CoelacanthDance
An eclectic swirling stew of 'Rock/World Fusion/Electronica/Groove/Psychedelia'.
CoelacanthDance's track - 'KarmaZone', from debut CD - 'Sonic Excursions and Audio Spasms' has been selected for inclusion on Progressive Rock Hall of Fame's first Compilation CD - 'Soundscapes Volume 1'.
CoelacanthDance won 1st place in the 'Live Performance Video' category on the fan-voted site OurStage.com for September, 2008, for a live version of 'KarmaZone' recorded live at McNally's Tavern, Regina, Saskatchewan.
The music incorporates elements of middle eastern, arabic, space and progressive rock with ambient, electronica, jazz, funk, world fusion, psychedelia ... and beyond ...
Influences - musical and otherwise: King Crimson, Hawkwind, CAN, Soft Machine, Ozric Tentacles, TOOL, Grateful Dead, Phish, Nag Champa Incense, Porcupine Tree, Tabla Beat Science, British style pickled onions, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Thai Curry, the phases of the moon, soft grey mornings, the Saskatchewan prairies, the deep blue sea, the curve of a woman's hip ...
'CoelacanthDance', (pronounced SEAL-a-canth-Dance) started as a one person studio project of original instrumental compositions by Steve McDonnell playing all instruments: guitars, bass, keyboards and drum programming, plus contributions from 2 other local musicians Todd Bryanton and Don Modderman.
The studio project has evolved into a full band consisting of:
Steve'The Fish' McDonnell: guitars, bass, Trent Mailander: drums/percussion, Brent Pylot: bass, guitars, Don Modderman: keyboards/flutes/wind instruments, bass, Steve'The Hat"Jeske: guitar, bass, keyboards, various percussion, cool hats, Len Imbery: Synth accordion
Review -- COELACANTH DANCE -- Sonic Excursions and Audio Spasms
SONIC EXCURSIONS and AUDIO SPASMS
Coelacanth Dance
Crying Fish Music
7.5-out-of-10
Sit back for an amazing musical journey as you start to spin Sonic Excursions and Audio Spasms from Regina's uniquely named Coelacanth Dance.This is another one of a growing number of one-man CD efforts that seem to be popping up in the musical field.In this case the man behind the music is Steve McDonnell. He basically provides all the guitars, bass, keyboards, drum programming/percussion. The CD is recorded at Crying Fish Studio in Regina, which again is McDonnell's baby. He even did the CD design, right down to its fantastical artwork. So it's pretty clear this is an effort that is near and dear to the creator's heart. Sometimes when you get a deeply personal album it simply means the writer/musician is flogging something no one else would touch. In this case Coelacanth Dance is a name you should associate with fine music.The sound is strongly electronica influenced, although on a cut like the opening Gumbo Lounge there is a jazz feel that pops through the musical veil quite often.That splash of jazz is something you hear several times here.At other times McDonnell slows the music down, such as on Rain Dreams, and you end up with a relaxed, melodic musical experience, filled with dream moods. A key here is that McDonnell borrows a trick from the best of jazz, and serves up long pieces that allow larger musical tapestries. The shortest work among the eight cuts logs in at 4:37, with five eclipsing six minutes, the longest; Karma Zone at 11:11.This is a relaxing musical effort, one that can provide a nice background to a small gathering, or simply be enjoyed any day you need to chill. It's a good vibes CD.
-- CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Nov. 26, 2008 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Official website: www.cdance.ca
MySpace site: www.myspace.com/coelacanthdance
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