1. Presentation
Originating in Detroit, MI, the five members of the American group House of Usher do not exceed 15 years of average age! A report which proves, once again that the value does not await the number of the years... {Alas, it seems our reviewer mis-translated something or another...-Ed}
2.Composition of the group
Mark Evans: drums, percussion; Mark Jardine: bass; Richard Kaczynski: keyboards; Aaron: voice; Michael Allen Moore: guitars.
3. Antecedents.
Participated in the tribute to ELP Fanfare for the Pirates with a reprise of "Knife Edge."
4. Body of Mind
House of Usher's first album Body of Mind, recorded in 1998 and released January 1999, reveals upon first listen a refined progressive rock, with marked symphonic coloring and offering a rich and complex harmonic unit. The classical approach of keyboardist Richard Kaczynski evokes sometimes the instrumental approach of one Clive Nolan, while the guitar arpeggios and construction of the solos of Michael Allen Moore recall a Hackett-esque approach to the guitar (the solo of "Faith" evokes that in "Firth of Fifth"). A credit to the group, the instrumental sequences are marked by lyrical keyboards and synthesizers in dialogue with melodic guitar (as in the introduction and conclusion of "Don' t Remind Me"). This doesn't mean, however, that the vocals do not reach the same heights: while not possessing a staggeringly original voice, the tone of the vocals are respectable and fit the music; whatever he lacks in range, Aaron makes up for in his capacity to express emotion.
House of Usher claim as influences the music of Genesis and Yes (the influence of the first being definitely more perceptible). Michael Allen Moore reveals his fondness for Steve Howe with a short instrumental interlude on classical guitar... "Obsession, " with its superb instrumental introduction is one of the three major compositions of the album. During 6:28, House of Usher reveals superb inspiration from beginning to end, alternating arpeggios of guitar in half-tone, a disheveled {???-editor} guitar solo and a beautiful vocal presentation. "911," a short instrumental keyboard interlude, is the occasion to point out the Banks-esque and Nolan-eqsue influences of Kaczynski. With its 11:59 of development, the epic "C'est Pas Fini" (introduced by a French monologue on the cyclic nature of existence and the renewal of the generations!) constitutes the major composition of the album. Alternating romantic instrumental sequences (a piano with the traditional emanations, here very present), an emotional song all in reserve, flights of organ and walls of synthetizers, punctuated by a final vibrating guitar solo of the highest intensity, this piece summarizes all the qualities and potentialities of the group.
If House of Usher is able to obtain the means to match production quality to its talent and mature writing, this group has the potential to attain a formative scale on the progressive scene of our time. Their 2nd album should be most telling. (***) -Didier Gonzalez