There is, in the world of music, a few words that will strike fear into your heart, words such as ‘Machine Head’s new album’ or ‘Cannibal Corpse’s new concept jazz influenced latest EP’ and yes, I know I’m being a smart arse. But words and phrases like experimental, concept, improvisational, send a cold shiver of dread down my spine. Not that I am averse to any of these ideas, it’s just that often, these highfaluting ideas are poorly executed, self-congratulatory examples of aural onanism that have no place being in my ears. I think that’s why arena straddling behemoths plying exactly this tyle of music (Rush, Dream Theater etc.) leave me cold.
Still, in these strange times, where there is nothing much to do except to keep drawing breath, stare out of the window (as I am doing whilst typing this and yes, I am useless at touch typing so undoubtedly this sentence will make about as much sense as our governments current response to the pandemic) and track the rain falling like tears against the windowpane. So far, all very waffly, flowery and overly dramatic but be prepared as Baden Powell said, it gets mighty more flagrant from here-on-in, so buckle up buttercup, we’re going for a ride.
And so to Italian three piece, the exotically named Ikitan, with this their debut release in the form of a twenty minute, one track, instrumental EP that encompasses several genres during it’s running time. Obviously, if you are paying attention, you can probably sense where this review may be heading given the thinly veiled vitriol (not veiled) in the first two paragraphs, highlighting that this type of nonsense may not exactly be my cup of tea. And on the face of it, this largely improvised music wank soup, should be ripe for the picking. I can literally hear, the grimaces, glances and bandanas swooshing the air in Ikitan’s rehearsal space, as the guitarist peels off yet another gigantean solo, leaning back on his self-built altar to the rock guitarists of old, built from bones (metaphorically speaking) of Page, Hammett, Dimebag and Mustaine, as he puffs out his cheeks, closes his eyes and marvels at his swelling trouser area and his halo of self-importance, twinkling and reflecting at his non more marvellous self via the twinkling, sweat flecked cymbals of his long-suffering drummer.
See, it’s easy to mock, castigate and smirk, in fact, I have had a lot of practice, but you know what, (not that I am in any shape, way or from qualified to adjudicate or perform a ‘pollice verso’ on Ikitan), this EP is (musically) OK. It’s an example of a competent band, jamming for 20 minutes and then deciding to release it. Nothing more, nothing less. Ikitan aren’t attempting to save the world, propose a solution to climate change or hoping to eradicate child poverty. They have used Bandcamp to spaff out their efforts into the bosom of the world and what will be, will be. It may veer off into guitar histrionics and encompass some left-over Megadeth riffs and it may not be overly technical either but, it is a decent enough effort and is played with heart and spirit. It has passed sixty minutes (yes maths fans, I have listened to it three times now) of what has been, up until now, a grey, wet and miserable day. This is not going to change the world but it’s a glimpse behind the curtain, into a hard-working and talented bands’ rehearsal space. The playing is good, the ideas are there, and you can imagine that there is a decent album to be squeezed from this trio. The tempo stays middle of the road as does the tone which switches back and forth between regular guitar crunch to flamboyant Van Halen rifferama and so on.
I am a big fan of instrumental bands (Red Sparrows, Animals As Leaders, Russian Circles, Pelican et al) and I appreciate the oeuvre and whilst Ikitan aren’t anywhere near the aforementioned bands in terms of talent, they make a decent fist of things and even ignoring the odd Iron Maiden/Metallica riff steal coupled with the use of a cow bell (sacrilege), this is far from the disaster I may have purported it to be at the start of this missive.
(6/10 Nick Griffiths)
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