| 07 October 2010
Source: AND Magazine
ALAIN JOHANNES SOLO DEBUT
Solo debut CD titled Spark
Allison Boring | AND Magazine
Soul bearing, heart wrenching, amazing love and the beautiful sadness that is Spark....
Alain Johannes best known for his impressive work with groups Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell, Brody Dalle's Spinnerette, Mark Lanegan and The Desert Sessions as a musician and producer, has released his solo debut album Spark.
Alain also founded the band Eleven, with his wife and creative partner Natasha Schneider and Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam). Natasha lost her battle with cancer in July, 2008. Alain wrote the opening track for Spark 'Endless Eyes' to honor Natasha and performed it at The Natasha Schneider Benefit Concert held at the Henry Fonda Theater (The Music Box) in August, 2008.
Alain proves on this album that he has more power and strength than most people, to not only write songs about the loss of a partner but perform them flawlessly. He plays all instruments on this album which is not something that every artist can pull off. This 8 track CD he plays primarily on cigfiddle, but also performing 12-string guitar, harmonium, drums, percussion, cello, and all main and backing vocals. The collection of songs on this album are of a great love, sadness, longing, and above all almost unwilling acceptance of the loss of his spouse.
Refreshing, this album is nothing like any cookie cutter band you have heard on the radio recently and for that I am thankful. Indian as well as flamenco and classical influences are prevalent throughout the album. Alain's cigfiddle and 12-string performances and picking on this album are nothing short of amazing and his vocals and harmonies are incredibly strong.
Perhaps Josh Homme of Them Crooked Vultuers and Queens of the Stone Age says it best...
"Lock up your auto tune. Hide your American Idol dolls. Burn your dream journal. Alain Johannes is releasing his musical Kraken, Spark. It will destroy all manufactured, contrived, 2% music in the land. Spark is undeniable."
One of the songs that seems to be the most powerful on the album is a track entitled 'Make God Jealous' which you can see him perform below. Regarding 'Unfinished Plan' the backing vocals on this song remind me of a large Russian choir that I heard perform while visiting the Ukraine, encompassing depth. This track while it may be the closing cut on the album, it feels like we are only led out to the Intermission that is the journey...Out of darkness... comes...Spark.
Alain is also giving away 2 free bonus tracks with the release of this CD. The first of these is 'Return To You', this song has a little bit a McCartney feel to it. The first bonus track can be downloaded HERE.
The second bonus track is called 'Fall To Grace' and can be downloaded HERE.
Releasing on Rekords Rekords / Ipecac today October 5th, 2010 available on www.alainjohannes.com or on Amazon and iTunes.
Alain performs 'Endless Eyes' at Pukklepop 2010.
Alain performs 'Make God Jealous' at Pukklepop 2010.
Article written by: Allison Boring | AND Magazine