(Progressive Rock, Experimental, Fusion) Michael Bernier - Leviathan (WEB) - 2011, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Review by Malcolm Moore

Multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Michael Bernier has created his own masterpiece; a solo album titled Leviathan. It could almost be called Journey into the Mind of Michael Bernier. This is not just a collection of songs. This guy is a sonic visionary. In this adventurous, ambitious, and eclectic new album, Bernier takes the listener on a thrilling ride through the galaxy. The atmosphere is dreamlike, surreal, and spontaneous.

Practically the whole album is just Bernier, as a one-man band, sculpting the frequencies with his Chapman stick, bass, guitar, violin, acoustic and electric drums, keyboard, and voice. He also flexes his George Martin producer muscle, using the studio itself as a creative force. There are some spectacular guest appearances by Pat Mastelloto – drums (King Crimson, Mister Mister, XTC), Kandy Harris – vocals, Caryn Fitzgibbon –violin, and Mike Schirmer -Piano & Bass Clarinet. However, it’s Michael that truly shines the most here, wearing myriad hats, and performing his magnum opus with bravado and absolute unwavering fortitude. His own hypnagogic and iconic artwork adorns the CD layout as well.

As if a cosmic radio is picking up signals from an alternate universe, the album sequence drifts from one blissful extreme to another. Bernier spits out time signatures, melodies, and textures like Godzilla breathing fire on Mothra. In fact, the opening, title track, Leviathan, has the sonic persona of tentacles emerging from an exploding freight train. The interplay on this song between Bernier and Mastelloto is infectiously seismic. On Sunrise, the weary creature heals in a pool of solitude, as it floats downstream. This contemplative and wondrous intermission prepares the listener for the relentless rapids that lie ahead. Who knew that there was a Parasite lurking beneath? This song somehow stiches a Frankenstein monster out of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, and Eddie Jobson. On Burbur, Bernier does his best 1970’s Bill Bruford/Jeff Berlin impression, as the bittersweet and venomous violin slices scars into the sky. After all this dense and mystifying instrumental music, Michael introduces his soulful and crooning vocal capabilities on The Old Ways. As soon as he has you with his smooth and languid tonal jars of nectar, he flips the switch into a heavy Deftones-like groove, appropriately dressed in distorted shrieks and crunchy bass pyrotechnics. One must fight all temptation to thrash their heads in the office cubicle whilst trapped between earbuds and the digital domain. Lumberslush is a welcome and refreshing dip into a pseudo-classical vortex. With a lilting and sparkling drum grove to propel itself, this track features soaring guitar and dissonant arpeggiated piano. Circus Elephant wanders into the room, and with math rock skills abound, methodically transforms the architecture with metallic mayhem. Bernier executes this complex carnage with graceful fluidity. As the song ends, the solemn clarinet leads our ears onto the next stop of our journey. It’s Morning, continuing the magical motif of days rapid-cycling into nights. On this track there is an inner knot, tying together seamless guitar, violin, and stick in an elusive and compelling fashion. One cannot help but be reminded of vintage mid-seventies King Crimson here. As My Sorrow takes form, we are hypnotized by a slick funk groove and cymbal swells. Again, Bernier sings here, but he is joined by his operatic partner in crime; Kandy Harris. Their harmonies are deliciously irregular. Like sultry Sonheim sirens, they successfully sing a difficult melody together with magnificent radiance. It’s a divinely discordant duet from an alternate reality. G.D.D. exquisitely ends the epic odyssey known as Leviathan. Bursts of colour and audio residue explode from the inside, as Bernier flails and transmigrates across oceans of wonder until he vaporizes in the far distance.

It’s no surprise that Michael Bernier has released an album of this quality and magnitude. He has toured the world and recorded with the likes of such brilliant luminaries as Tony Levin, Sonny Rollins, and Jack DeJohnette. What is bewildering, however, is the artistic merit of Leviathan as a whole. It’s a spectacularly unique work of art in conception, presentation, and performance.

Майкл Бернье - участник Stick Men, трио с Тони Левином и Пэтом Мастелотто.
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/stick_men

Michael Bernier: Chapman Stick guitar, bass, violin, acoustic drums, V-Drums, bowed Stick & vocals.
(with guest features from King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto (drums), Kandy Harris (vocals), Caryn Fitzgibbon (violin) and Mike Schirmer (Piano & Bass Clarinet)