic is just that, a hip tonic of many ingredients, with
elements of jazz, Electronica ("Space Love,")
funk, and hiphop all mixed in quite nicely. There seem to be
half a jillion members, who slip in and out of the proceedings,
but the arrangements are never cluttered, as the players are
pretty much limited in number to five or six per track. Every
one of the players is competent at worst, killer at best, and
keyboardist Scotty Verdoe, who leads this aggregation, with
vocalist Lydia, does a super job of keeping things on track.
Verdoe doesn't show a lot of flash, though he'll step out
briefly once in awhile ("Wastin' My Time") just to
show he can. He demonstrates, however, that what is not played
is often as important as what is. Lydia, doesn't have a lot of
range, but she doesn't need it. Her voice is so expressive, and
fits the material so perfectly, that pyrotechnics are neither
needed or wanted here. On that rare occasion when she does start
to strain ("Down") Nate Quinn, alto sax player extraordinaire,
jumps in and helps things along. And that's what a band, and a
good musician in it, is supposed to do. There are also a couple
of jazzy hiphop pieces with guest rappers (Bomshot on "Moon
and Stars" and Chill on "Chill with Me") that
permit Brian Verrochi to demonstrate his prowess on electric
bass.
Hyptonic pretty much limits themselves to their home base of
Boston, appearance-wise. IT might be worth a trip there if
you're within a few hundred miles of that city just to check
them out. In the meantime, check out "when it rains."
This CD, and this band, are worthy of far more notice than
they've received to date.
|
| Artist |
Hyptonic |
| Title |
When it rains... |
| Label |
self
released |
| Reviewer |
Joe Hartlaub |
| Rating |
 |
|
 |
| website |
Hyptonic
Home Site |
| win stuff |
 |
|
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