The Moon Is Falling
author: LoneStar
This CD is extraordinary. "Confessions" is my favorite from this CD. It has a little touch of exotic flavor to it and it is just a sexy song. I love it. The CD is just filled with colorful tunes and I think everyone will enjoy it.
LoneStar
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"Fantastically inventive, very tasteful...an astonishingly fresh sounding album!
author: Vitaly Menshikov
If I say that the new Joel Hoekstra album is a step forward in comparison with its predecessor, I will say almost nothing. "The Moon Is Falling" is not only in every respect better than "Undefined", but also is one of the most original and impressive albums I've heard this year, at least. Two out of the fourteen compositions here (all are full instrumental this time): Antonia and Lull (9 & 14) are wonderful, beautiful, very tasteful guitar Art-Rock-based ballads giving the listener some rest in this world of unusual, quite tense, and amazingly innovative music. The other twelve compositions are entities of a unified stylistics representing an extremely unique amalgam of both of the guitar and symphonic kinds of Art-Rock, Jazz-Fusion, Cathedral Metal, and Fifth Element, all of which was from the outset blessed by charisma. (Although the quantity of elements of each of the said genres is variable on different tracks, all of this has on the whole a slight influence upon the state of the album's predominant stylistics.) The sound is very unexpected, to say the least. It is definitely new, clearly modern, and is always diverse and, at the same time, very attractive. All the arrangements on the album are certainly and by all means progressive, and yet, they've been 'constructed' way different than those in classic forms of Progressive Rock. Most of the tracks here consist of arrangements that are marvelously both powerful and atmospheric, and some, in addition, are notable for being lightly touched by music of the East. While the parts of the main soloing instruments: guitar, bass and, in a less degree, keyboards and flutes can be fast in places, the music is basically either slow or mid-tempo. Fantastically inventive, very tasteful, mostly dramatic and, often, quite dark, it is just filled with mystery, magic, and almost physically perceptible hypnotism.
Conclusion. I experienced great pleasure in listening to Joel Hoekstra's "The Moon Is Falling", which is interesting from the first to the last note. I can't compare it with anything else, not to mention the works of so-called electric guitar heroes such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Tony MacAlpine, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. This is an astonishingly fresh sounding album, and I just haven't heard anything like this until now. Highly recommended, of course.
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The Moon Is Falling is a superbly recorded CD of imaginative, kinetic and often
author: Robert Silverstein
On the rise both as a session player and as a solo artist, guitarist Joel Hoekstra released his second solo album in 2003. An adventurous jazzy, rocking guitar instrumental album that will appeal to fans of progressive guitar heroes such as Frank Zappa and Alan Holdsworth, The Moon Is Falling blends 14 tracks of skillfully executed jazz-rock tracks. Recorded in California, New York and Chicago, the album features top support players including Virgil Donati (drums), Ric Fierabracci (bass) and Chris Grove (keyboards). A native of the Chicago area, Hoekstra added to his stellar reputation recently playing in Jim Peterik’s World Stage band as well as in the off-Broadway production of Love, Janis. Adding to his session credits, Hoekstra has also played alongside guitar great Sam Andrews and Big Brother and the Holding Company as well with The Turtles. The follow-up to Hoekstra’s debut album, Undefined, 2003’s The Moon Is Falling is a superbly recorded CD of imaginative, kinetic and often daring guitar-driven sounds.
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Hot shit. Check it out.
author: Jerry Kranitz
Joel Hoekstra is back and his band once again includes the winning rhythm section of Virgil Donati on drums and Ric Fierabracci on bass, and we also have Chris Grove on keyboards. The band come roaring out of the starting gate with the title track, which is a Country-Funk-Metal blend with a fusiony Eddie Van Halen shred solo that announces loudly and proudly that this follow-up to Hoekstra's Undefined CD from 2000 is going to be another monstrous and lusciously varied slab of instrumental guitar heaven.
Among the highlights is "Fire Island", which begins as an easy-paced jazz tune, but includes moments of roadburning rock and mind blowing guitar. Hoekstra excels at incorporating an array of styles and themes into individual tracks in a way that flows seamlessly and comes off like a multi-themed progressive rock suite... all compacted within a 3-4 minute construction. Only 2 of the CD's 14 tracks break the 5 minute mark. Yet Hoekstra manages to make highly sophisticated and totally kick ass statements within a framework that, for him, is clearly not a limitation. "9/11" is a frantic and quirky rocker that includes calmer moments of jazz fusion and much more. And it's interesting that a song called "9/11" would be followed by one with samples of Michael Rennie's statement to the world in The Day The Earth Stood Still for mankind to abandon his war-like ways and join the advanced races' "system that works". Food for thought. And it's a killer tune with the usual Hoekstra variety and includes moments of pounding King Crimson styled power. "The Great Og" is a crunchy rocker with a metallic edge, fiery shred guitar and some cool little spacey bits. "Antonia" and "Confessions" are among the more sedate songs on the CD, and appearing back-to-back in the playlist serve as peaceful breathers in the midst of the storm. "Maybe Just At Parties" is an excellent funky jazz-in-space tune I enjoyed. At nearly 7 minutes "Kaleidoscope" is the longest track of the set and is a roller coaster ride of progressive rock, jazz fusion and metal. And the closing track, the aptly titled "Lull", is an acoustic guitar piece given a freaky edge by barely audible UFO electronics swirling around in the background.
In summary, I give this CD a big thumbs up to guitar fans of all stripes, and the prog rock crowd will find much to enjoy too. Hoekstra is full of flash, but keeps the discerning listener interested and at full attention throughout the album with his skillful and imaginative blend of styles and turn-on-a-dime thematic twists and turns. Hot shit. Check it out.
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