Artist: Rod DeGeorge Album: Cosmic Playground Label: Intrinsic Records Website: http://www.degeorgemusic.com Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: Dance of the Dragonfly Cosmic Playground Mr. E. Train Reflections Hyperspace Cowboy Hungarian Foothills Techno Difficulties Dawn Morning Sun Rondo Alla Turca State of Flux One thing that always concerns me with instrumental rock albums...especially those of an instrumental guitar-based style...is that songs can tend to sound a bit...samey. Tracks seem written not to create a mood and a texture...to create a song...but to serve as a springboard for acrobatic and occasionally grandiose displays of musical masturbation. Rod DeGorge’s album Cosmic Playground is a refreshing change of pace then. Rod’s no slouch as a guitarist...his lead playing is fluid and precise, showing fleet fingered dexterity through bursts of notes while also showing a deft hand and willingness to pull things back and show restraint. One wouldn’t necessarily fault him for falling into the trap of writing some bases from which to build some high-flying guitar solos. Instead, he’s crafted a diverse album of songs, each with a distinct texture and style, and alters his playing to suit each track. Let me give you a few examples... “Hyperspace Cowboy” – loads of down home, funky chicken pickin’ and a country rock feel filtered through some heavy musical backing. Not necessarily the Dixie Dregs, nor heavy fusion like Mahavishnu, this track is such a divergence from what one typically hears on a rock instrumental album that its freshness is almost a gimmick. This is a fun and enjoyable little piece that never outstays its welcome. “Hungarian Foothills” – I’m not sure that I detect much eastern European feel here. There are loads of sitars, and the Eastern tone is more Middle Eastern than anything else. “Techno Difficulties” – This is a more straightforward rock track, even though it’s built around a more processed, loopy rhythm line. DeGeorge’s playing starts out far more processed, and his fleet-fingered soloing about 2:30 in sounds mechanical and robotic, suiting the title and more digital, computer based style the track was perhaps intended to display. The addition of some nice volume controlled/pedal tone playing a minute or so later really sets things off in another direction. “Dawn” – The obligatory neo-classical, nylon string guitar piece. Quick bursts of notes alternate with held chords and harmonics. DeGeorge’s slower, more legato style of playing is equally on display here, and the contrast between the two styles in one piece works incredibly well. Four straight songs...these are tracks five through eight on the album. Four totally different styles of playing...four totally different ways of approaching the guitar from a songwriting, arranging and playing standpoint. Not once did I feel that DeGeorge was playing out of his depth, or showing a lack of musical integrity. His playing exhibits a playfulness that I often find lacking on releases from other instrumental guitarists. And I think that is perhaps the most telling thing about Cosmic Playground. It’s a fun record. DeGeorge is having fun, and I think he hopes his listeners will have as much fun listening along as he obviously did in writing and playing this material. It’s almost a shame that the album is only 38 minutes long...it’s over in a flash, and leaves you wanting more. DeGeorge has also gathered together a solid backing group to help realise his compositions. Tony Morra is a beast on drums...his kit is mixed incredibly well, with loads of presence. He can pound out a beat with the heaviest of hitters, it seems, yet he also shows admirable lightness of touch where needed on quieter parts. Marty Mellinger’s keyboard playing has to keep up with DeGeorge on guitar, and he handles those bursts of notes with ease while also contributing orchestral backings that enrich the often complex, breakneck arrangements. A pair of bassists (Kevin Vecchione and Rob Luciani) handle the bottom end on slightly more than half the tracks (DeGeorge plays bass on the four remaining pieces), and their playing is tight and in the pocket the whole time. Their playing is part of the heart that beats at the center of each song. Looking over his website (the address is happily provided above), it seems this is Rod DeGeorge’s only release to date. Assuming that this is his debut release, it almost frightens me what we may see in the future from this incredibly talented musician. Rod DeGeorge is a player to be reckoned with, and a player to watch. Cosmic Playground is more than a calling card...it’s a full-on statement of purpose that he has arrived and demands your attention. Band Members: Rod DeGeorge – guitar and bass Tony Morra – drums and percussion Marty Mellinger – piano and keys/orchestral sounds Kevin Vecchione – bass (tracks 1, 4, 5, 11) Bob Luciani – bass (tracks 2, 3) Sigma X81 (Soh Kimura) – additional drum/synth/piano programming on “Techno Difficulties”