Search - Frank Zappa, Thomas Fortmann, Accademia Amiata Ensemble :: Strictly Off Limits

Not very adventurous but still quite interesting

Geoff Pointer | Adelaide Australia | 02/07/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The track list is half and half Zappa and Tommy Fortmann compositions. I like Fortmann's pieces but they don't grab me as much as Zappa's work. All I can say is that they are of a similar genre to Zappa's compositions and Zappa's influence is unmistakable. The Zappa pieces are very well performed. To give you an idea of the overall sound of the album, try to imagine the combination of bass, drums, piano, sax and violin. That may call to mind King Crimson, but it is largely an unplugged sound with electric bass and the violinist uses some effects processing, so the feel is pretty much that of a small modern classical ensemble with a beat.



Their version of Peaches has a reprise of the first section of the solo immediately before the second arpeggio section and I'm not sure if it works or not but this is pretty much the only place they stray from standard arrangements of the Zappa pieces covered. Unlike most other cover versions I've heard these are mostly pretty literal so it's the sound of the ensemble itself that makes it unique. For example, I've heard a few covers of Aybe Sea and most wander off the version on Burnt Weeny Sandwich from the point where the outtro highlighting the piano and classical guitar begins but Fortman has even transcribed this section note for note. It doesn't come off as well as the original and they might have been better off improvising their own outtro, one more suitable for their mix of instruments. On the other hand, Little Umbrellas and Regyptian Strut come off quite nicely.



The quality of the performances themselves is five star, but overall, considering the impact this album has had on me, I rate it at three and a half stars. I have definite favourites and they are on my iPod as part of a certain playlist and they are worth the purchase price."