Artist: MCM 
   Title: 1900 - Hard Times
   Label: Lion Music

When you put the likes of Alex Masi, Randy Coven and John Macaluso into a studio you know you're in for something rather special.  But, put this three guys together in the live arena as 'MCM' and then you'd better be prepared to be blown away, because that’s exactly what this trio have done with their latest release '1900 - Hard Times'.  They have taken the best of their live shows from the US and Central American and put together an album that showcases not only the band members, but also the trio as a band.

Things get underway with the title track ‘(1900) Hard Time’ and instantly you're drawn into a meandering mix of Masi’s flamboyant guitar riffs and Coven's timeless bass, all wrapped up in Macaluso’s heartbeat of a drum section. The whole album has an air of spontaneity about it, as the music you think you know is warped around what the guys really play.  As Masi says, the album is ... “the only written, composed parts are pretty obvious most intros some outros and occasionally some bits in the middle but each piece include at least 80% improvisation”.

Next it's ‘Raw Extremities’, a real slice of Jazz Rock fusion as Coven gets things underway with some really heavy bass lines before Macaluso and Masi join in the fun with their own unique spin on the Jazz Fusion sound.  This one is totally trippy, especially when you’ve downed a few beverages.  The room spinning is not totally due to excess alcohol, but rather the waves of musical genius surrounding your brain.

‘River Offering’ offers a change of pace as things get a little more rockier, with the dominating feature of this piece being Masi’s guitars with the now trademark intricate licks.

The tempo changes just keep on coming as we get a little funky with ‘Emergency Poncho’, again sounding far different from the studio release as is with most of the album.  But, it’s that sense of ESP the three have together on stage that you have to admire.  Can you imagine any band going on stage an doing improv pieces of music that are tuneful, never mind make sense?, but that’s what you get with the live experience of MCM, three guys in perfect harmony.

The album boasts some very different versions of the likes of ‘Mutual Assured Distraction’ and my favourite rendition the jazz infused ‘Them Ain’t Us’ to name but two.

If you like to hear something very different and at the same time mystical then go and check out '1900 – Hard Times' and just dip your toe into the ocean of talent on show on this album, but you better watch out because Karma’s coming to get you if you do.

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