The fact that Island Poetry shows the spirit of 1970s rock to be full of energy can be seen in its use of large Hammond organs, thick guitars, strong melodies and songs intended to be played loud.
It is a pleasure to meet a band that fully understands the reason why classic rock has remained so popular without seeing the past as something one should treat like an exhibit in a museum. The Boston-based rock group Mad Painter are now launching their album Island Poetry, which incorporates the seriousness, drama and melodic range typical of 1970s rock while at the same time giving those well-known features a clear modern twist. The album, released by the independent Italian label Epictronic, features a range of styles including hard rock, progressive rock, glam rock and melodic rock over twelve tracks, including hard rock, progressive rock, glam and melodic rock over twelve tracks, the Hammond organ often playing a central part in the music. Alex Gitlin, who founded the band and writes their songs, has developed a style that fits well with the great British rock tradition. The band members include Al Hendry on drums, Kenne Highland on bass, Al Naha on guitar, and Sharon Crumrine and Julie Gee as the backing vocalists. It is thanks to this combination of musicians that they achieve the full-band sound which is what gives Island Poetry its distinctive character. One gets the impression that the musicians are actually playing together rather than just putting the various parts together, and this method is in line with the album’s warm, analog-style production.
A noteworthy feature of Island Poetry is that each of the songs starts with a different musical idea; for example, “Debt Collector” and “Suit of Worries” are inspired by Deep Purple and as a result have the heavy sound associated with the Hammond organ, a feature typical of that band. “Empty Bottles” adopts a simpler boogie-rock style which is influenced by Status Quo, whereas “Spin Your Ventilator” embraces the raw power of AC/DC. In other cases, “Last Night You Dreamed I Was in Love with Someone Else” is based on Rainbow, “Shadow of the Words” displays Queen’s dramatic style, and “Two Horsemen” examines the double-guitar textures connected with Wishbone Ash. The variety of the tracks ensures that the album remains interesting without at the same time giving up its individual character; ‘Nektarized’ creates a space-disco atmosphere akin to that of Ganymed, ‘I Am the King’ shows influences from the Moody Blues and ‘Stand Your Ground’ has a more intense and aggressive style derived from Motörhead. The inclusion of ‘Circle of Hands’ on the album—since it is Mad Painter’s version of the Uriah Heep classic—also links the album directly to one of the main influences on the band’s sound, and ‘Tommy Lost It All’ is an expression of Mad Painter’s own well-established musical style. Dmitry M. Epstein, who is a writer and music journalist, wrote the lyrics to six of the twelve tracks; these lyrics are witty, full of personality and rich in dramatic imagery and serve to complement the large-scale arrangements rather than merely resting on them. What makes Island Poetry so attractive is its dedication to musicianship. Since all the instruments – such as the Hammond organ, electric guitar, piano, bass, drums and layered vocals – have space to develop, the arrangements have a spacious quality without becoming unnecessarily complex. Mad Painter clearly realise that classic rock is not just about volume or distortion; it also involves melody, dynamics, instrumental interaction and songs that invite the listener to stay with them.
Alex Gitlin plays a central role in the project, and the band’s identity has mainly come about as a result of his songwriting and the way he plays the keyboard. The Hammond organ provides Mad Painter with a distinctive foundation, while the other members contribute the guitar power, the rhythmic drive and the vocal texture necessary for the arrangements to sound complete. Island Poetry is not primarily concerned with reproducing a specific decade but rather with carrying on a musical language which still has things to say; the Mad Painter take the elements associated with Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Queen, Rainbow, Wishbone Ash, AC/DC, Motörhead and other influential groups and use them as the basis for their own songs. For those listeners who prefer albums in which the Hammond organ can take control of a room, the guitars get an opportunity to stretch out and the melodies are given enough space to become memorable, so there is plenty to enjoy on Island Poetry. The album consists of twelve songs and is a tribute to the ideals of classic rock, being performed with enthusiasm together with a clear respect for the skill needed to produce the music. The Mad Painter aren’t attempting to persuade the listeners that the 1970s are returning, while Island Poetry makes a more direct assertion: the essential characteristics of great rock music have never really disappeared. As long as there is good songwriting, skilled and expressive musicianship and the firm determination to play with conviction, the outcome can still have an immediate effect. This album is aimed at people who enjoy the sound of a real band, the tone of a Hammond organ and the clear energy of rock played with purpose.
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