Reviews
The Fabulous Neutrinos (INFECT003)
Track Listing :
The Fabulous Neutrinos Ice Know Fear The Lighthouse Gazing at the edge of forever Call from the Wild Side 6EQUJS(Wow!) 10000 Maniacs Memory Lingers Here A Question of Time 08-May-07 Expose Progressive Rock Review
I found this review of Neutrinos by Phil Derby over on Expose's web site today. Okay, okay... I was indulging in a spot of ego-googling. Big deal. We all do it... :)
This disc opens in very upbeat, rocking fashion, as electronic music meets rock anthem. "Know Fear", despite the name, is a bright, lighthearted affair, a dead ringer for the stronger melodic output by Tangerine Dream in the mid to late eighties. A soaring electric guitar and softly processed female vocal enhances the mood. Back to energetic with "The Lighthouse", which features an infectious beat and lush synth strings. Pinpoint arrangements and melodies abound. The music isn't daring or original, but the sound quality, composition and production are excellent throughout. On "Gazing at the Edge of Forever" the female vocal returns. She keeps repeating the word "dream," in a breathy whisper that is good initially, but loses its effectiveness somewhat through overuse. "Call from the Wild Side" again begs references to Tangerine Dream, as this could have come straight off their Livemiles CD. "6EQUJS (Wow!)" has even stronger references to TD, sounding much like Christopher Franke's solo material from The London Concert perhaps, though the harpsichord patch again brings to mind Livemiles. Familiar themes and synthesizer sounds run through most of the material, it sort of camps out in a comfortable groove. For fans of earlier vintage Berlin school, or prog rock, or something else, it may seem a bit vanilla. For fans of melodic eighties electronic pop/rock, this should hit the spot. Phil Derby
The full review can be found at http://www.expose.org/extra25n.html#tbassuk" .
Ashley Franklin
Our old friend Ashley Franklin, late of Radio Derby and the fabulous Soundscapes programme had this to say about The Fabulous Neutrinos...
The Neutrinos are Fabulous, indeed. This is one of the most thrilling and soulful synth-rock albums I've ever heard, the sort that leaves you reeling with excitement yet writhing in anger as to why this kind of exhilarating electronica lurks in the shadowy underground while lesser immortals like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher enjoy sunshine and big bucks.
Spanish Progessive Rock
A review of The Fabulous Neutrinos appeared in the Spanish Progessive Rock Web site
T-Bass UK "The Fabulous Neutrinos"
I will not hide anyway that the first time I listened to "The Fabulous Neutrinos", the record hooked to me inmediately. Without a doubt, its great commercial style helped to me. But it happens that, here is demostrated that it's possible to compose very good music, even if has a more "saleable" structure, in this Musical Society that seems to reject, as a whole, everything that means a little mental effort to listen to it.
T-Bass UK is, nevertheless, a band able to make good music, accesible to the public who still don't know who are Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream or other pioneers.
T-Bass Uk influences become clear when listening to this record. British Electronica (they are from Newcastle) as John Dyson, Mark Shreeve or Andy Pickford is present is his more powerful themes ("The Fabulous Neutrinos" or "The Lighthouse". "Call From The Wild Side" remenber the 80's Tangerine Dream to us, and the fabulous "6EQUJS (Wow!)" is a delicious theme with a slow beginning of synthetized strings, who is almost epic in its development. "Asylum" or "Memory Lingers Here" replace the sticky rhythms in a certain intrigued symphonism...
In order to finish, "A Question Of Time" embrace to us again with its frantic and funny rthythm. I really can't avoid... "The Fabulous Neutrinos" is an essential record to me when I'm driving at night...
Review by Jorge Sergio Iglesias
Classic Rock Magazine
A second excellent review of The Fabulous Neutrinos appeared in the March edition of the Classic Rock magazine.
First of all get yourself a large mixing bowl and add to it a bit of Tangerine Dream, a bit of Jarre, a bit of solo Rick Wakeman, a touch of dance, the words rock and ambient and give it all a good stir. That might sound a bit simplistic but when it is cooked with the use of David J Hughes' regalia of keyboards, Jules C's similar regalia, David Wilson's excellent guitars, samples etc and David Maughan's additional bits it all comes out as a colourful blend of electronic soundscapes. The difference here is that much of this music has a melody or two while painting its musical pictures. Too much of the electro music of today starts out with good intentions before getting lost and losing the listener, this cannot be said of T-Bass UK.
The title track is a splendid upbeat piece of music that keeps the attention, being less than five minutes in duration. The track timings are another important pointer since they don't meander with a lot of, what might be called, electronic repetition, in fact the album is less than an hour long. However, the mechanical drums will no doubt offend many, but this music is meant to be a tad futuristic and so a machine replacing man has to be expected.
This is not quite the usual bag of electro wizardry that can often get boring and T-Bass UK have to be congratulated on getting the mix just about right - except for the motionless 'Asylum', a three minutes worth of nothing really.
Review by Martin Hudson
ClassiC Rock Society II
Journal of the Classic Rock Society [November 2002]
T-Bass UK are David J Hughes (Keyboards), Jules C (Keyboards) and David Wilson (Guitar); specialising in a unique brand of up-tempo electronic music. The Fabulous Neutrinos gets the CD off to a cracking toe-tapping start, with good interplay between guitar and guitar synthesiser, Ice is an atmospheric link leading into Know Fear, a beautiful laid back number. The Lighthouse, a Dance beat backing to a guitar synthesiser, Gazing at the Edge of Forever starts slowly then gently rolls along, finally erupting with added percussion and guitar, Call from the Wild Side features a thumping snare drum beat with guitar and synthesiser accompaniment, and guitar synthesiser to finish.
6EQUJS (Wow!) begins with voice samples, synthesiser washes and drumbeats, and rounds off with guitar synthesiser, Asylum is a weird track of atmospheric sounds, something Tangerine Dream might have done in their heyday, 10000 maniacs is a drifting number, briefly lifted by percussion.
Memory Lingers Here is the outstanding track, dominated by percussion to start with, then the guitar begins a magnificent solo, with keyboards providing the backdrop, interchanges continue to a finale. A Question of Time begins with a harpsichord introduction, quickly giving away to thumping percussion and keyboard guitar, making way for guitar proper to continue, keyboard guitar finally finishing off the number and the CD in style.
For anyone wishing to sample Electronic Music for the first time this album is the perfect introduction.
Review by Wallace Sephton
Compact Disc Services (Electronic Music Supplement 2002)
T-Bass UK are a four-piece unit that place melody, structure and a strong feeling of atmosphere ahead of anything else - and the result is eleven strong tracks in the four to seven minute time-scale. Their music has potentially wide appeal in that fans of melodic synth music (Andy Pickford / John Dyson / Wavestar / Mark Shreeve & later Tangerine Dream) and tuneful fantasy prog-rock (Gandalf / Steve Hackette / Nick Magnus etc. ) will all get something from it. It is a multi-dimensional instrumental album that opens with a title track performance made of true grit, blowing away others in a playing field where there are many who aspire to... but never quite make it. Synths, electric guitars, bass and powerful percussion and the ability to reproduce big, infectious themes and evocative melodies and really make them count in terms of pure enjoyment are all the elements that make this four-piece unit tick. This is music that can blaze and rock at one minute and take you into a trance like state the next. You can dream to some with beautifully arranged choral keyboard textures, tap your feet to others and revel in the glories of dramatic, progressive, grandiose thematic passages that feature all the soaring synth and electric guitar work that this style of music usually offers. Some keyboard passages can bring Tangerine Dream to mind and others might provoke images of instrumental Genesis - that is the diversity of what we call quality cross-over instrumental music, in that you don't have to be a fan of any one genre to get into it. You can play this in the car or on the hi-fi at home - the effects is the same - musical escapism that brings nothing but pure enjoyment!"
To buy this album from Compact Disc Services click here
Review by Andi Garibaldi
Backroads Music (Electronic Music Supplement 2002)
Whilst trawling the net a couple of weeks ago I found a very good review of The Fabulous Neutrinos over on the Backroads web page. Lloyd Barde of Backroads had this to say about the disc...
From carefully framed rock anthem modes to reflective moods that are tranquil and tender, the new T-Bass UK CD is a wonder of modern EM. Coupling atmospheric passages with romance, beauty and the ability to knock your socks off is quite a feat, no pun intended. The rhythms develop lots of power, with heavily laden effects at all the right turns, and the overall sense of reach between majesty and tenderness is no less than awesome. If you are a fan of any of Wavestar, Pickford, Intelligentsia, Bekki Williams, or Mark Shreeve, this one is ripe for the picking. To say that this is a commercial venture is in the best sense of the word , & the appeal outside of the normal EM/import world should be extensive.
21st Century Music[July 2002]
A new work by David Hughes from Newcastle upon Tyne's group. A trio devoted to make an efficacious and direct musical style. With the opening track "The fabulous neutrinos" this cd catch immediately the attention with an assault by an electronic sound founded on pressing rythms with the catching Dave Wilson's guitar. With an ambientation style very close to rock. After this, the musical atmosphere dissolves itself in more majestic and quiet sounds, giving the start also the romantic side of T-Bass group; winding soundscapes of great beauty and energy. With the track "The Lighthouse", T-Bass return to ride the rythm, carrying in a vortex of energy...... One of T-Bass point of force is the simplicity of the harmonies and sounds used. They use an immediate and genuine language that give vitality and radiance to their music, bringing a great communicative and very enjoiable style also for the listeners that don't listen often electronic music. This simple style, that to a very superficial listening session can appear a weakness, in opposite way reveal itself the winning ace of this cd.
Discovering itself as the best way to bring emotions to listeners. In this point of view "Fabulous Neutrinos" sticks in the heart of listeners like a sword. Fabulous Neutrinos is simple, honest, luminous and very beautiful cd.
Review by Carlo Camilloni
Translated from the Italian by Massimo Pavan of Beyond Limits.
C & D Services [January 2002]
This album breaks all the rules - for a start, most people who know me, on hearing this, would automatically assume I wouldn't like it. "But it's got melodies - real tunes - and electronic drums - for you it's positively commercial", I can hear them cry.But you see - I also know quality when I hear it - and this is quality and a half.
Christ - the opening track alone has more to it than three quarters of the electronic albums I've heard this year - and don't let the word 'electronic' fool you either, because the guitar work on this track is stunning too. It's one of those tracks that, if it didn't immediately seque into track two, you'd have no hesitation at playing again right after it ends, it being a multi-layered powerhouse of melody, rhythm, tune, excitement, warmth and enthusiasm, sort of Shreeve-like ("Legion/Crashead"-era) but without the indulgences. By contrast, track two starts all ethereal and cosmic, with echoed effects, but still solid, as a strong electro-percussive rhythm steams in, all around a warm glow of synths and strings, as a distant electric guitar figure lights up the night sky, and the track develops a lead melody line that just soars sublimely, in keeping with every track on the album, literally making you feel good just to listen to it - and that's the secret. This is an album that lights up your life with its ideas and tunes, layers and melodies, rhythms and soundscapes, creative and accessible, synth music and progressive elements combined, familiar but original, and above all individual - this is not retro, not retreads - the sounds of a band putting its heart and soul into a set of the most exceptionally muscular addictive synth compositions you've heard in years, with an appeal that, were it to be played on commercial radio anywhere, would have listeners phoning in by the truckload to find out what it was and where they could get it. The lead synth melodies and synth solos are to die for, while the effective and sparing use of the guitar only adds to the dizzy heights that the music achieves, while arrangements, a perfect production and superb sound quality can't fail to leave you in awe at the result. Probably the best commercial synth album in the world - ever.
To buy this album from Compact Disc Services click here
Review by Andy Garibaldi
21st Century Music
The following review of The Fabulous Neutrinos appears on the 21st Century Music web site where the album is CD of the week. The following is the English version of the review.
This album takes the listener immediately attacking him with an electronic based on an imminent rhythm and aggressive guitar, with a music near the rock. Then the atmosphere dissolves in quieter and more majestic sounds, winding off in front of us landscapes of great beauty and energy, to come back then to ride the rhythm. One of the points of force of the band is the simple [h]armonies and used sounds, an immediately and sincere language, a better way to transmit emotions and, under this point of view, this album goes inside the heart like a sword. Simple, sincere, nice and bright.
Synth Music Direct Magazine [April 2001]
The Fabulous Neutrinos is a cracking album. T Bass UK have come a long way since The Infection of Time. That was also an enjoyable album but what we have here is a very well balanced and produced CD. One could even say 'slick'.
The title track kicks the album off and its as powerful a number as you could want : drums, guitar and loads of synths combine together to form something of a rock anthem. Ice is a short atmospheric bridge taking us to Know Fear. Here the mood is much more reflective and even tender reminding me a little of some of Andy Pickfords more tranquil tracks. Its initially all very lush and atmospheric. A rhythm starts up and the track develops a little umph though it is all kept under control retaining the beauty of the first half throughout. The Lighthouse is another number which really socks it to you and lets rip. You could find yourself playing the air drums, air keyboard or even air guitar, probably all at the same time! Gazing at the Edge of Forever begins in tranquil mode then a slow loping rhythm enters. This rhythm develops as we progress giving the track real power. The melodies and guitar riffs also combine to form yet another stonker. Call from the Wild Side is the closest this album gets to pop. It could even be used as a TV theme tune, all very melodic and boppy. 6EQUJS (Wow!) begins with the sound of a radio being tuned in we then get something which sounds as if it could have come from one of TD's mid 90s albums. Its all rather pleasant, nice melodies, relaxing drums and some fine guitar playing. Asylum is a wonderful and all too short slow atmospheric brooder, a great contrast to the two previous numbers (its this mixing of moods that is one of the reasons this CD is so impressive). 10000 Maniacs reminds me a little of 'Melrose' period TD and if it had been on that album it would have been one of my favourites. Memory Lingers Here is yet another highly enjoyable slab of easy to get on with melodic synth / guitar music. Great for relaxing to on a hot summers day. A Question of Time finishes the album like we started, that is in in rock star mode, a great one for some on stage pyrotechnics. This album is essential for all those who like artists such as Andy Pickford, Intelligentsia, Bekki Williams or Mark Shreeve. Its all rather commercial in the best sense of the word and is one of those albums that could be liked by someone outside the EM scene as well as within.
Review by David Law
Sequences Magazine [April 2001]
Launched at the Newcastle Bridge House gig (reviewed elsewhere) and another in the "don't hold you breath" series (weve only been waiting 5 years for it, after all!), this album sees the triumphant return of Dave Hughes and friends, after a name change or two and the odd law suit (allegedly). To cut a long story short, anybody who enjoyedThe Infection Of Time will go a bundle on this as, despite the increased participation and co-writing of Jules C. and Dave Wilson this is still typically and recognisably Dave Hughes' music, starting with the racy opening that is the title track. Some rocky guitar accompanies the screaming synth leads which makes this a high octane number of the first order. This formula is repeated throughout the album to good effect including the closing Question Of Time that was first aired at EMMA 4 way back when (so not many of you will have heard it before, arf!!). Lighthouse is similar but with a slightly trancey feel to the rhythms while Call Of The Wild is a lighter melodically easy going variant of the established style. The slower pieces, while retaining the general style of those from the previous album, do show a marked increase in expertise at establishing powerful and majestic moods, helped in no small measure by the soaring guitar work on Gazing At The Edge Of Forever which builds from it's quiet origins into a piece of stunning intensity, turn up the volume and it's almost overwhelming. 6EQUJS(Wow!) is also slow but less intense with a more reflective feel and this gives way to the industrial noise collage that isAsylum which gives way in turn to 1000 Maniacs which proves to be a more surreally atmospheric piece by din of some effective harpsichord/synth sounds. Memory Linger Here again cranks up the majestic content and proves that the band are making some small steps towards incorporating rock elements into their sound while Know Fear shows that more though has been put into each track's dynamics by only introducing the rhythms once the theme has been well established.
While retaining the easily recognisable TB style this album does show a greater maturity in terms of dynamics, production and arrangements and is an important step in their evolution. Dave said many years ago that a bad second album would finish them off, with music like this they'll be around a long time yet.
Review by C.J.
The Infection Of Time (INFECT003)
Track Listing :
Storm Front (4:33) Tranquility Bass (8:13) The Infection of Time (5:31) Mariner (5:53) Ozone Park (4:29) Inferno (2:08) Four Wheel Jive (4:33) The Torch (I carry burnt by hand...) (6:27) Network of the Heart (6:58) Lovesong (Are you still there?) (4:36) Revised review by Compact Disc Services
From the opening track, you'd be forgiven if you thought that you had stumbled accross an early Mark Shreeve album, with its driving electronic and percussive rhythms, its soaring melodies and solos, and an overall full-sounding depth as sequencers, electronic drums, wailing leads and horizon-stretching keyboard layers all combine to provide a really strong and solid start. The seven and a half minute 'Tranquility Bass' opens slowly before building up a new head of electro-percussive rhythmic steam and this time soars up into a sparkling and solid world of multi-synths melodic power, changing shape as it progresses, but remaining exceedingly Shreeve-like, and no bad thing, because this is superb stuff all round. The five-minute title track is slower rhythmically, but still a forceful piece of music with some soaring synth soloing in the middle that's positively anthemic in its sound and pace. Throughout the album there's all the required elements of depth, strength and emotion, while the multi-layered mix of synths, electronic drums and sequencers is played to perfection. If you enjoyed the follow-up to this album, 'Fabulous Neutrinos', or like the early-mid 80's Mark Shreeve albums, you'd do well to check this out.
To buy this album from Compact Disc Services click here
Review posted on ElectronicMusic.com
This album has all the ingredients I love to hear from pure electronic music releases - rich analog textures, pompous percussion tracks and flagrantly indulgent synth solos.
Parallels with Tangerine Dream can be drawn with their best years more than ably emulated throughout most of this debut release. There are also callbacks to other mainstays from the glory years of prog/pop synth music with comparisons to numerous popular artists helping to validate the work of David Hughes, the man behind the machines.
Without slipping into a timewarp to get inspiration for this collection of big synth tunes he has instead taken freely from his heart and exhibited an obvious love for the genre by creating a collection of truly classic sounding instrumental odysseys.
So if you like big synthesizer sounds, analog and digital vocal pads, big fat drum machine sounds and moog basses mixed in with full on stereo sound effects you'll love this album too.
Rating - 813,109 (out of a possible 1,000,000)
EMMA Magazine 95/4
There are quite a few people getting fairly excited about this new release. Let's see why...
Storm Front gets the album off to a flying start and I mean flying. No sooner has a torrent of sequencers exploded onto the scene than the lead melody kicks into gear. A little more time for altitude adjustment would have been preferable but it's a well controlled and catchy motif which even the summary thrashing of a baked bean can in that background cant detract from.
Onto Tranquility Bass and this is where things start to get seriously good. The openning refrains of this piece are a deeper shade of tangerine than much of TD's more recent offerings and shows the potential in the style of music that they have been pursuing. Once the sequencers are unleashed and the lead lines start flowing a classic slab of EM can be the only result. The title track opens with a wide-eyed and optimistic theme which, for a moment, sounds perilously close to straying into muzak territory but, fortunately, the rest of the track puts it into context and the closing refrains simply put a lustre on an already accomplished outing.
The Mariner expertly changes the mood of the album to one of foreboding with powerful sequences and regimental drums accompanying a brooding melody. Ozone Park returns to an uptempo and optimistic theme, the snatch of lead synth at the mid point being particularly impressive. Inferno is a short ambient interlude which may not see the light of day I'm told but I've heard worse included on many CD's.
Four Wheel Jive is again accomplished but perhaps just a little too similar to that which has gone before, however, The Torch keeps the album well on track with an excellent melody tackled with some aplomb. The element of surprise is always a good tactic and the laid back style of Network Of The Heart, complemented with a soulful sax, is a well judged departure which works superbly. Lovesong appropriately ends in uptempo fashion with another storming lead.
This is an excellent debut album which Shreeve and modern TD fans will certainly find to their taste. Consistency is good throughout and some of these tracks are up there with the best. Like the cover too!
Review by Graham Getty
Midas Records Update Oct/Nov 1995
Tremendous debut CD release from David Hughes. Mark Shreeve fans will simply love this album - powerful tight, relentless rhythms and strong lead lines make this an unmissable treat. The album is due any day now but if you want a foretaste of what 's on offer there is a limited edition sampler cassette available which offers edited highlights of three tracks from the album. We think you'll like what you hear!!
Review by Les May
Neu Harmony List Number Eleven
The first thing that strikes you about this album is the stunning appearance of the packaging. But is the music as good as the cover? Undoubtedly yes! David Hughes, the man behind T-Bass, is set to become one of the next big names in upbeat British synth music. The tracks have the rhythmic quality of Shreeve and Franke coupled with some of the better moments of nineties TD. Oh, and yes. The production just could not be bettered.
Review by David Law
Sequences issue 15, February 1996
There's a clue in the title of what to expect of this album : a hi-tech rhythm section and infectious melodies in a very fiery style very much along the lines of Mark Shreeve's music, locked into a definite groove. Ten tracks of highly energetic sounds showcasing the musician's talents admirably - a delight from start to finish. 'Storm Front' kicks off in an explosive manner whose steam rolling rhythms underpinning thrashed out synth chords, high and mighty. A real kick in the butt! 'Mariner' slow s down the proceedings somewhat. The effect is immediately beautiful and emotionally, a real charmer. Most of the other pieces are of an exhilarating nature to convey a varied tapestry of melodic sounds which are ultimately very satisfying. The final track, Lovesong, is difficult to sum up - I'm not sure whether the sax works here but it does see them trying something different. So, if you're more into the get up and go aspect of synth music then this album comes highly recommended.
Review by Mick Garlick
C&D Services Synth / Ambient catalogue issue 1
As the barriers between ambient and 'traditional' synth gradually erode we think we're ready to lay the odd bit of traditional synth on you and so here's a bit now. What seperates most 'trad' synth from the rest is its reliance on tunes and melodies, with more emphasis on solos and prog influences and the good ones have these in abundance without them being too sweet, built on a solid foundation of powerful and dynamic drum/percussive/electronic rhythms.
Welcome to 'T-Bass' who have all of these qualities in abundance starting with the anthemic 'Storm Front' built on a wickedly powerful rhythm bass as the lead tune and central melodic heart solos over the top in fine high register fashion. This segues into the dreamy title track which, again has a melodic and tuneful heart to it leading into another electronic drum rhythm pattern as synth bass and more of the (fondly used by these style musicians) high register solo melodies enter the track which steams along with the layers and melodic dynamics soaring all over the place reaching a central climax as a wailing synth solos on top of the multi-layered music foundations, ending as dreamily as it began. Overall, in variously sculptured and composed settings, this is the sphere in which the music exists and, providing you like your synth music to have a lot going on, have plenty of tunes and/or melodic content, have dynamics and strong rhythms and a richly textured set of sounds, then this one is for you.
Review by Dave Shoesmith
Windspell Music
A couple radio stations back east played this CD a while back and I received so many requests for it, it's now in stock. Just a great debut album, super high energy sequences and excellent musicianship abound. Pickford fans! You would love this CD! So far, this is one of the best releases of the year! It's even British!
Review by Michael Garrison
Paint it Red : June 1996
There are some classy electronic compositions on the debut album from this local outfit but before you start wailing about why this isn't getting a review in the Dance section, it's because this isn't Dance music. Much more in the vein of late seventies German Electronica, The Infection of Time presents the listener with a skillfully assembled and mentally stimulating collection of head-nodding instrumentals of a quality that make you wonder why T-Bass aren't better know. You shouldn't bother getting that latest crap, mass-produced pseudo chillout album : get this instead and hear some real music - well worth seeking out and available at Newcastle's RPM.
Review by Tim Johnson