Adam Rose, who hails from Pittsburgh, dropped Levitate the Base, an album comprising 12-tracks not long ago. And if you’re a fan of progressive, psychedelic music like that of King Crimson and Pink Floyd, you will definitely want to check out this album.
A multi-instrumentalist, Rose plays guitar, drums, hand drums, piano, bass guitar, upright bass, violin, cello, didgeridoo, trumpet, and kazoo. A guitarist of vast experience, nearly three decades, Rose contracted chronic lyme disease, which forced him to take a break from music. Upon his return to music, Rose discovered a fervent flood of creativity. Despite the pain and discomfort of his disease, he found the strength to push ahead. The result is Levitate the Base.
Rose says, “Levitate the Base is a symbol of me overcoming tremendous pain to rise up and create an album I’m truly proud of. It is symbolic of taking all the shattered pieces of my life and forming one cohesive art form. The symbol also extends to my larger vision for humanity to rise up, and no longer be content with living lives of subservience, toil, and meaningless.”
The album opens with “Platinum Grime,” a funky psychedelic-flavored tune riding a tight bass line and taut drums. I love the creamy, dreamy flow of the guitar on the solo section, undulating and wavering with pale colors.
Tracks not to be missed include “Persian Fantasy,” a deliciously mystical tune reminiscent of ELP crossed with Carlos Santana. “Riptide” starts out like a Grand Funk Railroad tune, and then flows into a trance-like stream of strident synth colors atop a crisp polyrhythmic pulse.
“Slam Dandy” kicks things up two or three levels, opening with potent, dirty guitar riffs and a throbbing bass line. The guitar licks on this track are sweet, tight, and scrumptious, as the harmonics power ahead with bright determination.
“Skyline” merges jazz-flavored soul-filled lounge music with Isaac Hayes-like burbling guitars and a drawing room piano. The result is delectably retro and kitschy.
The last track on the album is called “Isles of Avalon,” a combination of industrial sounding percussion and emerging synths, suave and cashmere. When the guitar enters, the tune takes on a luminous beauty that’s mesmerizing.
Remember the instrumental band The Ventures? Levitate the Base reminds me of The Ventures on performance enhancing drugs and massive doses of LSD. In other words, Adam Rose has it going on in the best possible way.
