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EatMag.com
August, 2001
A full-blown, slammin' jazz fusion disc by a trio of underestimated players that have only flirted with genre before. They sound as if they were conceived to jam. A few intros: bassist Manring studied with Jaco Pastorius but uses a subtler, more reclusive style that fit well with his stints supporting Michael Hedges and Montreaux. Drummer Stevens has fronted several of his own one-off Mistaken Identities supergroups (much like Brand X). While guitarist McGill has an astonishing grassroots rep among psych-prog collectors for his trippy Hand Farm project. Collectively, MMS are more texture-oriented like John Abercrombie's recent groove work than an endless scorched-fret, hard metal freakout like Buckethead. McGill and Manring are distinct from other string players who attempt to cram as many notes into a phrase as possible. Instead, they allow their instruments vibrate naturally in a vast, spacious brilliance. Stevens is a busy contender without shouldering aside the other two, a sensitive timekeeper who pulls back just in time to fit Addition's many attitudes. From fiery flamencos to new age solace, from futuristic digi-metal to bluesy swings, this trio is creative in most any context. Fans of guitarist David Torn or Steve Tibbetts will discover familiar acoustic/electric chemistry- one that's spiritual and serene for certain passages, but then jacks the amperage for an explosive finale.
Review by Virginia Reed
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