Press
NuevoRevolution.com
http://www.nuevorevolution.com/reviews/reviewsqs.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Amazing album, amazing band. The Seventh Season is a three piece band which brings a full sound with their album Liquid Water. Rock and Roll is the only way to describe this band with intelligent music from all ways around. From the thought out lyrics to the outstanding arrange of music, this is a highly likeable rock album with twelve tracks of interest to listeners besides musicians. The Seventh Season is one of the most talented rock acts on the independent circuit at this time. Making rock music for rock fans and not underestimating the music listener's intelligence.
Tollbooth.org
http://www.tollbooth.org/2008/reviews/7thseason.html
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
I could have swore that I was the one person who knew the most about obscure bands with a dark mysterious past just popping out from nowhere. Boy, was I wrong, horribly, and sadly wrong. And man have I been sheltered. I wish I could have been there for the release of their first record, cause this group has definitely found the perfect sound. I mean between the dark raspy European accent laced vocals, the milky smooth blues/progressive rock guitars, solid downbeat drumming, and thick heavy bass riffs, this could be the next big thing. At least, for me, I mean really this is quite a well developed sound.
First, we will start with a brief catch up on the group as a name. The Seventh Season, started in 1972, they were fronted by another fella back then, and then in '76 they decided to seclude themselves in their home studios to record some new tracks. In most cases, this leads to a new singer or some other new member of a band, and a fresh new sound that is solid and collected leading to a chart topping record. On the contrary, they completely disbanded for one reason or another. And then after nearly 20 years, the bassist and drummer return with the bassists' son on leads and being doing the thing all over again. To our benefit the son has a fresh skillful playing method on the guitar. Milky smooth rhythms, and powerful but controlled solos, reminiscent of David Glimour through his entire career, Konstantin Batygin really sets the stage for a powerful progressive rock sound. Following him is father, Yuri, on bass, and Sergei Smet on drums. This is definitely a power trio if I have ever heard one. They released their first record in this carnation in March of 2003 ("Fall Within", Independent Records Inc.) and then followed it up with a DVD in 2006 ("Transposition", Independent Records), and now this third edition of the new line up. I would have to say that this is probably one of the best progressive rock bands that I have heard on the indie rock front in a while. They are strong, there lyrics and music gel together quite well, and they don't back down from driving a good beat. They definitely spent some time working out their own distinctive sound, and accomplished it very nicely with this latest record. Clean, easy to understand lyrics, and a solid rhythm, you won't want to put it down.
I deeply suggest checking out their other music as well. They are available on Amazon, as well as you can purchase the albums, and DVD directly from their website, www.theseventhseason.net. Go check them out for yourselves, you won't be disappointed.
Keep Rockin!!!
Rev MC
Rocknetwebzine.com
http://www.rocknetwebzine.com/reviews/theseventhseason-water.html
This is a band that has been around since 1972 and has evolved into a son and father outfit. That is too damn cool. This trio is a group of amazing musicians with great musical talents and wonderfully well crafted songs. They take amazing influences such as CCR, Uriah Heep, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd and bring a modernity and freshness with their music. Definitely a band worth checking out.
RoughEdge.com
http://www.roughedge.com/cdreviews/s/seventhseason.htm
Liquid Water (Independent Records; 2007)
Seventh Season would probably be labeled progressive rock. Their CD, "Liquid Water," features a dozen varied tracks, recorded over a long period of time.
Musically, Seventh Season sounds a little like bands such as Midnight Oil and Split Enz, only with a harder edge. The songs are all entertaining enough but are given an extra kick by vocalist Konstatin Batygin. Batygin's voice often has a rough edge that gives the music an attitude it might not have otherwise had. The musicianship is strong throughout and it probably should be: the band reportedly began in Russia in 1972, called it quits in 1979, and then re-formed in 1998, this time with bassist Yuri Batygin's son, Konstantin, on guitar and vocals.
Although there are a few songs that creep into hard rock / heavy metal territory, most of "Liquid Water" is closer to classic rock. Still, fans of progressive rock may want to give this band a listen.
R. Scott Bolton
Music Street Journal, July 2008
http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=101139
Seventh Season
Liquid Water
Review by Gary Hill
You know, this one I've gone back and forth on. I've been just about to throw it into metal and then suddenly I'll hear something that makes me think prog. In the end I went with progressive rock, but I can't tell you why. It's more a feeling than anything else. This is hard rock that is delivered with a great retro sound. If there is a real problem here, it's the vocals. The first few tracks really suffer in terms of singing, but by "Control Me," they seem to get a grip on it and deliver consistently solid singing.
Track by Track Review
Liquid Water
Somehow this track reminds me of a more prog-like Midnight Oil. It's fast, but melodic. It's simple, yet the arrangement is rather complex. Make no mistakes, this track isn't overly prog-like, but it's a solid intro to the disc.
Ocean of Time
This starts out as a bluesy rocker, but don't be deceived. They twist this general motif and turn it into something for more sublime. We get a full on prog instrumental break and there is a ton of progressive rock laced into this musical motif. A smoking guitar solo serves to end the tune.
Freeway
Were the whole CD like this, I'd plug it in under metal, and probably would consider it exceptionally generic. This is definitely a weak point on the disc. Although the vocal arrangement has its charms, I'd probably hit "skip" on this track. The instrumental break mid-track does bring some progressive rock elements and is actually quite cool, but it's too little too late to save the piece from mediocrity.
Apart From Here
This track is quite cool in terms of the music, but the vocals at time are over the top and really rub me the wrong way in places. This would be a great tune, were it not for the vocals. It's got a mellower, rather jazzy, prog ballad sort of structure, but I have to say that the singing on this one has me running to hit "skip." That delivery on a harder rocking song would work, but it's overkill in this motif. It's a shame, too, because the instrumental sections on this one are incredible.
Broken Artist
This one feels both hard rocking and proggy at the same time. When I say that I use "hard rocking" to mean something akin to a straightforward nearly metal sound. The thing is, their delivery is quite acoustically based at the same time.
Control Me
Other than one little section that feels a bit like Yes' Talk album this one is pretty thoroughly metallic. Don't get me wrong, there are a few other prog rock touches here and there, but overall this one is quite near to metal. The thing is, the vocals here are stronger than anything we've heard to this point. This is also one of the highlights of the CD.
Damaged
This is so nearly metal it's scary. Frankly the only reason I would consider it progressive rock is the overall vibe of it. It's not something I can single out, but just to say that the general tone fits.
My Only Honor
Once more, this comes across as metal with some progressive rock in the midst of its arrangement. It's a good tune, but not great.
April
This one is more of the same thing we've gotten used to, music that skirts along the lines between metal and progressive rock. It's definitely stronger than some of the rest of the stuff here and a highlight of the CD.
Nine To Five
This is bouncy and funny with a Beatles meets quirky pop/prog, this is a cool track and a good change of pace.
Machine
Based on a classic rock and roll riff, this one shows off more progressive rock leanings than metal, but both do show up here.
Wherever
The final track on the set is essentially an epic ballad. This is a cool number and one that still manages to bring in both metal and progressive rock sounds. It's actually one of the strongest pieces on the CD and a good way to end things.
BullFrogMusic.com, 21 July 2008
http://frogblogreviews.bullfrogmusic.com/?p=25#more-25
Liquid Water
The Seventh Season
Everything about Seventh Season's work screams 'old school', 'vintage', 'retro'. Look at the cover of the CD - you got two mature guys at the back of the picture and one young guy (the son of one of the old guys) at the front. The feel of the picture is retro in that it reminds me of album covers from the 70's, although the band members have been considerably cleaned up (and maybe airbrushed a little).
The 'Seventh Season' brand is pretty retro too, having started out in the early 70's in Russia (when the iron curtain was still in place - makes me wonder how much Western music fans missed by ignoring everything from the Soviet side of the world) with Yuri Batygin (current bassist) as the leader. The band went on hold in 1979 and got restarted about 20 years later, this time in San Francisco.
The mix of the young and the seasoned sensibilities in this rocker trio is a good fit. You have a couple of musicians whose formative years were spent viewing rock through a tiny peephole in the barrier between East and West and a younger front man who presumably spent his formative years in America. It's tempting to write that the result on this is album is Classic Rock with a modern point of view, but I think that the emphasis should be on 'Classic'.
The really interesting aspect of the band is their Russian-ness. I got smacked in the head once for saying that the Russian people tend to be gloomy and dark, but there is definitely a shadowy feel to this music. It's not heavy-handed; it comes across as a light touch and makes this music stand out from the other nouveau/retro rockers trying to make it out there. There's no posturing in this music (that I can hear). Perhaps because of the leavening aspect of the older members, I get the impression that the songs are written with a seen-it-done-it, have-the-T-shirt point of view. The songs come across as very authentic.
The songs were recorded over a longer period of time rather than all at once. This has the effect of changing the vibe of the overall recording. Instead of being a snapshot of ideas at a particular time, the extended recording session permits the musicians to grow into the songs, understand them better and tweak them for maximum effect. I can't hear any changes in production values over the breadth of the songs on the release so a lot of good work has been done in maintaining consistency - you don't get the idea that the songs were hacked together from different sources.
On the whole, good musicianship all round with some really good guitar solos. The singing sound fits in with what you expect from this genre of music; it's not natural but not tweaked as much as in dance/electronica stuff. Charmingly, I detect the occasional Russian accent breaking through the mid-Atlantic singing style.
Recommendation: I don't think there's anything groundbreaking, but this is still a really good release. Liquid Water goes into my permanent collection.
Jeremiah Sutherland
Hussieskunk.com, 12 March 2008
http://www.hussieskunk.com/reviews/music/theseventhseason-liquidwater.htm
The Seventh Season
Liquid Water (released 2007)
Independent Records
The Seventh Season is exceedingly prolific. I think this is the third release that I have reviewed in only about fifteen months. They also have managed to release a DVD of one of the concerts. Pretty cool. Now about this disc, it seems to be a little darker and moodier than previous efforts, but with The Seventh Season I think that this is what they have been looking for... Edgy, moody music that borders along the fence that divides classic rock, blues and modern rock. I'm still confused with the assemblage of the band, as the lead singer is the son of the bassist and seems like a talented, good looking kid that should be fronting a band consisting of kids his own age. I'm sure he'd go a lot further than the indie releases of The Seventh Season. Not that it's a bad gig having your old man in the band, as he's been there, done that... But really, shouldn't his son have the chance to experience the industry and the tribulatioins with being an indie act on his own? Maybe it's not my place to say, in fact, it really isn't, but it has always struck me as strange that Konstantin would choose to play classic rock on his own. But then again, with soaring guitar solos and a great front man voice, it fits him well. I'd like to see the band really turn towards a modern rock sound. I'm certain they could pull it off, as the two old timers in the band are very crafty, and the front man is good looking enough to pull in the ladies, which will force the fellas in the crowd to follow. This release "Liquid Water" features twelve tracks of the band's classic blues influenced rock n roll with the afore mentioned darker and moodier progression. -MG
Hussieskunk.com, 12 March 2008
http://www.hussieskunk.com/reviews/music/theseventhseason-transposition.htm
The Seventh Season
Transposition (released 2006)
Independent Records
The Seventh Season is a band that originally started out in 1972, and their sound shows it... But what has happened in the band since that time, is that the bassist now has his son playing lead and singing, a family affair for sure. This disc is a live recording, and recorded rather well I might add, from 2006 at a California college. From what I can tell, the audience is not very big, as they are not heard too often on the disc. But then again, the disc is meant to feature the band, not the audience. The Seventh Season's stage presence seems to be a little lacking to me, as they don't really carry any attitude or intensity. There really just there to jam out...get the job done and go...or so it feels. The music, it's certainly not punk, without a doubt not alternative...I'm thinking early 70s rock. Exactly the time periad that the band first formed, long before son Konstantin was born. The material that the band offers up may have been written recently, but it is extremely dated and rather bland for my tastes. There is some incredible talent and great guitar solos in the set list, but again, it's not something I regularly get into. Fans of classic rock will really dig The Seventh Season and their guitar rock style. -MG
Dustyblues.com, February 2008
http://www.dustyblues.com/cdreviews2008/feb2008.html
It is quite unusual to find a band formed in 1972 and still active. The Seventh Season are one of these rare bands and just for this reason they deserve our attention. The trio has a wide range of different musical sources that come from rock to alternative music, dance or even new age music. Their main influences can be found on groups like Beatles, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep or Creedence Clearwater Revival. Although there is a distinct lack of blues in their work, they are a high quality band, especially for the unusual deep rockin' tone of their songs that reflect their deep knowledge that goes further up time and places.
Vicente Zumel, "La Hora de Blues", February 2008
http://www.lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm
The Seventh Season "Liquid Water" Independent Records 2007.
Que una banda se formara en 1972 y siga todavia en activo no es algo habitual. Sin embargo los Seventh Season siguen en la brecha y ello tiene su valor. Las influencias de este trio son amplias y variadas ya que beben de diferentes fuentes musicales como el rock, la musica alternativa, el 'dance' e incluso el 'new age'. Sus influencias mas directas se encuentran en grupos como Beatles, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep o Creedence Clearwater Revival. Aunque el blues brilla por su ausencia, sin embargo es un grupo que merece la pena por cuestiones cualitativas, en especial por el inusual tono del rock que desprenden sus composiciones, reflejo de su gran experiencia que va mas alla del tiempo y del espacio.
WOSFrank Vampster.com, 2007
http://www.vampster.com/artikel/show/?id=24005
Papa Yuri macht seit 1972 mit THE SEVENTH SEASON Rock-n-Roll, um dann 2003 seine erste CD rauszubringen, gefolgt vom Livealbum "Transposition" im letzten Jahr. Mit Junior Konstantin an der Gitarre und Sergei Met am Schlagzeug prasentiert die aus Russland stammende, nun in den USA lebende Band ihr neues Album "Liquid water".
Geboten wird eine recht abwechslungsreiche Mischung an Rockmusik, die bei den ersten Durchgangen recht gefallig ruberkommt, auch wenn die genannten Einflusse BEATLES, C.C.R., PINK FLOYD oder URIAH HEEP derbe hoch gegriffen sind. Ohne grobe Ecken und Kanten kann man mit netten Melodien sicher sogar PUR-Fans beglucken ("Ocean of time"), hat uberraschend einen Touch der typischen australischen Alternative-Bands, rockt auch mal etwas harter ("Damaged") und nervt mit dem BEATLES inspirierten aufgesetzt lustigen "Nine to five". Bei Kuschelsongs wie "Apart from here" mit Latino-Hauch oder "Wherever" kann man sich gut vorstellen, wie Mama Batygin oder die Dorfgirlies Junior Konstantin anschmachten. Der spielt eine ordentliche Gitarre ohne grobe Hohepunkte, seine jugendliche Stimme harmoniert gut mit den raueren Vocals vom Papa. Dazu gesellen sich solide und uberraschungslos Bass und Drums. Recht schnell fuhlt man sich an diese Band erinnert, bei denen man beim Stadtfest mit einem "Das ist ganz nett" stehen bleibt, ein Bierchen trinkt und dann zur nachsten netten Band weiterschlendert. Nach einigen Durchlaufen von "Liquid water" ist alles gesagt und entdeckt, und man greift bald wieder zu den vielen besseren Cds.
Freunde vom seichten Hausfrauenrock konnen ja mal reinhoren.
Veroffentlichungstermin: Fruhling 2007
Spielzeit: 44:24 Min.
Mercredi 03 Octobre 2007
http://www.lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm
Sur et certain que la majorite d'entre vous n'avait jamais entendu parler de THE SEVENTH SAISON avant de lire ces quelques lignes. Et pourtant, ce groupe a ete fonde une premiere fois voici 35 ans, en 1972, dans la belle ville de Moscou par Yuri Batygin, bassiste de son etat. Apres quelques vaines tentatives, le combo split sans vraiment laisser de trace derri're lui. Quelques ann'es plus tard, le fils de Yuri est lui aussi contamine par le virus "rock'n roll". Il n'en fallait pas plus pour que son p're l'enr'le dans sa nouvelle equipe et fasse rena'tre THE SEVENTH SEASON de ses cendres. "Liquid Water" est leur derniere sortie en date.
Que les choses soient bien claires: cet album n'uvre absolument pas dans le monde du metal. Les influences principales du trio sont THE BEATLES, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (CCR), PINK FLOYD, T. REX et URIAH HEEP. D's les premiers titres, aucun doute possible sur la veracite de ces fasts : les compositions sonnent tres seventies et semblent etre issues d'une autre poque, passe pour sur. Neanmoins, elles arborent tout de mme un cote moderne de part leurs sonorites et leur interpretation.
Le gros point fort de la bande est sans aucun doute le sang neuf de Konstantin (Batygin fils). Il possede une voix rock et rugueuse a souhait qui colle a merveille quelle que soit l'ambiance du morceau. Sa fougue associe a des melodies imparables engendrent un resultat etonnant, distillant au final une puissance et un entrain phenomenal. En plus d'etre un chanteur appreciable, il est aussi un excellent guitariste et n'hesite pas a placer 1 a 2 solos par chanson, mettant en avant le feeling et la melodie, tout en gardant quand meme quelques acclrations sous le coude histoire de faire claquer un minimum. Meme si le titre sonne un poil rococo, il arrive toujours en tirer le meilleur et a lui donner un petit quelque chose qui le rend tout a fait coutable et appreciable ("Machine").
Batygin pere, lui, pose des lignes de basse bien rondes et reste tres present dans la totalite des morceaux. Il vole quelques fois le micro a son fils pour jouer le role de frontman. Il faut lavouer, ces moments sont durs, c'est vrai, mais heureusement, ils restent peu nombreux et sont courts ("broken artist" et "Nine to five"). Le bon cte de la chose, c'est qu'il met vraiment en valeur l'importance et la necessit de son fils au sein du groupe. Le petit truc marrant dans le chant des deux comparses est leur accent anglais un peu tir par les cheveux et leur manire de rouler les 'R'. Sergei Smet est le troisieme homme qu'il fallait a la bande. Son jeu de batterie efficace et vari, agrument de percussions de temps autres, apporte trs franchement un rel plus.
Cote compositions, c'est plutot diversifi : Liquid Water propose des chansons modernes et entrainantes ("Liquid Water", "April" , ...), certaines sont presque plus hard que rock ("Damaged"), dautres sont inspires des vieux classiques de l'poque ("Nine to five", "Machine") et bien evidement, les fatidiques mais non moins interessants moments plus cool ("Apart from here") sont aussi de la partie. La quasi-totalit des morceaux propose de bonnes melodies et sont agrables l'ecoute. On se laisse surprendre a tapoter du pied et l'on decouvre vraiment les particularits des titres au fur et a mesure des ecoutes. La production est plus que correcte : chaque instrument est bien discernable et le mix voix/instruments au poil.
THE SEVENTH SEASON represente la rencontre des annues 70 et 2000, du modernisme execute a l'ancienne. Le resultat est finalement interessant et merite franchement un minimum d'attention. Pas de gros riffs speeds, pas de depart fulgurant a la double grosse caisse ou de hurlement a vous glacer le sang, juste du rock, du feeling et du savoir-faire : de temps en temps, cela ne fait pas de mal, et cela permet mme de remettre certaines pendules a l'heure !
Mark S. Tucker AcousticMusic.com/FAME , September 2007
http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p04314.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Certain Eurasian groups, especially among the progrockers, were doubly enticing in the vocals department for an oddly attractive tang their enunciation put on English lyrics. Galaxy, Nektar, Epitaph, and a small sub-slice of the genre provided a new dimension merely in that respect. Now, Seventh Season, popping up amidst a very satisfying rebirth and revivalism sweeping the mode, adds to an epiphany of that trait. Yuri & Konstantin Batygin, bassist and guitarist respectively, sing not only with outré coloration but also a combination of grit and exotic melodicism not easily findable in any style…but that's only the beginning of this 12-spot of blended uniqueness and historicity.
Citing a diversity of influences (Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, T.Rex, Creedence Clearwater, etc.), the group sits firmly in the modern archive dredging up the glories of the 70s in variegated form. Such ensembles as The Early Years and The Grails have been producing marvelous re-exposures of lost sounds, much more on the trad prog side than otherwise, and now this group digs into the rarely touched perfect demarcating line between rock itself and prog. Each cut is an exercise in simply but solidly laid entablatures clearly reading back the bands they esteem, elder masters in the foundation of the style now understood as undisputed king of the music world.
Most of the cuts on this, their third release (add a DVD to that roster as well), are on the lamentive side, often colored in darkness and somewhat angry, protestative while melodic. Lead lines are infrequent but elegant, reflecting the unhurried but gravitious architecture of the songs they reside in. With Sergei Smet on drums, Seventh Season is a power trio without the bluster or blown-out psych of past masters like Gun, Dust, (Gary Moore's) Skid Row, and other well-beloved aggregates. Think of what Alain Johannes was doing in What Is This?, a marvelous 80s band Todd Rundgren briefly interested himself in, and you'll be in the zone.
Among the gratifying all-too-small cavalcade of similar klatsches, Seventh Season stands well in the foreground, polished and tight yet rebellious in rough edges with a dogged persistence to shake the ground, charming the clouds with earthily vaulting compositions. As mainstream chartmongers sprint to pile on the synthesizers, orchestras, choirs, and mountainous light shows, far too often failing to substitute tawdry quantity for simple quality, CDs like Liquid Water remind all and sundry that rock was, and still sometimes tends to be, the antithesis of the "more is better" equation, depending on talent over tech and heart over dollars.
Track List:
* Liquid Water
* Ocean of Time
* Freeway
* Apart From Here
* Broken Artist
* Control Me
* Damaged
* My Only Honor
* April
* Nine to Five
* Machine
* Wherever
(all songs written by Konstantin & Yuri Batygin)
Syuli Firmansyah (Indonesia), indiesport.com, 17 September 2007
http://www.indiesport.com/online_store.php?subaction=showfull&id=1189925250&archive=&start_from=&ucat=21&
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
First time when I hear this album, I impressed with their sound at all. In late year 2000's its hard to find a real band still playing 70's rock sounds. 70's is a rock sound foundamental which were explored by musicians in later years.
In this album your will got a wide range rock sounds from The Beatles in late 60's to Pink Floyd at 90's. Because this band formed in 1972, which means they started in time of "The Rock Golden Era". Its natural them got some influences from other big band like: The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep. Performing in many stages at 1972 - 1975 give them some experiences to create their own sounds. They prove it in this album; "Liquid Water".
All their song tracks various in many rock style. You might say anything, their got it to you!
The Seventh Season will take you from Hard Rock, Alternative, to Progresive Rock, in many forms. All their tracks not hard and loud, but easily to heard. They compossed their songs in moderate rock sound, which more focused to melody and harmony. Almost 40 years their music journey take them to experienced musician. Profesionals and have a high skilled in playing tunes, make them easily to switch their music from energic to medium or slow tempo.
Duo Yuri and his son Konstantin ia perfect! their can lead us to hearing nice rock sound of their own tracks.
LIQUID WATER in track 1, is energic music with sounding like Scorpion.
OCEAN OF TIME more harmonious, we found Pink Floyd and Jehtro Tull sounds in this track. This song is powerfull and its a best song in this album. Composed in medium tempo, Ocean of Time take you to progressive rock atmosphere.
A PART FROM HERE is the great song, will take you travelled in melodic song remember me to any great 70's slow rock ever created. Melodious Konstantin guitars take you flying land of knowhere...
CONTROL ME sounding like Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). Nice to hear.
DAMAGED forming a heavy metal but dou Yuri and Konstantin in vocal, give this track more than I heard than original heavy metal in 70's.
MACHINE is totally Uriah Heep sounds, tis really take you to 70's rock era...great sound!!
Reviwer Magazine , 13 September 2007
http://reviewermag.livejournal.com/tag/new+music+reviews+9/13/07
The Seventh Season Liquid Water (Independent Records)
The new album from The Seventh Season is a hatful of stuff called Liquid Water. If you're a big fan of all those ultra-hip, anti-scenesters like Flaming Lips or White Stripes or the legendary Yo La Tengo you'll dig these urbane dudes.
On the whole, Liquid Water has its good parts and bad parts e.g., it's not one of those rare and wonderful exceptions where the whole thing is pure bliss from the first note to the final fadeout, but this one has its moments. For example the first half of the album is all right; it has, even in a rock 'n' roll-jaded way, a true joie de vivre. But after you get to where they probably should've ended the thing, it keeps on going this glut of tuneage starts to wear on the listener and by the middle of the last song - #12, "Wherever" you are starting to check your watch, make impatient sort of gestures and just about say "screw it" and turn it off.
Finally, and I can't stress this enough brevity can be a very good thing; conciseness can say a whole lot more than a cacophonous lot of stuff can. So, tone it down, be more original and lighten up a bit, will ya? (Thanks) http://www.theseventhseason.net - KM.
Hardrockhaven.net
http://www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2007/feb2007/Seventh%20Season%20-%20Transposition.php
Seventh Season
Transposition Independent
by Curt Hauff
Staff Writer
Comments: Seventh Season is a three piece band from Russia, headed by the father-son duo of Konstantin (Chad) and Juri Batygin. The progressive, alternative rock band has an experimental feel to their music. This DVD performance was recorded at the Ex'pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, Calif.
The atmosphere on this DVD feels sterile, almost like a demo video. The audience is seated and while they clap, there really isn't a concert feeling. The stage is plain and the backdrop is black, which doesn't help the ease of viewing .
The energy and showmanship of the band is much more mellow and morose than it should be considering their music style. It would be nice to see a little more excitement from the band. Konstantin (Chad) has the best stage presence and energy level of the three. When he finally loosens up a little bit, later in the concert, his performance is actually pretty decent.
It's obvious that Chad is still just a little bit unsure of how to work a crowd and sometimes he talks longer than he needs to, elaborating too much instead of starting the next song. Unfortunately he doesn't get much help from his audience. Someone should definitely have fed them more booze before the concert started. It would be interesting to see what Chad could do with a larger, energetic crowd. It's amazing how fast you can develop your frontman skills when the crowd is rocking.
The video is shot from several camera angles, so there's a little variation to keep you interested. Although, the editing is pretty vanilla and doesn't really match the music or the feel of the band. The camera shots could be better at capturing the band, especially during Chad's solos.
The sound mix is great. Everything is audible and the tones are good. The vocals stand out well and are easy to understand, which helps keep you into the video.
The light show leaves quite a bit to be desired. First of all, the stage is grossly under-lit. There should have been three or four times the number of light cans for the size of the stage. There was barely enough light to see the band, let alone try to help the band create certain moods and energy levels. During some of Chad's solos, you actually lose his face in the shadows because there's not enough light. And as everyone knows, at least half of a rock guitar solo is the expression on the guitarist's face!
"New Day" may be a song you'll want to check out. Juri takes over on vocals and sings in Russian. It's interesting even if you don't know Russian. It may even be interesting because you don't know Russian.
This DVD makes nice promotional material as it showcases the bands musical talents and their ability to perform live. It looks like it was a decent show to go see, it's just not very entertaining to watch on DVD.
www.indierec.com
www.theseventhseason.net
Track Listing:
1. Desire
2. Commando
3. Pirate Song
4. So Insane
5. New Day
6. Like Years Ago
7. Liquid Water
8. Drag Me
9. Ocean of Time
10. Machine
11. Apart from Here
12. My Only Honor
13. April
Hardrock Haven rating: 4.2/10
Metalcorefinzine.com, 31 July 2007
http://www.metalcorefanzine.com/reviews33.html
THE SEVENTH SEASON/Liquid Water (Independent Records) This was a decent rock n roll band that mixes in some metal and a bit of progressive metal too. The band have been around since 1972! That is insane when you think about it. Anyway this band delivers the goods and don't follow trends and just play honest to goodness rock n roll with no groove and no grunge no nothing. The tunes are solid rock tunes with good playing and singing. A band that deserves pat on the back.
AJ Blisten, Beatstheblizzard.com, 12 August 2007
http://www.beattheblizzard.com/?module=reviews&review=784
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
"Liquid Water" is an interesting album. The music on this CD is definitely something that sticks out from the rest out there. I find myself enjoying it more and more the more I listen to it. And that surprises me because THE SEVENTH SEASON is not the kind of rock music I usually listen to. Yes, this is rock and not metal.
THE SEVENTH SEASON plays a sort of rock' n roll that's not rock'n roll, if you know what I mean. Classic rock would probably be an appropriate tag to use; classic rock with a vintage edge to it.
Nothing odd about that since the band was originally formed in old USSR in '72. Then after twenty year's hiatus original members decided it was time to start it up again in 1998, now as a San Francisco based trio.
So there's a long THE SEVENTH SEASON story leading up to "Liquid Water" which is a good guitar based rock album.
It's well produced even though the sound and vocal delivery is a bit strange and very characteristic. Maybe that's why I like it?
There's nothing spectacular or sudden surprising themes or creatively artistic stunts in the songs, but they all are well written, melodic and atmospheric; no rush or abrupt transitions, just a nice pleasant flow all the way through the album consisting of twelve songs.
The heaviness on this album is mainly emphasized by tight and steady bass giving the sound a dark touch which I think suits the songs just fine.
THE SEVENTH SEASON and their "Liquid Water" isn't going to shake anyone's world, that's for sure. But check it out if you like full-bodied and soothing melodic rock, good guitar sound and character.
Danny Boodman, Shapelesszine.com, August 2007
http://www.shapelesszine.com/recealbum/theseventhseason-liquidwater.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Etichetta: autoprodotto
Anno: 2007
Durata: 44 min
Genere: rock
Ed eccomi di nuovo a parlare dei The Seventh Season, il trio composto da musicisti russi emigrati negli Stati Uniti in cerca di maggiori possibilit rispetto a quelle offerte dalla madre patria. Per quanto riguarda la storia di questa particolare band potete leggere le recensioni degli altri due lavori trattati su Shapeless; ricordiamo solo quelle che sono le caratteristiche più curiose, ovvero la presenza nel trio di padre e figlio, Yuri e Konstantin Batygin, senza contare il fatto che il gruppo, almeno nella sua cellula originale esistesse fin dal 1972.
Bene, arriviamo quindi al nocciolo della questione, ovvero il nuovo full-length del gruppo, il secondo dopo il debutto "Fall Within". "Liquid Water" come stile porta avanti lo stesso discorso musicale iniziato con il precedente lavoro: il trio si concentra su un rock di vecchio stampo, che trova spunto nei grandi nomi del passato come Rolling Stones, Beatles, Who e via dicendo. Certo, la qualit , ovviamente, non è nemmeno paragonabile a quella di questi mostri sacri, ma all'incirca dovrebbe farvi capire di cosa si parla.
All'epoca della mia recensione di "Fall Within" mi ero ritrovato a sottolineare una serie di questioni relative ad alcuni difetti che impedivano al CD di decollare, difetti che, in seguito, si erano mitigati in "Transposition", un DVD che ritraeva la band dal vivo e che mostrava un netto miglioramento. Ecco, "Liquid Water" da questo punto di vista si pone come punto di incrocio tra i due lavori precedenti, sia in positivo che in negativo.
Andiamo con ordine e cerchiamo di tracciare l'evoluzione dei The Seventh Season. Il primo appunto che facevo per "Fall Within" riguardava il coinvolgimento durante l'ascolto dei pezzi: la maggior parte delle canzoni, infatti, zoppicava a causa di una struttura un po' troppo semplice e lineare che rischiava di esaurirsi dopo pochi ascolti; bene, il discorso, purtroppo, è valido anche per "Liquid Water", che mostra sì qualche piccolo miglioramento negli arrangiamenti, ma ancora non riesce a trovare la sua dimensione ideale, finendo per funzionare solo nei pezzi più catchy e divertenti, tipo "Machine" e "Liquid Water", che non richiedono altro che una buona melodia e un ritmo saltellante, oppure le ballad come "Apart From Here".
Il secondo grande limite di "Fall Within" era rappresentato dalla produzione, all'epoca scandalosa. Da questo punto di vista il tutto sembra leggermente migliorato: il suono è ancora un po' troppo leggero e patinato, ma si sente un po' di calore in più, grazie ad una trattazione migliore dei suoni della chitarra e soprattutto grazie alla presenza di un batterista in carne ed ossa che, pur non lanciandosi mai in passaggi particolarmente fantasiosi, svolge onestamente il suo compito ritmico.
Un discreto miglioramento, poi, lo si vede anche dal punto di vista esecutivo, soprattutto nella chitarra di Konstantin che, come notavo anche in "Transposition", è cresciuto non poco come strumentista. Quello che continua a non convincermi, invece, è la prova vocale dei due Batygin, entrambi dotati di un timbro sgraziato e nasale che proprio non mi piace.
Insomma, devo ammettere che dopo aver visto il DVD "Transposition" ero molto più fiducioso sul nuovo CD e invece mi sembra che il livello sia migliorato solo di poco. Peccato, un'occasione sprecata che, speriamo, porti ad un miglioramento ancora maggiore con il prossimo lavoro. In bocca al lupo.
OneThirtyEight.org, June 2007
http://www.onethirtyeight.org/mr_2007-06.html
The Seventh Season - Transposition
While in a curious mood one day, I answered a Myspace bulletin about getting a free DVD from some band and a few weeks later this arrived in my mailbox. For the effort alone I commend them. It's not easy promoting a band or a new release, and even sending stuff out doesn't guarantee that anything's gonna be written up about it. Most bands don't even bother. More than likely said promo material ends up at the used record shop, helping pay for tuition or a drug habit. Sometimes both. Anyways, this DVD is well produced, good sounding mix of what I would call, "classic rock" style of music. The trio of musicians (including a father on bass and his kid on guitar, both of them from Russia, and they both sing) play a mid paced, goofy lyric filled set of tunes about such diverse topics as not wearing underwear (Commando), Pirates, and Liquid Water. Sounds like a mix of every band you'd find in a biker bar jukebox. Pure Rock and Roll.
Ron Fuchs, ProgNaut.com, 24 January 2007
http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/tss-dvd.html
In 2006, Bay Area prog rockers, The Seventh Season, follow up there debut album with a concert DVD called Transposition. It contains all of the songs on the debut album, Fall Within, plus a brand new tune from a upcoming release. Back in February, The Seventh Season played an energetic show at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville California. The Seventh Season brings back those days and in a way that can’t be categorized as retro or nostalgic. It is the real thing and deserves to be seen and heard by more people than were at the show recorded for this DVD. They prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the live environment. So much in fact that it makes their studio songs come alive with an intensity of late 70’s/ early 80’s art rock. With this DVD I have warmed up more to their sound that I would recommend it highly to those that loved the early 70’s glam rock and the DIY late 70’s/ early 80’s art rock scene. hear for yourself on their MySpace page!
Anna Tergel, Metalian.com, January 2007
http://www.metallian.com/news0207.htm#demoreviews
THE SEVENTH SEASON – TRANSPOSITION (DVD)
Transposition is further proof that a DVD production and release is an affordable way to go these days. The Seventh Season surely prove that large crowds or big venues are not needed and one is left wondering that neither is a big following. An almost empty venue, which naturally doesn’t provide much impetus for stage antics and movement, is the setting for this 13-song performance by the now father and son team of TST. The band has been around in some form or another since 1972 and was originally based in Russia but has made it to the USA for the 21st century. Musically, this is simple and pure rock with the requisite sense of humour as heard on Commando, a song about not wearing underpants, and The Pirate Song, where the son and main vocalist Konstantin Batygin asks the few present to shout ‘arrrrgggg’ before getting into the song. Songs like So Insane, Liquid Water, My Only Honor and Ocean Of Time alternate between slightly higher tempos and more melodic and mostly laid back sounds
Crazy John, HBGOnline.com, January 2007
http://hbgonline.com/music/cdreviews.htm
13 tracks of electrifying rock from The Seventh Season. Beginning in Russia in 1972, The Seventh Season has now been reborn in America as a captivating father and son run rock band. This album has explosive energy, with fresh guitar solos, pure drumbeats, and interesting bass lines. Their old hits are on this album such as “Pirate Song” and “Commando”, while also having their more modern new sounds like “Apart From Here” and “Ocean of Time”. This is music you can listen to and enjoy its addictive charisma.
Erik Williams, Independent Clauses, December 2006
http://www.independentclauses.com/v2/issues/december06/seventh_season.htm
Band Name: The Seventh Season
Album Name: Transposition
Best Element: Melody, style
Genre: Alternative Rock/Rock/New Age
Website: www.theseventhseason.net
Label Name: Independent Records
Band E-mail: info@theseventhseason.net
In today’s field of music, most if not all rock bands are founded by groups of musicians who, despite different callings in the music field, are all drawn together by one indestructible factor: friendship. For some musicians, that bond is even more solidified by having brothers or sisters to play along with. The Seventh Season takes that foundation one step further. Not only has bass player and back-up vocalist Yuri Batygin been behind the wheel for Seventh Season since 1972 with drummer Sergey Smet, but he has finally found a voice for his outfit in his son Konstantin “Chad” Batygin.
The Seventh Season has been through ups and downs in its almost 35 year existence. Their latest offering is a live DVD entitled Transposition, which was filmed live at the Emeryville College for Digital Arts in February of 2006. In this set, Seventh Season presents itself as a band that has not only a unique sound, but also consistent songwriting ability.
Chad Batygin sets the mood for the album with his unique and trippy guitar tones with “Desire.” Smet starts tapping the beat on his throne while Yuri gets the listener in the groove with his bass. Chad’s vocals come in early on in the song, yet they almost appear too rough for the song; due to it being a live show, it could just be first-song-anxiety. Regardless, the vocalization is done very well between Chad and his dad throughout the tune.
The album zips over a song about not wearing underwear (“Commando”) to “Pirate Song,” a poppy song that will get fans of any genre bopping along. Chad’s vocals are more understandable in this song, and the lyrics turn out to be well written and thoughtful. If anyone has even wondered what Russian blues rock sounds like, look no further. Yuri lays it down in “New Day,” a toe-tapping blues-rock song sung completely in Russian. The trio shows off their English song-writing skills as well in “So Insane,” a new age rocker that leaves Chad pleading, “Please tell me there’s no need to be alone for God’s sake.” “Ocean of Time” is arguably the best tune on the DVD. Manifesting from the tender, fluid notes that drip off Chad’s guitar, the song immediately brings to mind images of the subconscious, of floating around in space, and an eternity of tripping. A brooding bass line carries the song beneath Chad’s dimmed vocals until the gentle dynamics soar into a hard hitting, powerful solo. The Batygins bellow out one last chorus before Smet kicks his kit into gear and the band races off at a new tempo with Chad’s fingers in the lead.
The DVD ends with several decent tunes, the most noticeable being “April,” which features political overtones and lyrics like “Why should we have to die…for someone else’s lie?” Chad also takes this time to show off his axe-man skills, rifling off several solos with his guitar over his head. Transposition offers a few good songs and is sure to draw in some fans for the Seventh Season. Unfortunately, the purpose of a live DVD is to capture the live energy of the band. With Transposition, though the tunes sound great, there was no feeling of urgency from the performers. The groove was there, the beat was there, but a lot of the stage presence felt robotic and/or forced in accordance with the music. Being that they advertise themselves as a rock band, if there is one thing the band could work on, it would be to move around a bit more, interact with each other more, and really go crazy.
Other than many of the tunes sounding semi-similar due to the same atmospheric guitar tones flowing over everything, The Seventh Season have done some great things on Transposition, and “Ocean of Time” is an extremely well-written song. If you’re looking for some trippy rock 'n' roll and have an hour to spare, pick up Transposition and let the groove take you away.
Ron Fuchs, ProgNaut, 24 December 2006
http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/tss.html
The Seventh Season were formed back in Moscow in 1972. Now 20 years later and a move to the USA, the now father/son combination of Yuri Batygin (father) and Konstantin (son) have returned with music mix of folk, classic rock, art rock, sometimes glam rock and new wave. The lyrics are sometimes in an 'accented' English, sometimes in Russian. I must admit the vocals are a tough thing to get through but the music has the 70’s vibe going for it makes up for that.
I would put The Seventh Season in the same breath as Phideaux, Wilton Said to name a few. All of these bands seem to corner the 70’s sound without sounding retro or forced.
This is a hard thing to recommend but if you like the more DIY sound, then you’re in for a treat. Some highlights to me are 'Commando' and 'Army Of Reason' with it’s classic rock appeal. All the rest are as good but in different ways. If you want your music that’s not all glossy and layered, then The Seventh Season is the band for you. I would recommend this band and their album ‘Fall Within’ as something to seek out.
MetalCore Fanzine, 15 October 2006
http://www.metalcorefanzine.com/reviews27.html
THE SEVENTH SEASON/Transposition (Self Released) DVD.
This is a straight ahead no bullshit rock n roll band that would not be out of place from the 80's. The band write simple, but big time catchy tunes with some melodic singing. The band remind me of a band from the 80's called The Shoes who had a few hits here and there. The camera and sound quality are more than good and this is for the fan who craves kick ass rock n roll. Info: www.theseventhseason.net
Shapeless Zine - The Italian Metal Webzine, November 2006
http://www.shapeless.it/recealbum/theseventhseason-transposition.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON
Transposition (DVD)
Etichetta: autoprodotto
Anno: 2006
Durata: 57 min
Genere: rock
Oh, bene! Bravi! Bis! In casa The Seventh Season sono passato quattro anni dalla pubblicazione del debut album "Fall Within" (che trovate recensito su queste pagine) e i miglioramenti si vedono eccome. Questa volta la band di origini russe, in attesa di pubblicare un secondo CD, attualmente in lavorazione, decide di produrre un DVD di un concerto registrato il 23 febbraio in California, presso l'Ex'pression College For Digital Arts. Il risultato, pur essendo realizzato in maniera quasi amatoriale, risulta assolutamente professionale e curato, mitigando tutti i difetti che avevo riscontrato nell'album "Fall Within". Innanzitutto bisogna dire che la band in questi quattro anni si data da fare, prendendo tra le propria fila un vero batterista, Sergei Smet, al posto dell'odiosa drum machine del primo album. Questo gi fa fare un passo enorme alla qualit delle canzoni, dato che il buon Sergei, un distinto signore dotato di un bel tocco leggero, perfettamente funzionale al rock anni '60/'70 suonato dai "The Seventh Season". Un altro miglioramento, poi, si nota nella performance di Konstantin Batygin, giovanissimo chitarrista e cantante che, vi ricordo, non altri che il figlio di Yuri Batygin, bassista e fondatore della band. Konstantin, infatti, migliorato tantissimo dal punto di vista esecutivo negli ultimi quattro anni, mostrando davvero un impegno e una passione ammirevoli. D'altra parte c'era da aspettarselo: Konstantine all'epoca di "Fall Within" aveva solo sedici anni, quindi probabilmente era poco pi che un principiante del proprio strumento. Infine, sempre parlando degli ottimi passi avanti compiuti dalla band, c' la questione della produzione che, essendo assolutamente 'live' in questo DVD, spazza via tutto quel senso di artificiosit che appiattiva invece il debutto.
Passando quindi a presentarvi il contenuto di questo DVD, vi anticipo che la scaletta del concerto, di soli tredici brani, comprende sette brani tratti da "Fall Within", pi cinque nuove composizioni che andranno a finire sul nuovo album. Per quanto riguarda i brani conosciuti, posso dire che la resa dal vivo aggiunge davvero non poco alle canzoni, che sembrano davvero rivivere grazie ai miglioramenti citati prima. Anche la voce di Konstantin, che non poi cos spettacolare, diciamocelo, risulta comunque pi piacevole rispetto al passato. I brani mantengono una struttura semplice, ma si nota una certa evoluzione negli assoli, dato che il chitarrista, crescendo con il proprio strumento, ha assunto dei caratteri solisti tipicamente ottantiani. Non raro quindi che le composizioni siano leggermente allungate, per lasciare spazio alle evoluzioni di Konstantin. I nuovi brani, allo stesso modo, continuano sulla falsa riga di quelli di "Fall Within", ma convincono ancora di pi proprio grazie alla maturazione del gruppo. Tuttavia, prima di sbilanciarmi su un giudizio dettagliato, aspetto la pubblicazione definitiva del CD, in modo da sentire i brani in quella che sar la loro veste ufficiale. Per ora, comunque, il giudizio positivo, anche se resta un po' la questione gi sollevata in "Fall Within": le canzoni sono davvero molto semplici e dirette, quindi c' il rischio che dopo pochi ascolti l'interesse cali, lasciando il CD a prendere polvere.
Infine aggiungo qualche considerazione sulla qualit video: il DVD stato realizzato in maniera quasi amatoriale, ma comunque il risultato davvero buono. Vengono utilizzate tre diverse telecamere e le inquadrature sono semplici ma efficaci. L'immagine non perfettamente nitida, ma comunque pi che buona e anche dal punto di vista dell'audio non c' da lamentarsi (certo, non aspettatevi chiss quali performance in 5.1, ecco...). La performance della band visivamente scarna e semplice: i tre musicisti restano fermi al loro posto e si limitano a suonare senza troppi fronzoli: niente scenografie, niente pose, soltanto del buon rock 'n' roll.
Per concludere, quindi, non mi resta che consigliarvi la visione di questo DVD, che mostra il buono stato di salute dei The Seventh Season: i brani nuovi sembrano promettenti e quelli vecchi sono decisamente migliorati rispetto alla versione sul disco. Se volete conoscere questa band, iniziate proprio da questo DVD, potrebbe essere un bel biglietto da visita.
Danny Boodman - Novembre 2006
Voto: 7.5
Mundo Rock, November 2006
http://www.mundorock.org/Secciones/critica-dvdseventh.html
Metal Rebelde, November 2006
http://metalrebelde.metropoliglobal.com/web/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=168
The Seventh Season - Transposition (2006)
Cuantas bandas que nacieron en 1972 aun siguen vivitas y coleando?
Así comienza la gacetilla adjunta al dvd de The Seventh Season, trío que además esta compuesto por el bajista y guitarrista Yuri y Konstantin Batygin (padre e hijo respectivamente) y Sergey Smet en batería. Siendo evidente que la sangre nueva de Kontastin provoco que su padre y su compañero de ruta Sergey volvieran a reunirse después de casi 20 años, sacando el disco “Fall within” cuya tapa parece sacada de una de esas bandas de metal melódico de Europa.
El Dvd muestra un show en vivo grabado en febrero de este año en Emeryville, California, aunque el grupo es originario de Rusia.
Me capta la atención cuando escucho a Yuri, quien es segunda voz, tomar el liderazgo vocal en “New day” y empieza a cantar en ruso, ya que para quien comenta discos de rock en ingles y a veces en español, es necesario escuchar otros acentos e idiomas de vez en cuando. Como estilo abarcan un rock duro setentón, con tendencia alternativa y alguna pinceladas de metal como en “Ocean of time”, ya que dentro del estilo se identifican con los míticos Uriah Heep.
Para mas info: http://theseventhseason.net
Keys and Chords, November 2006
http://www.keysandchords.com/page112/page115/page116/page117/page117.html
The Seventh Season - Transposition
Nadat deze groep subtiel opgestart werd als vader & zoon rockgroep in Moskou in 1972, en ontbonden werd in 1979, is deze in 2001 herboren in de USA. Met hun explosieve energie begonnen ze in 2002 het Amerikaanse publiek voor zich te winnen met hun debuutcd ‘Fall Within’. Sedertdien hebben ze constant aan nieuw materiaal gewerkt in de studio. Op deze registratie van hun live optreden op 23/2/2006 in het Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville in Californië, voeren ze zowel oudere als nieuwe nummers uit. Het publiek gaat uit de bol voor deze rockmuziek van het trio, dat bestaat uit zoon Konstantin (Chad) Batygin op gitaar, vader Yuri Batygin op bas, en nieuwkomer Sergei Smet op drums. Oude hits zoals ‘Commando’ en ‘Pirate Song’ passeren de revue, terwijl de mensen met nieuwe sounds zoals ‘Ocean Of Time’ en ‘Apart From Here’ kunnen kennismaken. Vader en zoon schreven alle songs samen. Het is moeilijk om hun sound te beschrijven, want ze bezitten verscheidene muzikale invloeden. Je hoort er wat Pink Floyd in, wat Deep Purple, wat metal, wat elektronische new wave. De dvd duurt zevenenvijftig minuten. Voor liefhebbers die willen teruggrijpen naar vroeger werk. ♬♬
Meer info: www.theseventhseason.net
Patrick Van de Wiele
POWERMETAL.de, 7 November 2006
http://www.powermetal.de/cdreview/anzeigen.php?albumid=8580
Seventh Season, The - Transposition (DVD)
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Der Preis für die am langsamsten arbeitende Combo dieses Planeten geht ohne Wenn und Aber an THE SEVENTH SEASON. Die Band existiert bereits seit 1972. Okay, das soll's geben. Aber wann ist wohl die erste Platte erschienen? 1976? 1982? 1992? Nee, nee, 2003! Gut Ding will Weile haben, woll? Fairerweise muss man sagen, dass die Instrumente zwischendurch für zwanzig (!) Jahre eingemottet waren, ehe 1998 wieder ein wenig Schwung in die Sache kam. Aber fürs "Guinness Buch der Rekorde" muss die Geschichte trotzdem reichen. Da steht doch bestimmt auch jemand drin, der sich mal drei Tage am Stück Joey-DeMaio-Ansagen reingepfiffen hat, ohne wahnsinnig zu werden oder sich bereits nach zehn Minuten zu erschießen. Im Vergleich dazu ist die Story hier um einiges cooler. Musikalisch hängen die mittlerweile in Kalifornien ansässigen Russen immer noch in den Siebzigern (Tendenz: fallend), und leider gelingt es ihnen nicht, diese Zeit so aufzubereiten, dass Freude aufkommt. Oder anders ausgedrückt: Sie klingen genauso alt, wie sie sind. Und die Angabe der BEATLES und CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL als Einflüsse verdeutlicht, dass bei dem auf "Transposition" verewigten, Anfang des Jahres gefilmten Gig nicht gerade die Wurst kracht und der Bär steppt. Muss ja auch nicht unbedingt, allerdings hat das Trio seinen Vorbildern qualitativ nichts entgegen zu setzen. Das zu erwarten, wenn die Pilzköpfe im Spiel sind, wäre vermessen, aber ein bisschen mehr sollte kompositorisch schon mitgeteilt werden. Das Gebotene ist einfach ganz lahm und einschläfernd (die bluesigen 'Commando' und 'New Day', 'Desire', 'So Insane', 'Oceans Of Time', 'Drag Me': Die Liste ließe sich beliebig fortsetzen). Die spielerischen Fähigkeiten gehen so weit in Ordnung, was nach umpfzig Jahren am Instrument auch eine Selbstverständlichkeit sein muss. Aber: Insbesondere Drummer Sergey Smet hat überhaupt keinen Groove – ganz ehrlich. Er trommelt fast durchgehend den gleichen Charlie-Watts-Beat, ist auch mindestens genauso spritzig wie der STONES-Trommler und dürfte bei dieser Show nicht ins Schwitzen gekommen sein. Viel mehr geht bei seinen beiden Mitstreitern ebenfalls nicht. Bassist Yuri Batygin und sein Sohn Konstantin (v.; g.), der in den zwanzig Jahren Funkstille rangezogen wurde, agieren zwar ebenfalls handwerklich einwandfrei und kommen auch sympathisch rüber, aber mitreißend ist ihre Vorstellung trotzdem nicht. Keine Ahnung, ob die Herren abgehen würden wie die Ketzer, wenn die Musik mehr wäre als nur Fahrstuhlsoundtrack. Die Eigenbeschreibung "New Age" passt alles in allem verdammt gut. Mehr als Hintergrundbeschallung für zünftige Batik-Shirt-Abende mit ganz viel Küchen-Esoterik und Hellsehen, bis die Birne qualmt, ist die Musik von THE SEVENTH SEASON nicht. Und an welchen Stellen die Band Alternative- und Dance-Elemente untergebracht hat, bleibt für immer ihr Geheimnis. Anspieltipp: Ihr habt die freie Auswahl.
Oliver Schneider
La Factoria Del Ritmo, October 2006
http://www.lafactoriadelritmo.com/fact22/novedad/index.php?rango=5
THE SEVENTH SEASON. "Transposition". Independent Records. DVD. 2006. Rock.
Una banda que nació en el año 1972 y que sigue en activo, aunque con solo dos de los miembros originarios. Acaban de publicar un interesante DVD en el que muestran su elegante propuesta: rock, new age y hasta elementos para bailar. Un grupo que a estas alturas sigue reclamando a Vétales, Uriah Heep y Creedence Clearwater Revival como referencias.
Michael Davis, Pittsburgh's Music Directory, 5 October 2006
http://www.pghlocalmusic.com/news/NewsDetail.cfm?NewsID=4
The Seventh Season has released a great LIVE DVD "Transposition" that really ROCKS! The sound quality is very professional and the Video quality is TOP NOTCH! The sound of Seventh Season is very progressive rock with a little metal. Their guitar sounds very clean and "drifting-soothing" like Uli Jon Roth or Hendrix. The opening track will hook you with their soothing tone and the rest will rock you! Be sure to watch the hidden track for a Great METAL ANTI-WAR song! Learn more and hear this great band here: The Seventh Season.
Progressive Rock and Progressive Metal, 12 March 2006
http://www.progressiverockbr.com/previews2006.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON - "Fall Within" Like father, like son. From the cold Russian winter The Seventh Season was born in 1972. Yuri Batygin had toured a lot with his band and recorded very good songs, until stop activities en 1979. But the year was 2001, and his son Konstantin Batygin joined forces with his father to reborn this good band. The result is this CD, a debut that was created in the seventies and now finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Considering that they started in 1972, we have a rock band like "Deep Purple", with some blues-rock oriented songs like “Commando” and “So Insane”. There are some acustical elements in “Like Years Ago” (a "Rolling Stones" influence) and a 80’s rock feeling in songs like “Drag Me” and “Magician”. This band has a great problem in hands. They have so many musical influences, that is very difficult to describe them musically. It is a very well done record, good production, but a missing identity. Well... they have done a lot of shows with Virgil Gheorghiu in drums, and are preparing a new record. If we pay attention the “Fall Within”, we can expect a very good release in the future. Well... it’s only rock and roll and I LIKE IT!...
Rafael Carnovale
Kangar Radio International, 6 December 2005
http://www.kangarradio.com/
The Seventh Season: Fall Within
Genre: Rock,Hard Rock/ Artist Site: www.theseventhseason.net/ Rating by Kangar Radio ****
This father and son group make magic together with there guitars and vocals and lyrics. One of the catchiest tunes I have listened to in the longest time is in fact the first track “Commando”. I have been to the site of Seventh Season and was very happy to see the live footage of the group live. They put on one heck of a show to say the least. A fun group to listen to and a great band to watch also. Again this is another group I like to keep an eye on and watch them group. Another great track from this group is “Pirate Song”.
Andrew Allan
Kweevak.com, 2 November 2005, by by Laura Turner Lynch
http://www.kweevak.com/rd_cd_reviews.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON – FALL WITHIN:
The Seventh Season formed in 1972 in Moscow, Russia. The band has been through a number of incarnations including a move to the west coast of the United States. Since 2001, they have appeared at a variety of festivals and venues. The current lineup is a trio, including founder Yuri Batygin who plays bass and sings. His son Konstantin handles guitar, vocals and wrote the majority of songs on the Fall Within CD. Virgil Gheorghiu plays drums. The Seventh Season sound is a unique blend of alternative, metal, new wave and rock. Their self-produced, twelve track album blends classic and modern rock styles in songs enhanced by the use of electronics and some modulated vocals. 'So Insane' features altered vocals, a crazed tempo along with searing guitars and electronic sounds. 'Army Of Reality' is a battle of bold beats, dueling vocals and edgy instrumentation. The Seventh Season shows lots of potential on their debut CD. The trio brings passion and originality to their own brand of rock!
• Recommended Tracks: 2,12
Northeast In-Tune. 18 September 2005, by Dan Murphy
http://www.northeastintune.com/sept/seventh.html
Could it get any less cool than having your dad front your rock n roll band, well that is exactly what Bay Area band The Seventh Season is doing, and apparently pulling it off!
he Seventh Season began over three decades ago in the former Soviet Union by founder Yuri Batygin, but it is not until 2002 when they would finally debut with “Fall Within” with its current incarnation. Seventh Season now consists of Yuri’s son Konstantin, and drummer Virgil Gheorghiu. They have been gigging extensively in the California area since its inception in 2002, gaining recognition in and around their hometown.
At first listen to the tracks on their debut there was something quite relevant in them to contemporary bands, an 80’s Bowie-esque quality. A sound that is receiving great attention as of late with so many 80’s style bands popping up everywhere. Sonically the guitars ride on top in songs such as “So Insane” and “Pirate Song” giving the band a signature drive. Vocally however is a feeling of hit or miss, appearing inviting at times, and at others a more burlesque version of Weird Al mimicking Ana Kournikova or something. The standout track in unquestionably “Commando”, which delivers verses that allude to the CB’s era bands of the 1970’s such as Talking Heads, with its simplicity and vocal sparseness.
Perhaps the most endearing quality of the Seventh Season lies around the bands story, and what they represent. The Seventh Season are a band that doesn’t seem to fit at all with current music trends as being too cool or too hip, in fact it is almost the antithesis of that very mindset.
Undoubtedly, their story is one of the most interesting stories of any band in rock. They have had such a long history, cool names like Yuri and Konstantin, and I mean who was the last father and son to pull off rock band….well, there you go there’s always a fist for everything right?
San Francisco Chronicle, East Bay Section, 16 September, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alameda-There-s-a-lot-more-brewing-at-Crosstown-2569467.php
Alameda: There's a lot more brewing at Crosstown Coffee besides caffeine (see article for full text here)
PHASE 9 Music (UK), 22 June 2004, by EDF
http://www.phase9.tv/musicreviews/seventhseason-fallwithin-a.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON - FALL WITHIN Album Review by EDF
The Seventh Season is a group with an interesting past, of sorts. The group was founded in Moscow, Russia in 1972. Led by Yuri Batygin, the group spent the 1970’s performing and recording until they decided to call it a day. Nearly 20 years later, now finding himself on a different continent, Yuri has revived the group with his son Konstantin. Together they have spent countless hours recording this album which has a lot more going for it than its individual parts.
SO INSANE is essentially a folk song backed with rock music but an interesting aspect is how their harmonies almost sound electronic. There is a spirit, a passionate spirit, that screams out of the gung-ho lyrics from the PIRATE SONG. The harmonising guitar solo on LIKE YEARS AGO is great but short and is instead replaced by an average keyboard solo. The drum parts are obviously not live but are programmed to suit tracks such as FALL WITHIN. The mid-tempo DESIRE and DRAG ME are both a welcome change of pace and mood, with both tracks sounding like something from the early 1980’s.
Typically the group leaves the best till last as ARMY OF REALITY is easily the best produced track here. The main problem with most of the songs is the way certain sounds are mixed. The album would have benefited with some mastering sessions as it lacks any real bass to fill out the songs. Nevertheless, if The Seventh Season were to record another album, then it would be a safe bet to say that it would be better produced than this one.
Evor.com
http://www.evor.com/links_rock8.html
The Seventh Season "Fall Within is not to be missed: Rock and Roll fan or not. With its catchy tunes and light-hearted outlook on life, the Seventh Season will grow on anyone who appreciates good music."
MusicShopper Forum, 23 November 2004 by Sarah Francis
http://forums.musicshopper.info/index.php?showtopic=217
MusicShopper - Music Reviews, Music Shopping and Music Resources
The Seventh Season - Fall Within
Our Rating: 75 out of 100
The Seventh Season intermingles various styles of music in their one of a kind album, “Fall Within.” There’s no easy way to describe the originality of the music on this album as The Seventh Season seems to blend together a lot of rock, some metal, a twinge of folk, and a dash of the Beatles to produce their unique sound. In a world full of generic, processed music it is refreshing to hear a band try something new.
With the mix of new and old styles it is not surprising after listening to “Fall Within” to learn that the band consist of both father, Yuri Batygin, and son, Konstantin Batygin. The band was first formed in 1972 by Yuri, and his long experience playing in music in conjunction with Konstantin’s youthful energy definitely gives the bands first album “Fall Within” an edge.
No two songs sound the same, and they all have a distinct character to them making “Fall Within” something that will keep your ears interested. Like a good disc jockey, the songs are formatted to play on your mood by picking you up and bringing you back down at just the right moments. The collection truly saves the best for last with the music only “Morning” and then follows up with the last song and best song, “Army of Reality.” These two songs, along with “Commando” really make the album. It takes a lot of creativity and imagination to unite such different styles of music together and The Seventh Season pulls it off well. If they keep at it, their second CD should be even better.
This is a well thought out album and the Batygins definitely get points for originality and experimenting with new techniques. People that are interested in new forms of music as well as Rock, Indie, and Beatle fans that like a little twist should check out “Fall Within.” I have not yet seen The Seventh Season in person, but I get the feeling they put on a very good live performance.
Neufutur.com http://www.neufutur.com/
Reviewed 14 August 2004
Bands aren’t usually around for thirty years, and even fewer of them are able to keep a style reminiscent of that era for so long after their formation. The Seventh Season do so, while keeping together enough relevancy to maintain a decent album. Using a voice modifier that many would assume to be on a Britney Spears or Cher track, Yuri makes a solid rock track that can be as meaningfully enjoyed by the adult contemporary listeners as it is with the rock purists. On “Fall Within”, each track is cast in such a similar way that it becomes hard at times to discern different tracks, owing much to the heavily-distorted guitars (which more often than not become indistinguishable and odd tone to Yuri’s voice. Each track is arranged beautifully, and while there are dry spells when the deep end is only slightly represented (especially during most of the title track), each member of The Seventh Season contribute equally.
In trying to add an electronic element to their sound, I feel that The Seventh Season have sacrificed something of intensity that having unadulterated guitar lines would give them. “Desire’s” ending guitar solo is hampered by this, and a track that would have ended with a bang truly does end on this disc with a whimper. It is when The Seventh Season drop these electronics and reach back into their bag to bring out a sixties-sounding ditty where their true talent is shown, specifically the pop-rock ditty “New Day”, sounding as near a “Postman”-like song as they come. The penultimate track to “Fall Within”, the dreadfully tinny sounding “Morning” is hindered by fake-sounding synthesizers that threaten to make the entire disc insincere.
A more organic approach to “Fall Within” would have been a better course of action than the electronic-rock mix that The Seventh Season commits to this disc. Minor issues plague “Fall Within”, whether it be the unnecessarily mechanical drumming on “Pirate Song” or the aforementioned tinny-ness of Morning, yet do not significantly weaken the disc as a whole. Still, a simple comparison to the music that is paraded out as rock in this new era shows The Seventh Season as an extremely compelling band that is never afraid to mix a radio friendly song with an incredible devotion to musicianship. Two years have passed since this album was released, but have The Seventh Season moved on to the next plateau or just found themselves in a deeper rut with this unholy mishmash?
Top Tracks: Like Years Ago, Commando
Allalom.com by Samuel Aaron, 13 May 2005
The Seventh Season – Fall Within
Label: Independent Records
Style: Classic Rock, Retro, Rock’n’Roll
Released: 2002
My Grade: 4 stars
AMG: n/a
Sounds like: Randy Newman, David Bowie, T.Rex, They Might Be Giants
http://www.allalom.com/051305seventhseason-fall.htm
Where did these guys come from? They formed in the early seventies and now, in the year of our Lord two thousand and five they have released their debut (actually it was released in 2002, but still, most bands release an album within the first three years of existence, not after three decades)? Not only that, but they started in Russia and have crossed oceans to now reside in the USA? This band has some history to say the least.
So what does the music sound like? Well that is kind of hard to explain, because within the short time span of the disc they fly through several elements of folk, metal, new wave and retro-arena rock, not to mention a couple turns into glam and punk revival; although each song retains elements of the others to hold everything together but giving enough elasticity to eliminate monotony. Reminiscent of the more experimental glam rock that came out of England during the early seventies, and combined with the fuelling of early American proto-punk and you might have a pretty good taste of the music.
“Commando” burst onto the starting line at a careening pace and gives the music listener something to bite his teeth in – but be sure to hold on because from there on it is a mad dash that will speed up and slow down at the change of each track like a roller coaster designed for actual fun. “Like Years Ago” and “Fall Within” are great examples of this band and the future; Sure there are a couple mis-steps and a few minor flaws but most albums that are self produced contain problematic elements. The album starts to stumble and falter when in nears the ending track, but once that final song (“Army of Reality”) kicks in it rises like a phoenix from the stumbling blocks and uplifts the album back to something enjoyable.
The worst offender on the album is the prog-rock cover - lacking both the talent and skill of those progressive artists, it screams of sci-fi mimicry without the enjoyable cliché. Next time they should probably hire an artist, instead of messing around with 3-D graphics.
DVD Total Magazine (Brazil), 12 March 2005
FALL WITHIN
The Seventh Season
(Independent Records Inc)
http://omedi.blogspot.com/2005/03/ouvindo-seu-dvd.html
http://dvdmagazine.virgula.com.br/Martorelli/ouca_seu_DVD_1.htm
Embora não muito conhecida, a Seventh Season é uma banda veterana: ela surgiu em Moscou, na Rússia, no longínquo ano de 1972! A formação original já se dispersou há 20 anos, mas o grupo retorna � tica com Yuri Batygin e seu filho, Konstantin, misturando rock clássicos, progressivo, new wave e até folk. Imagine os Rolling Stones de “Goat´s Head Soup” com os vocais do B-52´s e você vai ter uma vaga idéia do som do Seventh Season.
"Check out Fall Within and the fun will be contagious!" — Jen Lush, Midwestbands.com, 23 September 2004. "Listen to The Seventh Season on MWB Radio!"
http://www.midwestbands.com/review_page.php?id=186
Musicianship – 7.5 out of 10
I have to gives props to this father/son team on their musicianship. This is a self produced disc and instead of using a lot of keyboard tricks to fill it in, their use of acoustic and electric instruments shows their talents well. A lot of Indie artists take the easy way out and use their ‘keys’ to fill in all the background parts. That is not the case here. However, vocally they used more effects than they needed to! Their harmonies are decent. Their tone is a little whiney, but, I think that is magnified by the high treble effect added in the echo in their vocals. I think on their next disc if they would give a more natural recording to their vocals, my score would rise considerably! They are unique and interesting artists!
Songwriting – 7.5 out of 10
8 out of 12 tracks on this disc were written by the son, Konstantin Batygin. They aren’t complex symphonies by any stretch; however, he has a GREAT pop style of writing that is his OWN. Considering his youth, I imagine his writing will get even better. He has totally grasped the concept of how a good Pop song should flow! From dance to a retro New Wave sound, Konstantin’s music, if put in the right producer’s hands, could surely produce several hits. The lyrics aren’t real deep, but they aren’t shallow either. I feel they are completely appropriate for their style of music. *I’m sure the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree! Yuri’s songwriting ability is highlighted in (New Day)! Great Beatle-esque quality to the song!
Sound Quality/Professionalism – 6.5 out of 10
My score is a little deceiving in some ways. In some parts of this disc the guitar parts really shine! I love how they are recorded; however, the mixing leaves a LOT to be desired! In some of the tracks, the vocals are almost in the background and in others they are really loud with the treble highs almost making it difficult to hear the other instruments in the song—and you WANT to hear the other instruments. Some are very basic, but in other portions there is some great playing that you can barely hear because a simpler recorded instrument drowns it out. For instance: (Save My Soul) is a beautiful track, with a really lovely acoustic guitar WAY in the background. But, you CAN hear the simple keyboard part louder and EXTREMELY SIMPLE drum beat even more so!
With a professional mix done on their individual parts & careful attention to the recorded vocals, this disc would be difficult to find fault with at all. Honestly, there is very little lacking in talent and much lacking in production.
Packaging - 6 out of 10
Interesting sleeve art, simple track listing (with songwriters names) and a picture of the men. Not much to be thrilled with, but nothing offensive either. Of course, my biggest gripe is NO LYRICS!!! They also don’t have lyrics on their website! Such a shame! I think Konstantin especially should be sure they are included in future endeavors. Being able to read and listen at the same time helps us to remember and keep a song in our minds.
Favorite Tracks
Commando
Fall Within
Drag Me
New Day
*Stand Out Track: Army of Reality
Overall Rating - 8 out of 10
The Seventh Season is a refreshing unique ‘team’ of musicians that fits in with the trend that is rising in Pop music today. Pop is becoming more interesting musically. The trend is to not only use electronics to a musician’s advantage, but to bring back real musicianship with REAL instruments! What a concept! Yuri and Konstantin Batygin bring back that wonderful retro New Wave sound adding edge and ROCK to their Pop style and it makes for a fun and satisfying disc. The added bonus is in knowing that they probably had a blast putting it together!
THE EXAMINER, San Francisco, 8 July 2004 by Bill Picture
Weekend Concerts The Seventh Season
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/070804a_concerts
Weekend Concerts The Seventh Season
For their debut album, "Fall Within" (Independent Records, Inc.), South Bay duo The Seventh Season, which consists of Russian Bay Area transplant Yuri Batygin and son Konstantin, puts an intriguing Numan-esque new-wave spin on the '70s prog-rock sound. Read more at www.theseventhseason.net.
SPACE ROCK 15 July 2004 by Stuart aka zeitgeist
http://www.space-rock.co.uk/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=78
The Seventh Season - Fall Within
An interesting one, The Seventh Season were formed in Moscow in 1972, but after a 20 year break, and a move of continent, now consist of Yuri Batygin and his son Konstantin. Theirs is an odd mix of folk, classic rock, prog, and new wave, sometimes in English, sometimes in Russian, veering wildly across genres with nary a backward glance. As is inevitable with something so eclectic, you're areas of enjoyment will vary with the styles, so the more traditional classic rock tracks get my vote with 'Commando' and 'Army Of Reason' scoring highest. The folk rock meld of 'So Insane' is also wel conceived and performed, crossing over into an almost electronic folk blend, but 'Pirate Song' is the out and out winner, one track where all their influences converge into a new fluidity. There is a lull in the middle of the album as neither 'Desire' nor 'Drag Me' manage to lift themselves out of the ordinary, but this is an admirable project, and one to be commended.
Encore, Outrider, The Beat, American Harmonica Newsmagazine, May 2003
Another father/son rock act, this one Russian. Papa Yuri and son Konstantin Batygin have been at this rock and roll thing for some time, and now their equipment and chops are up to a commercial release. Youth-oriented for the youth of the late '70s and early '80s, their stuff's sort of New Wave, angry with a hint of fake Brit accent, which is sort of amusing given the fact that we're talking about two Russians living in Los Angeles.
I like it. It's fantasy-and-testosterone based, with titles ranging from "Commando" to "So Insane" to "Pirate Song" to "Magician" to "Army of Reality." The Batygins obviously love writing and playing rock, and that is an asset to any record. As for their writing and singing, it's not bad and they're not trying to break new ground here, so if the basic patterns are passe, that doesn't hurt the release a bit. If a college dormitory hall had a big party, the room where this record was playing would be the inner sanctum for the most "with it" party attendees.
Recommended for people who've forgotten what they like about rock and for people who haven't.
"They're living out the high-energy, rebellious fantasy." - Jennifer Layton, Indie-Music.com, 21 November 2003.
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2311
The roots of this band formed in Moscow in 1972. Now, The Seventh Season is Yuri Batygin and son Konstantin, performing guitar rock with electronic new wave elements and spastic, aggressive vocals that sound like the B-52s singing from the Rolling Stones songbook.
What really works is that these guys love rock music. They're living out the high-energy, rebellious fantasy. The British accent does sound a little strange from two Russian singers, but the passion and power are there.
For their next recording, I suggest they do something to fill out the sound. It needs more bass, and those voices need to be brought to the front a little more. They sound echoed in the background. But overall, this is an intriguing approach and makes for enjoyable listening.
RadioMike, 07 March 2004
http://thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/comments.php?id=287_0_1_0_C
THE SEVENTH SEASON plays Progressive Russian Art Rock all the way in California. Of course, This all Combines Every kind of Indie and Older Influences, but this Father-Son Duo are Impressing Everyone who comes to their Shows. Since they don’t live Far from the Relatives in Cali, we Wonder if we can get a Few of them to Go to a Show.
Accent on Tampa Bay Magazine, May 2004
Here’s something different — a father and son playing together in a rock band — and from Moscow no less. Thankfully, their singing accent is not heavy at all, just slightly unusual. Their music is of the electronic new wave genre. The SEVENTH SEASON was first established in 1972 by dad, and restarted again in 1998 with his son. Consisting of just the two members, they added a drummer this year. FALL WITHIN is their new CD. (Independent Records - www.theseventhseason.net).
EUFONIA.COM, 27 July 2004, by Ciro Velazquez
http://www.eufonia.net/html/the_seventh_season.html
Recibí este material con una tarjeta que indicaba que la banda The Seventh Season era una banda de progresivo/alternativo/root rock.
Revisando, me daba cuenta que eran dos familiares Yuri (padre haciendo música desde 1972 en Rusia) y Konstantin (hijo) Batygin quienes hacían todo en este disco. Todo seguía bien y pensé que por la longitud de las canciones y algunos títulos quizá estaba frente a la línea alternativa de la producción de Seventh Season, pero siempre hay que escuchar antes.
El disco arranca con un "Commando" que bien podría andar en el alternativo, aunque quizá la voz y coros no ayuden mucho, al igual que la mezcla, donde más bien se sentía un trabajo inicial, siguiendo con todo el material, la sensación se hacía cada vez más justificada... voces que a veces se escuchan procesadas, un buen sonido con una mezcla que por alguna razón no termina de enganchar, quizá muy agudo al final.
Pero la música, es decir, la composición es la que finalmente no concuerda necesariamente con lo que esperabas de la tarjeta recibida. Acordes y ejecución que llamaré prematuros, a pesar de la experiencia que pueda tener Yuri, pero que podría ser un intento en la búsqueda de sonidos propios, pero que no sale airoso esta vez.
"Pirate Song" no quita la sensación de lo prematuro, inicial y primer esfuerzo ni por un momento. Y se acerca, a pesar de los acordes y distorsiones, más a un pop o un teen-rock que a un alternativo o progresivo (con todo y el manejo de teclados), y esto más por la sensación que por lo que realmente se escucha.... difícil de explicar.
El disco sigue el esquema a lo largo de todos los tracks, aunque al inicio de "Like Years Ago" se empiezan a vislumbrar teclados iniciales que dan esperanzas para esperar una evolución o madurez que podrían colaborar al sonido que pudiesen estar buscando los Batygin. Igual sucede con la batería inicial y guitarras de "Fall Within" (hasta que aparecen las voces que saturan) y el inicio de "Desire" rescatable para concordar con el timbre de voz.
"New Day" y su sonido más básico, hasta retro (una de las dos canciones, junto con "Magician" que no es en inglés), da un aire de alivio en el disco, más auténtica, menos elaborada y sin más pretensiones. Curiosamente, las canciones que no son cantadas en inglés rescatan más autenticidad -medida entre otras cosas, por lo cargado, superpuesto, sintético y "arreglado" del sonido y el track mismo-.
Incluso "Save My Soul" basada en piano en un principio padece de la sensación que tiene todo el disco, aunque, de nuevo, hay pinceladas de un sonido que podría empezar a desarrollarse.
Sigue "Morning", pieza instrumental de sonido otra vez sintético que no aporta al disco como podría. Finalmente, el disco termina con "Army Of Reality" con el mismo tenor de todo el disco.
Estaremos a la espera de la evolución de The Seventh Season. Por lo pronto, hay mucho trabajo que hacer.
spunoutcentral.com, 03 November 2004, by Adam Mico
http://www.spunoutcentral.com
Yes, I'm back from an extended siesta (following Election Day, no less). A month or so, I searched for my purpose in a Mojave Desert commune. Disease, drugs and dehydration delivered an altered personal sense. Finally, my testimonial supports anything that provides interest. Honestly, good or bad is irrelevant - the most dreadful can be even more entertaining than the sublime.
If you read their bio, 'why bother' may broach your mind. Yuri Batygin has been with The Seventh Season since 1972. In their original form, they persisted in Moscow (former U.S.S.R.) and then fazed in 1979. In 1998, Yuri opted to re-animate Seventh Season as the only existing original member with his son, Konstantin. In March of 2003 they completed Fall Within.
The Seventh Season consider themselves an experimentally friendly rock band. Fall Within rubs as a midlin late '80's / early '90's alterno-rock album. Outside of 'it's so ugly it's kinda kitschy cute' vocals and some intriguing guitar bridges, the CD sounds programmed and lacks personality. Cuts like "New Day" are so nasal and accented that it deflects as gibberish. When they hit a somber note ("Save My Soul"), they spew with power balladry even inferior to the uningestible Scorpions.
I certainly would not have wasted my time if it were fully intolerable. Plenty of quirky pop surfaces above the written bile. "Commando", "Save My Soul" and "Army of Reality" (ala They Might Be Giants) offer an adapted signature 'signature' that operates as an inaugural point.
Santa Teresa High School Newspaper, February 2004
Originating in Moscow, Russia, The Seventh Season is a two-man show, composed of Chad and dad, Yuri. Bringing back and classic rock and roll style, Chad was inspired by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, a shot of CCR, and Metallica. The two have made a mark already in the industry: Fall Within also can be found on Amazon.com, and most local record stores!
The philosophy of the album Fall Within is inspired by Chad's charming sense of humor and real aspirations for the future. And to clear up any disputes, the song "Commando" has everything to do with flying around without any underwear on. Sophisticated is "Desire," with its groovy beat and wailing guitars. "So Insane" is probably the most funky track where the harmony is stellar and a professional, bluesy mood shines through. The dramatic and soulful "Save My Soul" keeps the album relentlessly entertaining, and "Army of Reality" finally leaves us with a zealous feeling of spirit with its bold guitars.
With a fresh, original approach to a classic genre of music, Chad's strong vocals create a sound and style all his own that catches and keeps your attention. Together, the voices of Chad and his dad create an impressive and sophisticated resonance and harmony that is too good to miss. Around catchy bars and hooks, Yuri keeps it real with cool bass vibes, and Chad's funky guitar solos add class.
Fall Within is not to be missed: Rock and Roll fan or not. With its catchy tunes and light-hearted outlook on life, the Seventh Season will grow on anyone who appreciates good music.
Copyright © 2002 - 2016 The Seventh Season. All rights reserved.
http://www.nuevorevolution.com/reviews/reviewsqs.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Amazing album, amazing band. The Seventh Season is a three piece band which brings a full sound with their album Liquid Water. Rock and Roll is the only way to describe this band with intelligent music from all ways around. From the thought out lyrics to the outstanding arrange of music, this is a highly likeable rock album with twelve tracks of interest to listeners besides musicians. The Seventh Season is one of the most talented rock acts on the independent circuit at this time. Making rock music for rock fans and not underestimating the music listener's intelligence.
Tollbooth.org
http://www.tollbooth.org/2008/reviews/7thseason.html
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
I could have swore that I was the one person who knew the most about obscure bands with a dark mysterious past just popping out from nowhere. Boy, was I wrong, horribly, and sadly wrong. And man have I been sheltered. I wish I could have been there for the release of their first record, cause this group has definitely found the perfect sound. I mean between the dark raspy European accent laced vocals, the milky smooth blues/progressive rock guitars, solid downbeat drumming, and thick heavy bass riffs, this could be the next big thing. At least, for me, I mean really this is quite a well developed sound.
First, we will start with a brief catch up on the group as a name. The Seventh Season, started in 1972, they were fronted by another fella back then, and then in '76 they decided to seclude themselves in their home studios to record some new tracks. In most cases, this leads to a new singer or some other new member of a band, and a fresh new sound that is solid and collected leading to a chart topping record. On the contrary, they completely disbanded for one reason or another. And then after nearly 20 years, the bassist and drummer return with the bassists' son on leads and being doing the thing all over again. To our benefit the son has a fresh skillful playing method on the guitar. Milky smooth rhythms, and powerful but controlled solos, reminiscent of David Glimour through his entire career, Konstantin Batygin really sets the stage for a powerful progressive rock sound. Following him is father, Yuri, on bass, and Sergei Smet on drums. This is definitely a power trio if I have ever heard one. They released their first record in this carnation in March of 2003 ("Fall Within", Independent Records Inc.) and then followed it up with a DVD in 2006 ("Transposition", Independent Records), and now this third edition of the new line up. I would have to say that this is probably one of the best progressive rock bands that I have heard on the indie rock front in a while. They are strong, there lyrics and music gel together quite well, and they don't back down from driving a good beat. They definitely spent some time working out their own distinctive sound, and accomplished it very nicely with this latest record. Clean, easy to understand lyrics, and a solid rhythm, you won't want to put it down.
I deeply suggest checking out their other music as well. They are available on Amazon, as well as you can purchase the albums, and DVD directly from their website, www.theseventhseason.net. Go check them out for yourselves, you won't be disappointed.
Keep Rockin!!!
Rev MC
Rocknetwebzine.com
http://www.rocknetwebzine.com/reviews/theseventhseason-water.html
This is a band that has been around since 1972 and has evolved into a son and father outfit. That is too damn cool. This trio is a group of amazing musicians with great musical talents and wonderfully well crafted songs. They take amazing influences such as CCR, Uriah Heep, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd and bring a modernity and freshness with their music. Definitely a band worth checking out.
RoughEdge.com
http://www.roughedge.com/cdreviews/s/seventhseason.htm
Liquid Water (Independent Records; 2007)
Seventh Season would probably be labeled progressive rock. Their CD, "Liquid Water," features a dozen varied tracks, recorded over a long period of time.
Musically, Seventh Season sounds a little like bands such as Midnight Oil and Split Enz, only with a harder edge. The songs are all entertaining enough but are given an extra kick by vocalist Konstatin Batygin. Batygin's voice often has a rough edge that gives the music an attitude it might not have otherwise had. The musicianship is strong throughout and it probably should be: the band reportedly began in Russia in 1972, called it quits in 1979, and then re-formed in 1998, this time with bassist Yuri Batygin's son, Konstantin, on guitar and vocals.
Although there are a few songs that creep into hard rock / heavy metal territory, most of "Liquid Water" is closer to classic rock. Still, fans of progressive rock may want to give this band a listen.
R. Scott Bolton
Music Street Journal, July 2008
http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=101139
Seventh Season
Liquid Water
Review by Gary Hill
You know, this one I've gone back and forth on. I've been just about to throw it into metal and then suddenly I'll hear something that makes me think prog. In the end I went with progressive rock, but I can't tell you why. It's more a feeling than anything else. This is hard rock that is delivered with a great retro sound. If there is a real problem here, it's the vocals. The first few tracks really suffer in terms of singing, but by "Control Me," they seem to get a grip on it and deliver consistently solid singing.
Track by Track Review
Liquid Water
Somehow this track reminds me of a more prog-like Midnight Oil. It's fast, but melodic. It's simple, yet the arrangement is rather complex. Make no mistakes, this track isn't overly prog-like, but it's a solid intro to the disc.
Ocean of Time
This starts out as a bluesy rocker, but don't be deceived. They twist this general motif and turn it into something for more sublime. We get a full on prog instrumental break and there is a ton of progressive rock laced into this musical motif. A smoking guitar solo serves to end the tune.
Freeway
Were the whole CD like this, I'd plug it in under metal, and probably would consider it exceptionally generic. This is definitely a weak point on the disc. Although the vocal arrangement has its charms, I'd probably hit "skip" on this track. The instrumental break mid-track does bring some progressive rock elements and is actually quite cool, but it's too little too late to save the piece from mediocrity.
Apart From Here
This track is quite cool in terms of the music, but the vocals at time are over the top and really rub me the wrong way in places. This would be a great tune, were it not for the vocals. It's got a mellower, rather jazzy, prog ballad sort of structure, but I have to say that the singing on this one has me running to hit "skip." That delivery on a harder rocking song would work, but it's overkill in this motif. It's a shame, too, because the instrumental sections on this one are incredible.
Broken Artist
This one feels both hard rocking and proggy at the same time. When I say that I use "hard rocking" to mean something akin to a straightforward nearly metal sound. The thing is, their delivery is quite acoustically based at the same time.
Control Me
Other than one little section that feels a bit like Yes' Talk album this one is pretty thoroughly metallic. Don't get me wrong, there are a few other prog rock touches here and there, but overall this one is quite near to metal. The thing is, the vocals here are stronger than anything we've heard to this point. This is also one of the highlights of the CD.
Damaged
This is so nearly metal it's scary. Frankly the only reason I would consider it progressive rock is the overall vibe of it. It's not something I can single out, but just to say that the general tone fits.
My Only Honor
Once more, this comes across as metal with some progressive rock in the midst of its arrangement. It's a good tune, but not great.
April
This one is more of the same thing we've gotten used to, music that skirts along the lines between metal and progressive rock. It's definitely stronger than some of the rest of the stuff here and a highlight of the CD.
Nine To Five
This is bouncy and funny with a Beatles meets quirky pop/prog, this is a cool track and a good change of pace.
Machine
Based on a classic rock and roll riff, this one shows off more progressive rock leanings than metal, but both do show up here.
Wherever
The final track on the set is essentially an epic ballad. This is a cool number and one that still manages to bring in both metal and progressive rock sounds. It's actually one of the strongest pieces on the CD and a good way to end things.
BullFrogMusic.com, 21 July 2008
http://frogblogreviews.bullfrogmusic.com/?p=25#more-25
Liquid Water
The Seventh Season
Everything about Seventh Season's work screams 'old school', 'vintage', 'retro'. Look at the cover of the CD - you got two mature guys at the back of the picture and one young guy (the son of one of the old guys) at the front. The feel of the picture is retro in that it reminds me of album covers from the 70's, although the band members have been considerably cleaned up (and maybe airbrushed a little).
The 'Seventh Season' brand is pretty retro too, having started out in the early 70's in Russia (when the iron curtain was still in place - makes me wonder how much Western music fans missed by ignoring everything from the Soviet side of the world) with Yuri Batygin (current bassist) as the leader. The band went on hold in 1979 and got restarted about 20 years later, this time in San Francisco.
The mix of the young and the seasoned sensibilities in this rocker trio is a good fit. You have a couple of musicians whose formative years were spent viewing rock through a tiny peephole in the barrier between East and West and a younger front man who presumably spent his formative years in America. It's tempting to write that the result on this is album is Classic Rock with a modern point of view, but I think that the emphasis should be on 'Classic'.
The really interesting aspect of the band is their Russian-ness. I got smacked in the head once for saying that the Russian people tend to be gloomy and dark, but there is definitely a shadowy feel to this music. It's not heavy-handed; it comes across as a light touch and makes this music stand out from the other nouveau/retro rockers trying to make it out there. There's no posturing in this music (that I can hear). Perhaps because of the leavening aspect of the older members, I get the impression that the songs are written with a seen-it-done-it, have-the-T-shirt point of view. The songs come across as very authentic.
The songs were recorded over a longer period of time rather than all at once. This has the effect of changing the vibe of the overall recording. Instead of being a snapshot of ideas at a particular time, the extended recording session permits the musicians to grow into the songs, understand them better and tweak them for maximum effect. I can't hear any changes in production values over the breadth of the songs on the release so a lot of good work has been done in maintaining consistency - you don't get the idea that the songs were hacked together from different sources.
On the whole, good musicianship all round with some really good guitar solos. The singing sound fits in with what you expect from this genre of music; it's not natural but not tweaked as much as in dance/electronica stuff. Charmingly, I detect the occasional Russian accent breaking through the mid-Atlantic singing style.
Recommendation: I don't think there's anything groundbreaking, but this is still a really good release. Liquid Water goes into my permanent collection.
Jeremiah Sutherland
Hussieskunk.com, 12 March 2008
http://www.hussieskunk.com/reviews/music/theseventhseason-liquidwater.htm
The Seventh Season
Liquid Water (released 2007)
Independent Records
The Seventh Season is exceedingly prolific. I think this is the third release that I have reviewed in only about fifteen months. They also have managed to release a DVD of one of the concerts. Pretty cool. Now about this disc, it seems to be a little darker and moodier than previous efforts, but with The Seventh Season I think that this is what they have been looking for... Edgy, moody music that borders along the fence that divides classic rock, blues and modern rock. I'm still confused with the assemblage of the band, as the lead singer is the son of the bassist and seems like a talented, good looking kid that should be fronting a band consisting of kids his own age. I'm sure he'd go a lot further than the indie releases of The Seventh Season. Not that it's a bad gig having your old man in the band, as he's been there, done that... But really, shouldn't his son have the chance to experience the industry and the tribulatioins with being an indie act on his own? Maybe it's not my place to say, in fact, it really isn't, but it has always struck me as strange that Konstantin would choose to play classic rock on his own. But then again, with soaring guitar solos and a great front man voice, it fits him well. I'd like to see the band really turn towards a modern rock sound. I'm certain they could pull it off, as the two old timers in the band are very crafty, and the front man is good looking enough to pull in the ladies, which will force the fellas in the crowd to follow. This release "Liquid Water" features twelve tracks of the band's classic blues influenced rock n roll with the afore mentioned darker and moodier progression. -MG
Hussieskunk.com, 12 March 2008
http://www.hussieskunk.com/reviews/music/theseventhseason-transposition.htm
The Seventh Season
Transposition (released 2006)
Independent Records
The Seventh Season is a band that originally started out in 1972, and their sound shows it... But what has happened in the band since that time, is that the bassist now has his son playing lead and singing, a family affair for sure. This disc is a live recording, and recorded rather well I might add, from 2006 at a California college. From what I can tell, the audience is not very big, as they are not heard too often on the disc. But then again, the disc is meant to feature the band, not the audience. The Seventh Season's stage presence seems to be a little lacking to me, as they don't really carry any attitude or intensity. There really just there to jam out...get the job done and go...or so it feels. The music, it's certainly not punk, without a doubt not alternative...I'm thinking early 70s rock. Exactly the time periad that the band first formed, long before son Konstantin was born. The material that the band offers up may have been written recently, but it is extremely dated and rather bland for my tastes. There is some incredible talent and great guitar solos in the set list, but again, it's not something I regularly get into. Fans of classic rock will really dig The Seventh Season and their guitar rock style. -MG
Dustyblues.com, February 2008
http://www.dustyblues.com/cdreviews2008/feb2008.html
It is quite unusual to find a band formed in 1972 and still active. The Seventh Season are one of these rare bands and just for this reason they deserve our attention. The trio has a wide range of different musical sources that come from rock to alternative music, dance or even new age music. Their main influences can be found on groups like Beatles, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep or Creedence Clearwater Revival. Although there is a distinct lack of blues in their work, they are a high quality band, especially for the unusual deep rockin' tone of their songs that reflect their deep knowledge that goes further up time and places.
Vicente Zumel, "La Hora de Blues", February 2008
http://www.lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm
The Seventh Season "Liquid Water" Independent Records 2007.
Que una banda se formara en 1972 y siga todavia en activo no es algo habitual. Sin embargo los Seventh Season siguen en la brecha y ello tiene su valor. Las influencias de este trio son amplias y variadas ya que beben de diferentes fuentes musicales como el rock, la musica alternativa, el 'dance' e incluso el 'new age'. Sus influencias mas directas se encuentran en grupos como Beatles, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep o Creedence Clearwater Revival. Aunque el blues brilla por su ausencia, sin embargo es un grupo que merece la pena por cuestiones cualitativas, en especial por el inusual tono del rock que desprenden sus composiciones, reflejo de su gran experiencia que va mas alla del tiempo y del espacio.
WOSFrank Vampster.com, 2007
http://www.vampster.com/artikel/show/?id=24005
Papa Yuri macht seit 1972 mit THE SEVENTH SEASON Rock-n-Roll, um dann 2003 seine erste CD rauszubringen, gefolgt vom Livealbum "Transposition" im letzten Jahr. Mit Junior Konstantin an der Gitarre und Sergei Met am Schlagzeug prasentiert die aus Russland stammende, nun in den USA lebende Band ihr neues Album "Liquid water".
Geboten wird eine recht abwechslungsreiche Mischung an Rockmusik, die bei den ersten Durchgangen recht gefallig ruberkommt, auch wenn die genannten Einflusse BEATLES, C.C.R., PINK FLOYD oder URIAH HEEP derbe hoch gegriffen sind. Ohne grobe Ecken und Kanten kann man mit netten Melodien sicher sogar PUR-Fans beglucken ("Ocean of time"), hat uberraschend einen Touch der typischen australischen Alternative-Bands, rockt auch mal etwas harter ("Damaged") und nervt mit dem BEATLES inspirierten aufgesetzt lustigen "Nine to five". Bei Kuschelsongs wie "Apart from here" mit Latino-Hauch oder "Wherever" kann man sich gut vorstellen, wie Mama Batygin oder die Dorfgirlies Junior Konstantin anschmachten. Der spielt eine ordentliche Gitarre ohne grobe Hohepunkte, seine jugendliche Stimme harmoniert gut mit den raueren Vocals vom Papa. Dazu gesellen sich solide und uberraschungslos Bass und Drums. Recht schnell fuhlt man sich an diese Band erinnert, bei denen man beim Stadtfest mit einem "Das ist ganz nett" stehen bleibt, ein Bierchen trinkt und dann zur nachsten netten Band weiterschlendert. Nach einigen Durchlaufen von "Liquid water" ist alles gesagt und entdeckt, und man greift bald wieder zu den vielen besseren Cds.
Freunde vom seichten Hausfrauenrock konnen ja mal reinhoren.
Veroffentlichungstermin: Fruhling 2007
Spielzeit: 44:24 Min.
Mercredi 03 Octobre 2007
http://www.lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm
Sur et certain que la majorite d'entre vous n'avait jamais entendu parler de THE SEVENTH SAISON avant de lire ces quelques lignes. Et pourtant, ce groupe a ete fonde une premiere fois voici 35 ans, en 1972, dans la belle ville de Moscou par Yuri Batygin, bassiste de son etat. Apres quelques vaines tentatives, le combo split sans vraiment laisser de trace derri're lui. Quelques ann'es plus tard, le fils de Yuri est lui aussi contamine par le virus "rock'n roll". Il n'en fallait pas plus pour que son p're l'enr'le dans sa nouvelle equipe et fasse rena'tre THE SEVENTH SEASON de ses cendres. "Liquid Water" est leur derniere sortie en date.
Que les choses soient bien claires: cet album n'uvre absolument pas dans le monde du metal. Les influences principales du trio sont THE BEATLES, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (CCR), PINK FLOYD, T. REX et URIAH HEEP. D's les premiers titres, aucun doute possible sur la veracite de ces fasts : les compositions sonnent tres seventies et semblent etre issues d'une autre poque, passe pour sur. Neanmoins, elles arborent tout de mme un cote moderne de part leurs sonorites et leur interpretation.
Le gros point fort de la bande est sans aucun doute le sang neuf de Konstantin (Batygin fils). Il possede une voix rock et rugueuse a souhait qui colle a merveille quelle que soit l'ambiance du morceau. Sa fougue associe a des melodies imparables engendrent un resultat etonnant, distillant au final une puissance et un entrain phenomenal. En plus d'etre un chanteur appreciable, il est aussi un excellent guitariste et n'hesite pas a placer 1 a 2 solos par chanson, mettant en avant le feeling et la melodie, tout en gardant quand meme quelques acclrations sous le coude histoire de faire claquer un minimum. Meme si le titre sonne un poil rococo, il arrive toujours en tirer le meilleur et a lui donner un petit quelque chose qui le rend tout a fait coutable et appreciable ("Machine").
Batygin pere, lui, pose des lignes de basse bien rondes et reste tres present dans la totalite des morceaux. Il vole quelques fois le micro a son fils pour jouer le role de frontman. Il faut lavouer, ces moments sont durs, c'est vrai, mais heureusement, ils restent peu nombreux et sont courts ("broken artist" et "Nine to five"). Le bon cte de la chose, c'est qu'il met vraiment en valeur l'importance et la necessit de son fils au sein du groupe. Le petit truc marrant dans le chant des deux comparses est leur accent anglais un peu tir par les cheveux et leur manire de rouler les 'R'. Sergei Smet est le troisieme homme qu'il fallait a la bande. Son jeu de batterie efficace et vari, agrument de percussions de temps autres, apporte trs franchement un rel plus.
Cote compositions, c'est plutot diversifi : Liquid Water propose des chansons modernes et entrainantes ("Liquid Water", "April" , ...), certaines sont presque plus hard que rock ("Damaged"), dautres sont inspires des vieux classiques de l'poque ("Nine to five", "Machine") et bien evidement, les fatidiques mais non moins interessants moments plus cool ("Apart from here") sont aussi de la partie. La quasi-totalit des morceaux propose de bonnes melodies et sont agrables l'ecoute. On se laisse surprendre a tapoter du pied et l'on decouvre vraiment les particularits des titres au fur et a mesure des ecoutes. La production est plus que correcte : chaque instrument est bien discernable et le mix voix/instruments au poil.
THE SEVENTH SEASON represente la rencontre des annues 70 et 2000, du modernisme execute a l'ancienne. Le resultat est finalement interessant et merite franchement un minimum d'attention. Pas de gros riffs speeds, pas de depart fulgurant a la double grosse caisse ou de hurlement a vous glacer le sang, juste du rock, du feeling et du savoir-faire : de temps en temps, cela ne fait pas de mal, et cela permet mme de remettre certaines pendules a l'heure !
Mark S. Tucker AcousticMusic.com/FAME , September 2007
http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p04314.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Certain Eurasian groups, especially among the progrockers, were doubly enticing in the vocals department for an oddly attractive tang their enunciation put on English lyrics. Galaxy, Nektar, Epitaph, and a small sub-slice of the genre provided a new dimension merely in that respect. Now, Seventh Season, popping up amidst a very satisfying rebirth and revivalism sweeping the mode, adds to an epiphany of that trait. Yuri & Konstantin Batygin, bassist and guitarist respectively, sing not only with outré coloration but also a combination of grit and exotic melodicism not easily findable in any style…but that's only the beginning of this 12-spot of blended uniqueness and historicity.
Citing a diversity of influences (Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, T.Rex, Creedence Clearwater, etc.), the group sits firmly in the modern archive dredging up the glories of the 70s in variegated form. Such ensembles as The Early Years and The Grails have been producing marvelous re-exposures of lost sounds, much more on the trad prog side than otherwise, and now this group digs into the rarely touched perfect demarcating line between rock itself and prog. Each cut is an exercise in simply but solidly laid entablatures clearly reading back the bands they esteem, elder masters in the foundation of the style now understood as undisputed king of the music world.
Most of the cuts on this, their third release (add a DVD to that roster as well), are on the lamentive side, often colored in darkness and somewhat angry, protestative while melodic. Lead lines are infrequent but elegant, reflecting the unhurried but gravitious architecture of the songs they reside in. With Sergei Smet on drums, Seventh Season is a power trio without the bluster or blown-out psych of past masters like Gun, Dust, (Gary Moore's) Skid Row, and other well-beloved aggregates. Think of what Alain Johannes was doing in What Is This?, a marvelous 80s band Todd Rundgren briefly interested himself in, and you'll be in the zone.
Among the gratifying all-too-small cavalcade of similar klatsches, Seventh Season stands well in the foreground, polished and tight yet rebellious in rough edges with a dogged persistence to shake the ground, charming the clouds with earthily vaulting compositions. As mainstream chartmongers sprint to pile on the synthesizers, orchestras, choirs, and mountainous light shows, far too often failing to substitute tawdry quantity for simple quality, CDs like Liquid Water remind all and sundry that rock was, and still sometimes tends to be, the antithesis of the "more is better" equation, depending on talent over tech and heart over dollars.
Track List:
* Liquid Water
* Ocean of Time
* Freeway
* Apart From Here
* Broken Artist
* Control Me
* Damaged
* My Only Honor
* April
* Nine to Five
* Machine
* Wherever
(all songs written by Konstantin & Yuri Batygin)
Syuli Firmansyah (Indonesia), indiesport.com, 17 September 2007
http://www.indiesport.com/online_store.php?subaction=showfull&id=1189925250&archive=&start_from=&ucat=21&
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
First time when I hear this album, I impressed with their sound at all. In late year 2000's its hard to find a real band still playing 70's rock sounds. 70's is a rock sound foundamental which were explored by musicians in later years.
In this album your will got a wide range rock sounds from The Beatles in late 60's to Pink Floyd at 90's. Because this band formed in 1972, which means they started in time of "The Rock Golden Era". Its natural them got some influences from other big band like: The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Uriah Heep. Performing in many stages at 1972 - 1975 give them some experiences to create their own sounds. They prove it in this album; "Liquid Water".
All their song tracks various in many rock style. You might say anything, their got it to you!
The Seventh Season will take you from Hard Rock, Alternative, to Progresive Rock, in many forms. All their tracks not hard and loud, but easily to heard. They compossed their songs in moderate rock sound, which more focused to melody and harmony. Almost 40 years their music journey take them to experienced musician. Profesionals and have a high skilled in playing tunes, make them easily to switch their music from energic to medium or slow tempo.
Duo Yuri and his son Konstantin ia perfect! their can lead us to hearing nice rock sound of their own tracks.
LIQUID WATER in track 1, is energic music with sounding like Scorpion.
OCEAN OF TIME more harmonious, we found Pink Floyd and Jehtro Tull sounds in this track. This song is powerfull and its a best song in this album. Composed in medium tempo, Ocean of Time take you to progressive rock atmosphere.
A PART FROM HERE is the great song, will take you travelled in melodic song remember me to any great 70's slow rock ever created. Melodious Konstantin guitars take you flying land of knowhere...
CONTROL ME sounding like Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). Nice to hear.
DAMAGED forming a heavy metal but dou Yuri and Konstantin in vocal, give this track more than I heard than original heavy metal in 70's.
MACHINE is totally Uriah Heep sounds, tis really take you to 70's rock era...great sound!!
Reviwer Magazine , 13 September 2007
http://reviewermag.livejournal.com/tag/new+music+reviews+9/13/07
The Seventh Season Liquid Water (Independent Records)
The new album from The Seventh Season is a hatful of stuff called Liquid Water. If you're a big fan of all those ultra-hip, anti-scenesters like Flaming Lips or White Stripes or the legendary Yo La Tengo you'll dig these urbane dudes.
On the whole, Liquid Water has its good parts and bad parts e.g., it's not one of those rare and wonderful exceptions where the whole thing is pure bliss from the first note to the final fadeout, but this one has its moments. For example the first half of the album is all right; it has, even in a rock 'n' roll-jaded way, a true joie de vivre. But after you get to where they probably should've ended the thing, it keeps on going this glut of tuneage starts to wear on the listener and by the middle of the last song - #12, "Wherever" you are starting to check your watch, make impatient sort of gestures and just about say "screw it" and turn it off.
Finally, and I can't stress this enough brevity can be a very good thing; conciseness can say a whole lot more than a cacophonous lot of stuff can. So, tone it down, be more original and lighten up a bit, will ya? (Thanks) http://www.theseventhseason.net - KM.
Hardrockhaven.net
http://www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2007/feb2007/Seventh%20Season%20-%20Transposition.php
Seventh Season
Transposition Independent
by Curt Hauff
Staff Writer
Comments: Seventh Season is a three piece band from Russia, headed by the father-son duo of Konstantin (Chad) and Juri Batygin. The progressive, alternative rock band has an experimental feel to their music. This DVD performance was recorded at the Ex'pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, Calif.
The atmosphere on this DVD feels sterile, almost like a demo video. The audience is seated and while they clap, there really isn't a concert feeling. The stage is plain and the backdrop is black, which doesn't help the ease of viewing .
The energy and showmanship of the band is much more mellow and morose than it should be considering their music style. It would be nice to see a little more excitement from the band. Konstantin (Chad) has the best stage presence and energy level of the three. When he finally loosens up a little bit, later in the concert, his performance is actually pretty decent.
It's obvious that Chad is still just a little bit unsure of how to work a crowd and sometimes he talks longer than he needs to, elaborating too much instead of starting the next song. Unfortunately he doesn't get much help from his audience. Someone should definitely have fed them more booze before the concert started. It would be interesting to see what Chad could do with a larger, energetic crowd. It's amazing how fast you can develop your frontman skills when the crowd is rocking.
The video is shot from several camera angles, so there's a little variation to keep you interested. Although, the editing is pretty vanilla and doesn't really match the music or the feel of the band. The camera shots could be better at capturing the band, especially during Chad's solos.
The sound mix is great. Everything is audible and the tones are good. The vocals stand out well and are easy to understand, which helps keep you into the video.
The light show leaves quite a bit to be desired. First of all, the stage is grossly under-lit. There should have been three or four times the number of light cans for the size of the stage. There was barely enough light to see the band, let alone try to help the band create certain moods and energy levels. During some of Chad's solos, you actually lose his face in the shadows because there's not enough light. And as everyone knows, at least half of a rock guitar solo is the expression on the guitarist's face!
"New Day" may be a song you'll want to check out. Juri takes over on vocals and sings in Russian. It's interesting even if you don't know Russian. It may even be interesting because you don't know Russian.
This DVD makes nice promotional material as it showcases the bands musical talents and their ability to perform live. It looks like it was a decent show to go see, it's just not very entertaining to watch on DVD.
www.indierec.com
www.theseventhseason.net
Track Listing:
1. Desire
2. Commando
3. Pirate Song
4. So Insane
5. New Day
6. Like Years Ago
7. Liquid Water
8. Drag Me
9. Ocean of Time
10. Machine
11. Apart from Here
12. My Only Honor
13. April
Hardrock Haven rating: 4.2/10
Metalcorefinzine.com, 31 July 2007
http://www.metalcorefanzine.com/reviews33.html
THE SEVENTH SEASON/Liquid Water (Independent Records) This was a decent rock n roll band that mixes in some metal and a bit of progressive metal too. The band have been around since 1972! That is insane when you think about it. Anyway this band delivers the goods and don't follow trends and just play honest to goodness rock n roll with no groove and no grunge no nothing. The tunes are solid rock tunes with good playing and singing. A band that deserves pat on the back.
AJ Blisten, Beatstheblizzard.com, 12 August 2007
http://www.beattheblizzard.com/?module=reviews&review=784
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
"Liquid Water" is an interesting album. The music on this CD is definitely something that sticks out from the rest out there. I find myself enjoying it more and more the more I listen to it. And that surprises me because THE SEVENTH SEASON is not the kind of rock music I usually listen to. Yes, this is rock and not metal.
THE SEVENTH SEASON plays a sort of rock' n roll that's not rock'n roll, if you know what I mean. Classic rock would probably be an appropriate tag to use; classic rock with a vintage edge to it.
Nothing odd about that since the band was originally formed in old USSR in '72. Then after twenty year's hiatus original members decided it was time to start it up again in 1998, now as a San Francisco based trio.
So there's a long THE SEVENTH SEASON story leading up to "Liquid Water" which is a good guitar based rock album.
It's well produced even though the sound and vocal delivery is a bit strange and very characteristic. Maybe that's why I like it?
There's nothing spectacular or sudden surprising themes or creatively artistic stunts in the songs, but they all are well written, melodic and atmospheric; no rush or abrupt transitions, just a nice pleasant flow all the way through the album consisting of twelve songs.
The heaviness on this album is mainly emphasized by tight and steady bass giving the sound a dark touch which I think suits the songs just fine.
THE SEVENTH SEASON and their "Liquid Water" isn't going to shake anyone's world, that's for sure. But check it out if you like full-bodied and soothing melodic rock, good guitar sound and character.
Danny Boodman, Shapelesszine.com, August 2007
http://www.shapelesszine.com/recealbum/theseventhseason-liquidwater.htm
The Seventh Season - Liquid Water
Etichetta: autoprodotto
Anno: 2007
Durata: 44 min
Genere: rock
Ed eccomi di nuovo a parlare dei The Seventh Season, il trio composto da musicisti russi emigrati negli Stati Uniti in cerca di maggiori possibilit rispetto a quelle offerte dalla madre patria. Per quanto riguarda la storia di questa particolare band potete leggere le recensioni degli altri due lavori trattati su Shapeless; ricordiamo solo quelle che sono le caratteristiche più curiose, ovvero la presenza nel trio di padre e figlio, Yuri e Konstantin Batygin, senza contare il fatto che il gruppo, almeno nella sua cellula originale esistesse fin dal 1972.
Bene, arriviamo quindi al nocciolo della questione, ovvero il nuovo full-length del gruppo, il secondo dopo il debutto "Fall Within". "Liquid Water" come stile porta avanti lo stesso discorso musicale iniziato con il precedente lavoro: il trio si concentra su un rock di vecchio stampo, che trova spunto nei grandi nomi del passato come Rolling Stones, Beatles, Who e via dicendo. Certo, la qualit , ovviamente, non è nemmeno paragonabile a quella di questi mostri sacri, ma all'incirca dovrebbe farvi capire di cosa si parla.
All'epoca della mia recensione di "Fall Within" mi ero ritrovato a sottolineare una serie di questioni relative ad alcuni difetti che impedivano al CD di decollare, difetti che, in seguito, si erano mitigati in "Transposition", un DVD che ritraeva la band dal vivo e che mostrava un netto miglioramento. Ecco, "Liquid Water" da questo punto di vista si pone come punto di incrocio tra i due lavori precedenti, sia in positivo che in negativo.
Andiamo con ordine e cerchiamo di tracciare l'evoluzione dei The Seventh Season. Il primo appunto che facevo per "Fall Within" riguardava il coinvolgimento durante l'ascolto dei pezzi: la maggior parte delle canzoni, infatti, zoppicava a causa di una struttura un po' troppo semplice e lineare che rischiava di esaurirsi dopo pochi ascolti; bene, il discorso, purtroppo, è valido anche per "Liquid Water", che mostra sì qualche piccolo miglioramento negli arrangiamenti, ma ancora non riesce a trovare la sua dimensione ideale, finendo per funzionare solo nei pezzi più catchy e divertenti, tipo "Machine" e "Liquid Water", che non richiedono altro che una buona melodia e un ritmo saltellante, oppure le ballad come "Apart From Here".
Il secondo grande limite di "Fall Within" era rappresentato dalla produzione, all'epoca scandalosa. Da questo punto di vista il tutto sembra leggermente migliorato: il suono è ancora un po' troppo leggero e patinato, ma si sente un po' di calore in più, grazie ad una trattazione migliore dei suoni della chitarra e soprattutto grazie alla presenza di un batterista in carne ed ossa che, pur non lanciandosi mai in passaggi particolarmente fantasiosi, svolge onestamente il suo compito ritmico.
Un discreto miglioramento, poi, lo si vede anche dal punto di vista esecutivo, soprattutto nella chitarra di Konstantin che, come notavo anche in "Transposition", è cresciuto non poco come strumentista. Quello che continua a non convincermi, invece, è la prova vocale dei due Batygin, entrambi dotati di un timbro sgraziato e nasale che proprio non mi piace.
Insomma, devo ammettere che dopo aver visto il DVD "Transposition" ero molto più fiducioso sul nuovo CD e invece mi sembra che il livello sia migliorato solo di poco. Peccato, un'occasione sprecata che, speriamo, porti ad un miglioramento ancora maggiore con il prossimo lavoro. In bocca al lupo.
OneThirtyEight.org, June 2007
http://www.onethirtyeight.org/mr_2007-06.html
The Seventh Season - Transposition
While in a curious mood one day, I answered a Myspace bulletin about getting a free DVD from some band and a few weeks later this arrived in my mailbox. For the effort alone I commend them. It's not easy promoting a band or a new release, and even sending stuff out doesn't guarantee that anything's gonna be written up about it. Most bands don't even bother. More than likely said promo material ends up at the used record shop, helping pay for tuition or a drug habit. Sometimes both. Anyways, this DVD is well produced, good sounding mix of what I would call, "classic rock" style of music. The trio of musicians (including a father on bass and his kid on guitar, both of them from Russia, and they both sing) play a mid paced, goofy lyric filled set of tunes about such diverse topics as not wearing underwear (Commando), Pirates, and Liquid Water. Sounds like a mix of every band you'd find in a biker bar jukebox. Pure Rock and Roll.
Ron Fuchs, ProgNaut.com, 24 January 2007
http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/tss-dvd.html
In 2006, Bay Area prog rockers, The Seventh Season, follow up there debut album with a concert DVD called Transposition. It contains all of the songs on the debut album, Fall Within, plus a brand new tune from a upcoming release. Back in February, The Seventh Season played an energetic show at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville California. The Seventh Season brings back those days and in a way that can’t be categorized as retro or nostalgic. It is the real thing and deserves to be seen and heard by more people than were at the show recorded for this DVD. They prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the live environment. So much in fact that it makes their studio songs come alive with an intensity of late 70’s/ early 80’s art rock. With this DVD I have warmed up more to their sound that I would recommend it highly to those that loved the early 70’s glam rock and the DIY late 70’s/ early 80’s art rock scene. hear for yourself on their MySpace page!
Anna Tergel, Metalian.com, January 2007
http://www.metallian.com/news0207.htm#demoreviews
THE SEVENTH SEASON – TRANSPOSITION (DVD)
Transposition is further proof that a DVD production and release is an affordable way to go these days. The Seventh Season surely prove that large crowds or big venues are not needed and one is left wondering that neither is a big following. An almost empty venue, which naturally doesn’t provide much impetus for stage antics and movement, is the setting for this 13-song performance by the now father and son team of TST. The band has been around in some form or another since 1972 and was originally based in Russia but has made it to the USA for the 21st century. Musically, this is simple and pure rock with the requisite sense of humour as heard on Commando, a song about not wearing underpants, and The Pirate Song, where the son and main vocalist Konstantin Batygin asks the few present to shout ‘arrrrgggg’ before getting into the song. Songs like So Insane, Liquid Water, My Only Honor and Ocean Of Time alternate between slightly higher tempos and more melodic and mostly laid back sounds
Crazy John, HBGOnline.com, January 2007
http://hbgonline.com/music/cdreviews.htm
13 tracks of electrifying rock from The Seventh Season. Beginning in Russia in 1972, The Seventh Season has now been reborn in America as a captivating father and son run rock band. This album has explosive energy, with fresh guitar solos, pure drumbeats, and interesting bass lines. Their old hits are on this album such as “Pirate Song” and “Commando”, while also having their more modern new sounds like “Apart From Here” and “Ocean of Time”. This is music you can listen to and enjoy its addictive charisma.
Erik Williams, Independent Clauses, December 2006
http://www.independentclauses.com/v2/issues/december06/seventh_season.htm
Band Name: The Seventh Season
Album Name: Transposition
Best Element: Melody, style
Genre: Alternative Rock/Rock/New Age
Website: www.theseventhseason.net
Label Name: Independent Records
Band E-mail: info@theseventhseason.net
In today’s field of music, most if not all rock bands are founded by groups of musicians who, despite different callings in the music field, are all drawn together by one indestructible factor: friendship. For some musicians, that bond is even more solidified by having brothers or sisters to play along with. The Seventh Season takes that foundation one step further. Not only has bass player and back-up vocalist Yuri Batygin been behind the wheel for Seventh Season since 1972 with drummer Sergey Smet, but he has finally found a voice for his outfit in his son Konstantin “Chad” Batygin.
The Seventh Season has been through ups and downs in its almost 35 year existence. Their latest offering is a live DVD entitled Transposition, which was filmed live at the Emeryville College for Digital Arts in February of 2006. In this set, Seventh Season presents itself as a band that has not only a unique sound, but also consistent songwriting ability.
Chad Batygin sets the mood for the album with his unique and trippy guitar tones with “Desire.” Smet starts tapping the beat on his throne while Yuri gets the listener in the groove with his bass. Chad’s vocals come in early on in the song, yet they almost appear too rough for the song; due to it being a live show, it could just be first-song-anxiety. Regardless, the vocalization is done very well between Chad and his dad throughout the tune.
The album zips over a song about not wearing underwear (“Commando”) to “Pirate Song,” a poppy song that will get fans of any genre bopping along. Chad’s vocals are more understandable in this song, and the lyrics turn out to be well written and thoughtful. If anyone has even wondered what Russian blues rock sounds like, look no further. Yuri lays it down in “New Day,” a toe-tapping blues-rock song sung completely in Russian. The trio shows off their English song-writing skills as well in “So Insane,” a new age rocker that leaves Chad pleading, “Please tell me there’s no need to be alone for God’s sake.” “Ocean of Time” is arguably the best tune on the DVD. Manifesting from the tender, fluid notes that drip off Chad’s guitar, the song immediately brings to mind images of the subconscious, of floating around in space, and an eternity of tripping. A brooding bass line carries the song beneath Chad’s dimmed vocals until the gentle dynamics soar into a hard hitting, powerful solo. The Batygins bellow out one last chorus before Smet kicks his kit into gear and the band races off at a new tempo with Chad’s fingers in the lead.
The DVD ends with several decent tunes, the most noticeable being “April,” which features political overtones and lyrics like “Why should we have to die…for someone else’s lie?” Chad also takes this time to show off his axe-man skills, rifling off several solos with his guitar over his head. Transposition offers a few good songs and is sure to draw in some fans for the Seventh Season. Unfortunately, the purpose of a live DVD is to capture the live energy of the band. With Transposition, though the tunes sound great, there was no feeling of urgency from the performers. The groove was there, the beat was there, but a lot of the stage presence felt robotic and/or forced in accordance with the music. Being that they advertise themselves as a rock band, if there is one thing the band could work on, it would be to move around a bit more, interact with each other more, and really go crazy.
Other than many of the tunes sounding semi-similar due to the same atmospheric guitar tones flowing over everything, The Seventh Season have done some great things on Transposition, and “Ocean of Time” is an extremely well-written song. If you’re looking for some trippy rock 'n' roll and have an hour to spare, pick up Transposition and let the groove take you away.
Ron Fuchs, ProgNaut, 24 December 2006
http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/tss.html
The Seventh Season were formed back in Moscow in 1972. Now 20 years later and a move to the USA, the now father/son combination of Yuri Batygin (father) and Konstantin (son) have returned with music mix of folk, classic rock, art rock, sometimes glam rock and new wave. The lyrics are sometimes in an 'accented' English, sometimes in Russian. I must admit the vocals are a tough thing to get through but the music has the 70’s vibe going for it makes up for that.
I would put The Seventh Season in the same breath as Phideaux, Wilton Said to name a few. All of these bands seem to corner the 70’s sound without sounding retro or forced.
This is a hard thing to recommend but if you like the more DIY sound, then you’re in for a treat. Some highlights to me are 'Commando' and 'Army Of Reason' with it’s classic rock appeal. All the rest are as good but in different ways. If you want your music that’s not all glossy and layered, then The Seventh Season is the band for you. I would recommend this band and their album ‘Fall Within’ as something to seek out.
MetalCore Fanzine, 15 October 2006
http://www.metalcorefanzine.com/reviews27.html
THE SEVENTH SEASON/Transposition (Self Released) DVD.
This is a straight ahead no bullshit rock n roll band that would not be out of place from the 80's. The band write simple, but big time catchy tunes with some melodic singing. The band remind me of a band from the 80's called The Shoes who had a few hits here and there. The camera and sound quality are more than good and this is for the fan who craves kick ass rock n roll. Info: www.theseventhseason.net
Shapeless Zine - The Italian Metal Webzine, November 2006
http://www.shapeless.it/recealbum/theseventhseason-transposition.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON
Transposition (DVD)
Etichetta: autoprodotto
Anno: 2006
Durata: 57 min
Genere: rock
Oh, bene! Bravi! Bis! In casa The Seventh Season sono passato quattro anni dalla pubblicazione del debut album "Fall Within" (che trovate recensito su queste pagine) e i miglioramenti si vedono eccome. Questa volta la band di origini russe, in attesa di pubblicare un secondo CD, attualmente in lavorazione, decide di produrre un DVD di un concerto registrato il 23 febbraio in California, presso l'Ex'pression College For Digital Arts. Il risultato, pur essendo realizzato in maniera quasi amatoriale, risulta assolutamente professionale e curato, mitigando tutti i difetti che avevo riscontrato nell'album "Fall Within". Innanzitutto bisogna dire che la band in questi quattro anni si data da fare, prendendo tra le propria fila un vero batterista, Sergei Smet, al posto dell'odiosa drum machine del primo album. Questo gi fa fare un passo enorme alla qualit delle canzoni, dato che il buon Sergei, un distinto signore dotato di un bel tocco leggero, perfettamente funzionale al rock anni '60/'70 suonato dai "The Seventh Season". Un altro miglioramento, poi, si nota nella performance di Konstantin Batygin, giovanissimo chitarrista e cantante che, vi ricordo, non altri che il figlio di Yuri Batygin, bassista e fondatore della band. Konstantin, infatti, migliorato tantissimo dal punto di vista esecutivo negli ultimi quattro anni, mostrando davvero un impegno e una passione ammirevoli. D'altra parte c'era da aspettarselo: Konstantine all'epoca di "Fall Within" aveva solo sedici anni, quindi probabilmente era poco pi che un principiante del proprio strumento. Infine, sempre parlando degli ottimi passi avanti compiuti dalla band, c' la questione della produzione che, essendo assolutamente 'live' in questo DVD, spazza via tutto quel senso di artificiosit che appiattiva invece il debutto.
Passando quindi a presentarvi il contenuto di questo DVD, vi anticipo che la scaletta del concerto, di soli tredici brani, comprende sette brani tratti da "Fall Within", pi cinque nuove composizioni che andranno a finire sul nuovo album. Per quanto riguarda i brani conosciuti, posso dire che la resa dal vivo aggiunge davvero non poco alle canzoni, che sembrano davvero rivivere grazie ai miglioramenti citati prima. Anche la voce di Konstantin, che non poi cos spettacolare, diciamocelo, risulta comunque pi piacevole rispetto al passato. I brani mantengono una struttura semplice, ma si nota una certa evoluzione negli assoli, dato che il chitarrista, crescendo con il proprio strumento, ha assunto dei caratteri solisti tipicamente ottantiani. Non raro quindi che le composizioni siano leggermente allungate, per lasciare spazio alle evoluzioni di Konstantin. I nuovi brani, allo stesso modo, continuano sulla falsa riga di quelli di "Fall Within", ma convincono ancora di pi proprio grazie alla maturazione del gruppo. Tuttavia, prima di sbilanciarmi su un giudizio dettagliato, aspetto la pubblicazione definitiva del CD, in modo da sentire i brani in quella che sar la loro veste ufficiale. Per ora, comunque, il giudizio positivo, anche se resta un po' la questione gi sollevata in "Fall Within": le canzoni sono davvero molto semplici e dirette, quindi c' il rischio che dopo pochi ascolti l'interesse cali, lasciando il CD a prendere polvere.
Infine aggiungo qualche considerazione sulla qualit video: il DVD stato realizzato in maniera quasi amatoriale, ma comunque il risultato davvero buono. Vengono utilizzate tre diverse telecamere e le inquadrature sono semplici ma efficaci. L'immagine non perfettamente nitida, ma comunque pi che buona e anche dal punto di vista dell'audio non c' da lamentarsi (certo, non aspettatevi chiss quali performance in 5.1, ecco...). La performance della band visivamente scarna e semplice: i tre musicisti restano fermi al loro posto e si limitano a suonare senza troppi fronzoli: niente scenografie, niente pose, soltanto del buon rock 'n' roll.
Per concludere, quindi, non mi resta che consigliarvi la visione di questo DVD, che mostra il buono stato di salute dei The Seventh Season: i brani nuovi sembrano promettenti e quelli vecchi sono decisamente migliorati rispetto alla versione sul disco. Se volete conoscere questa band, iniziate proprio da questo DVD, potrebbe essere un bel biglietto da visita.
Danny Boodman - Novembre 2006
Voto: 7.5
Mundo Rock, November 2006
http://www.mundorock.org/Secciones/critica-dvdseventh.html
Metal Rebelde, November 2006
http://metalrebelde.metropoliglobal.com/web/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=168
The Seventh Season - Transposition (2006)
Cuantas bandas que nacieron en 1972 aun siguen vivitas y coleando?
Así comienza la gacetilla adjunta al dvd de The Seventh Season, trío que además esta compuesto por el bajista y guitarrista Yuri y Konstantin Batygin (padre e hijo respectivamente) y Sergey Smet en batería. Siendo evidente que la sangre nueva de Kontastin provoco que su padre y su compañero de ruta Sergey volvieran a reunirse después de casi 20 años, sacando el disco “Fall within” cuya tapa parece sacada de una de esas bandas de metal melódico de Europa.
El Dvd muestra un show en vivo grabado en febrero de este año en Emeryville, California, aunque el grupo es originario de Rusia.
Me capta la atención cuando escucho a Yuri, quien es segunda voz, tomar el liderazgo vocal en “New day” y empieza a cantar en ruso, ya que para quien comenta discos de rock en ingles y a veces en español, es necesario escuchar otros acentos e idiomas de vez en cuando. Como estilo abarcan un rock duro setentón, con tendencia alternativa y alguna pinceladas de metal como en “Ocean of time”, ya que dentro del estilo se identifican con los míticos Uriah Heep.
Para mas info: http://theseventhseason.net
Keys and Chords, November 2006
http://www.keysandchords.com/page112/page115/page116/page117/page117.html
The Seventh Season - Transposition
Nadat deze groep subtiel opgestart werd als vader & zoon rockgroep in Moskou in 1972, en ontbonden werd in 1979, is deze in 2001 herboren in de USA. Met hun explosieve energie begonnen ze in 2002 het Amerikaanse publiek voor zich te winnen met hun debuutcd ‘Fall Within’. Sedertdien hebben ze constant aan nieuw materiaal gewerkt in de studio. Op deze registratie van hun live optreden op 23/2/2006 in het Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville in Californië, voeren ze zowel oudere als nieuwe nummers uit. Het publiek gaat uit de bol voor deze rockmuziek van het trio, dat bestaat uit zoon Konstantin (Chad) Batygin op gitaar, vader Yuri Batygin op bas, en nieuwkomer Sergei Smet op drums. Oude hits zoals ‘Commando’ en ‘Pirate Song’ passeren de revue, terwijl de mensen met nieuwe sounds zoals ‘Ocean Of Time’ en ‘Apart From Here’ kunnen kennismaken. Vader en zoon schreven alle songs samen. Het is moeilijk om hun sound te beschrijven, want ze bezitten verscheidene muzikale invloeden. Je hoort er wat Pink Floyd in, wat Deep Purple, wat metal, wat elektronische new wave. De dvd duurt zevenenvijftig minuten. Voor liefhebbers die willen teruggrijpen naar vroeger werk. ♬♬
Meer info: www.theseventhseason.net
Patrick Van de Wiele
POWERMETAL.de, 7 November 2006
http://www.powermetal.de/cdreview/anzeigen.php?albumid=8580
Seventh Season, The - Transposition (DVD)
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Der Preis für die am langsamsten arbeitende Combo dieses Planeten geht ohne Wenn und Aber an THE SEVENTH SEASON. Die Band existiert bereits seit 1972. Okay, das soll's geben. Aber wann ist wohl die erste Platte erschienen? 1976? 1982? 1992? Nee, nee, 2003! Gut Ding will Weile haben, woll? Fairerweise muss man sagen, dass die Instrumente zwischendurch für zwanzig (!) Jahre eingemottet waren, ehe 1998 wieder ein wenig Schwung in die Sache kam. Aber fürs "Guinness Buch der Rekorde" muss die Geschichte trotzdem reichen. Da steht doch bestimmt auch jemand drin, der sich mal drei Tage am Stück Joey-DeMaio-Ansagen reingepfiffen hat, ohne wahnsinnig zu werden oder sich bereits nach zehn Minuten zu erschießen. Im Vergleich dazu ist die Story hier um einiges cooler. Musikalisch hängen die mittlerweile in Kalifornien ansässigen Russen immer noch in den Siebzigern (Tendenz: fallend), und leider gelingt es ihnen nicht, diese Zeit so aufzubereiten, dass Freude aufkommt. Oder anders ausgedrückt: Sie klingen genauso alt, wie sie sind. Und die Angabe der BEATLES und CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL als Einflüsse verdeutlicht, dass bei dem auf "Transposition" verewigten, Anfang des Jahres gefilmten Gig nicht gerade die Wurst kracht und der Bär steppt. Muss ja auch nicht unbedingt, allerdings hat das Trio seinen Vorbildern qualitativ nichts entgegen zu setzen. Das zu erwarten, wenn die Pilzköpfe im Spiel sind, wäre vermessen, aber ein bisschen mehr sollte kompositorisch schon mitgeteilt werden. Das Gebotene ist einfach ganz lahm und einschläfernd (die bluesigen 'Commando' und 'New Day', 'Desire', 'So Insane', 'Oceans Of Time', 'Drag Me': Die Liste ließe sich beliebig fortsetzen). Die spielerischen Fähigkeiten gehen so weit in Ordnung, was nach umpfzig Jahren am Instrument auch eine Selbstverständlichkeit sein muss. Aber: Insbesondere Drummer Sergey Smet hat überhaupt keinen Groove – ganz ehrlich. Er trommelt fast durchgehend den gleichen Charlie-Watts-Beat, ist auch mindestens genauso spritzig wie der STONES-Trommler und dürfte bei dieser Show nicht ins Schwitzen gekommen sein. Viel mehr geht bei seinen beiden Mitstreitern ebenfalls nicht. Bassist Yuri Batygin und sein Sohn Konstantin (v.; g.), der in den zwanzig Jahren Funkstille rangezogen wurde, agieren zwar ebenfalls handwerklich einwandfrei und kommen auch sympathisch rüber, aber mitreißend ist ihre Vorstellung trotzdem nicht. Keine Ahnung, ob die Herren abgehen würden wie die Ketzer, wenn die Musik mehr wäre als nur Fahrstuhlsoundtrack. Die Eigenbeschreibung "New Age" passt alles in allem verdammt gut. Mehr als Hintergrundbeschallung für zünftige Batik-Shirt-Abende mit ganz viel Küchen-Esoterik und Hellsehen, bis die Birne qualmt, ist die Musik von THE SEVENTH SEASON nicht. Und an welchen Stellen die Band Alternative- und Dance-Elemente untergebracht hat, bleibt für immer ihr Geheimnis. Anspieltipp: Ihr habt die freie Auswahl.
Oliver Schneider
La Factoria Del Ritmo, October 2006
http://www.lafactoriadelritmo.com/fact22/novedad/index.php?rango=5
THE SEVENTH SEASON. "Transposition". Independent Records. DVD. 2006. Rock.
Una banda que nació en el año 1972 y que sigue en activo, aunque con solo dos de los miembros originarios. Acaban de publicar un interesante DVD en el que muestran su elegante propuesta: rock, new age y hasta elementos para bailar. Un grupo que a estas alturas sigue reclamando a Vétales, Uriah Heep y Creedence Clearwater Revival como referencias.
Michael Davis, Pittsburgh's Music Directory, 5 October 2006
http://www.pghlocalmusic.com/news/NewsDetail.cfm?NewsID=4
The Seventh Season has released a great LIVE DVD "Transposition" that really ROCKS! The sound quality is very professional and the Video quality is TOP NOTCH! The sound of Seventh Season is very progressive rock with a little metal. Their guitar sounds very clean and "drifting-soothing" like Uli Jon Roth or Hendrix. The opening track will hook you with their soothing tone and the rest will rock you! Be sure to watch the hidden track for a Great METAL ANTI-WAR song! Learn more and hear this great band here: The Seventh Season.
Progressive Rock and Progressive Metal, 12 March 2006
http://www.progressiverockbr.com/previews2006.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON - "Fall Within" Like father, like son. From the cold Russian winter The Seventh Season was born in 1972. Yuri Batygin had toured a lot with his band and recorded very good songs, until stop activities en 1979. But the year was 2001, and his son Konstantin Batygin joined forces with his father to reborn this good band. The result is this CD, a debut that was created in the seventies and now finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Considering that they started in 1972, we have a rock band like "Deep Purple", with some blues-rock oriented songs like “Commando” and “So Insane”. There are some acustical elements in “Like Years Ago” (a "Rolling Stones" influence) and a 80’s rock feeling in songs like “Drag Me” and “Magician”. This band has a great problem in hands. They have so many musical influences, that is very difficult to describe them musically. It is a very well done record, good production, but a missing identity. Well... they have done a lot of shows with Virgil Gheorghiu in drums, and are preparing a new record. If we pay attention the “Fall Within”, we can expect a very good release in the future. Well... it’s only rock and roll and I LIKE IT!...
Rafael Carnovale
Kangar Radio International, 6 December 2005
http://www.kangarradio.com/
The Seventh Season: Fall Within
Genre: Rock,Hard Rock/ Artist Site: www.theseventhseason.net/ Rating by Kangar Radio ****
This father and son group make magic together with there guitars and vocals and lyrics. One of the catchiest tunes I have listened to in the longest time is in fact the first track “Commando”. I have been to the site of Seventh Season and was very happy to see the live footage of the group live. They put on one heck of a show to say the least. A fun group to listen to and a great band to watch also. Again this is another group I like to keep an eye on and watch them group. Another great track from this group is “Pirate Song”.
Andrew Allan
Kweevak.com, 2 November 2005, by by Laura Turner Lynch
http://www.kweevak.com/rd_cd_reviews.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON – FALL WITHIN:
The Seventh Season formed in 1972 in Moscow, Russia. The band has been through a number of incarnations including a move to the west coast of the United States. Since 2001, they have appeared at a variety of festivals and venues. The current lineup is a trio, including founder Yuri Batygin who plays bass and sings. His son Konstantin handles guitar, vocals and wrote the majority of songs on the Fall Within CD. Virgil Gheorghiu plays drums. The Seventh Season sound is a unique blend of alternative, metal, new wave and rock. Their self-produced, twelve track album blends classic and modern rock styles in songs enhanced by the use of electronics and some modulated vocals. 'So Insane' features altered vocals, a crazed tempo along with searing guitars and electronic sounds. 'Army Of Reality' is a battle of bold beats, dueling vocals and edgy instrumentation. The Seventh Season shows lots of potential on their debut CD. The trio brings passion and originality to their own brand of rock!
• Recommended Tracks: 2,12
Northeast In-Tune. 18 September 2005, by Dan Murphy
http://www.northeastintune.com/sept/seventh.html
Could it get any less cool than having your dad front your rock n roll band, well that is exactly what Bay Area band The Seventh Season is doing, and apparently pulling it off!
he Seventh Season began over three decades ago in the former Soviet Union by founder Yuri Batygin, but it is not until 2002 when they would finally debut with “Fall Within” with its current incarnation. Seventh Season now consists of Yuri’s son Konstantin, and drummer Virgil Gheorghiu. They have been gigging extensively in the California area since its inception in 2002, gaining recognition in and around their hometown.
At first listen to the tracks on their debut there was something quite relevant in them to contemporary bands, an 80’s Bowie-esque quality. A sound that is receiving great attention as of late with so many 80’s style bands popping up everywhere. Sonically the guitars ride on top in songs such as “So Insane” and “Pirate Song” giving the band a signature drive. Vocally however is a feeling of hit or miss, appearing inviting at times, and at others a more burlesque version of Weird Al mimicking Ana Kournikova or something. The standout track in unquestionably “Commando”, which delivers verses that allude to the CB’s era bands of the 1970’s such as Talking Heads, with its simplicity and vocal sparseness.
Perhaps the most endearing quality of the Seventh Season lies around the bands story, and what they represent. The Seventh Season are a band that doesn’t seem to fit at all with current music trends as being too cool or too hip, in fact it is almost the antithesis of that very mindset.
Undoubtedly, their story is one of the most interesting stories of any band in rock. They have had such a long history, cool names like Yuri and Konstantin, and I mean who was the last father and son to pull off rock band….well, there you go there’s always a fist for everything right?
San Francisco Chronicle, East Bay Section, 16 September, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alameda-There-s-a-lot-more-brewing-at-Crosstown-2569467.php
Alameda: There's a lot more brewing at Crosstown Coffee besides caffeine (see article for full text here)
PHASE 9 Music (UK), 22 June 2004, by EDF
http://www.phase9.tv/musicreviews/seventhseason-fallwithin-a.htm
THE SEVENTH SEASON - FALL WITHIN Album Review by EDF
The Seventh Season is a group with an interesting past, of sorts. The group was founded in Moscow, Russia in 1972. Led by Yuri Batygin, the group spent the 1970’s performing and recording until they decided to call it a day. Nearly 20 years later, now finding himself on a different continent, Yuri has revived the group with his son Konstantin. Together they have spent countless hours recording this album which has a lot more going for it than its individual parts.
SO INSANE is essentially a folk song backed with rock music but an interesting aspect is how their harmonies almost sound electronic. There is a spirit, a passionate spirit, that screams out of the gung-ho lyrics from the PIRATE SONG. The harmonising guitar solo on LIKE YEARS AGO is great but short and is instead replaced by an average keyboard solo. The drum parts are obviously not live but are programmed to suit tracks such as FALL WITHIN. The mid-tempo DESIRE and DRAG ME are both a welcome change of pace and mood, with both tracks sounding like something from the early 1980’s.
Typically the group leaves the best till last as ARMY OF REALITY is easily the best produced track here. The main problem with most of the songs is the way certain sounds are mixed. The album would have benefited with some mastering sessions as it lacks any real bass to fill out the songs. Nevertheless, if The Seventh Season were to record another album, then it would be a safe bet to say that it would be better produced than this one.
Evor.com
http://www.evor.com/links_rock8.html
The Seventh Season "Fall Within is not to be missed: Rock and Roll fan or not. With its catchy tunes and light-hearted outlook on life, the Seventh Season will grow on anyone who appreciates good music."
MusicShopper Forum, 23 November 2004 by Sarah Francis
http://forums.musicshopper.info/index.php?showtopic=217
MusicShopper - Music Reviews, Music Shopping and Music Resources
The Seventh Season - Fall Within
Our Rating: 75 out of 100
The Seventh Season intermingles various styles of music in their one of a kind album, “Fall Within.” There’s no easy way to describe the originality of the music on this album as The Seventh Season seems to blend together a lot of rock, some metal, a twinge of folk, and a dash of the Beatles to produce their unique sound. In a world full of generic, processed music it is refreshing to hear a band try something new.
With the mix of new and old styles it is not surprising after listening to “Fall Within” to learn that the band consist of both father, Yuri Batygin, and son, Konstantin Batygin. The band was first formed in 1972 by Yuri, and his long experience playing in music in conjunction with Konstantin’s youthful energy definitely gives the bands first album “Fall Within” an edge.
No two songs sound the same, and they all have a distinct character to them making “Fall Within” something that will keep your ears interested. Like a good disc jockey, the songs are formatted to play on your mood by picking you up and bringing you back down at just the right moments. The collection truly saves the best for last with the music only “Morning” and then follows up with the last song and best song, “Army of Reality.” These two songs, along with “Commando” really make the album. It takes a lot of creativity and imagination to unite such different styles of music together and The Seventh Season pulls it off well. If they keep at it, their second CD should be even better.
This is a well thought out album and the Batygins definitely get points for originality and experimenting with new techniques. People that are interested in new forms of music as well as Rock, Indie, and Beatle fans that like a little twist should check out “Fall Within.” I have not yet seen The Seventh Season in person, but I get the feeling they put on a very good live performance.
Neufutur.com http://www.neufutur.com/
Reviewed 14 August 2004
Bands aren’t usually around for thirty years, and even fewer of them are able to keep a style reminiscent of that era for so long after their formation. The Seventh Season do so, while keeping together enough relevancy to maintain a decent album. Using a voice modifier that many would assume to be on a Britney Spears or Cher track, Yuri makes a solid rock track that can be as meaningfully enjoyed by the adult contemporary listeners as it is with the rock purists. On “Fall Within”, each track is cast in such a similar way that it becomes hard at times to discern different tracks, owing much to the heavily-distorted guitars (which more often than not become indistinguishable and odd tone to Yuri’s voice. Each track is arranged beautifully, and while there are dry spells when the deep end is only slightly represented (especially during most of the title track), each member of The Seventh Season contribute equally.
In trying to add an electronic element to their sound, I feel that The Seventh Season have sacrificed something of intensity that having unadulterated guitar lines would give them. “Desire’s” ending guitar solo is hampered by this, and a track that would have ended with a bang truly does end on this disc with a whimper. It is when The Seventh Season drop these electronics and reach back into their bag to bring out a sixties-sounding ditty where their true talent is shown, specifically the pop-rock ditty “New Day”, sounding as near a “Postman”-like song as they come. The penultimate track to “Fall Within”, the dreadfully tinny sounding “Morning” is hindered by fake-sounding synthesizers that threaten to make the entire disc insincere.
A more organic approach to “Fall Within” would have been a better course of action than the electronic-rock mix that The Seventh Season commits to this disc. Minor issues plague “Fall Within”, whether it be the unnecessarily mechanical drumming on “Pirate Song” or the aforementioned tinny-ness of Morning, yet do not significantly weaken the disc as a whole. Still, a simple comparison to the music that is paraded out as rock in this new era shows The Seventh Season as an extremely compelling band that is never afraid to mix a radio friendly song with an incredible devotion to musicianship. Two years have passed since this album was released, but have The Seventh Season moved on to the next plateau or just found themselves in a deeper rut with this unholy mishmash?
Top Tracks: Like Years Ago, Commando
Allalom.com by Samuel Aaron, 13 May 2005
The Seventh Season – Fall Within
Label: Independent Records
Style: Classic Rock, Retro, Rock’n’Roll
Released: 2002
My Grade: 4 stars
AMG: n/a
Sounds like: Randy Newman, David Bowie, T.Rex, They Might Be Giants
http://www.allalom.com/051305seventhseason-fall.htm
Where did these guys come from? They formed in the early seventies and now, in the year of our Lord two thousand and five they have released their debut (actually it was released in 2002, but still, most bands release an album within the first three years of existence, not after three decades)? Not only that, but they started in Russia and have crossed oceans to now reside in the USA? This band has some history to say the least.
So what does the music sound like? Well that is kind of hard to explain, because within the short time span of the disc they fly through several elements of folk, metal, new wave and retro-arena rock, not to mention a couple turns into glam and punk revival; although each song retains elements of the others to hold everything together but giving enough elasticity to eliminate monotony. Reminiscent of the more experimental glam rock that came out of England during the early seventies, and combined with the fuelling of early American proto-punk and you might have a pretty good taste of the music.
“Commando” burst onto the starting line at a careening pace and gives the music listener something to bite his teeth in – but be sure to hold on because from there on it is a mad dash that will speed up and slow down at the change of each track like a roller coaster designed for actual fun. “Like Years Ago” and “Fall Within” are great examples of this band and the future; Sure there are a couple mis-steps and a few minor flaws but most albums that are self produced contain problematic elements. The album starts to stumble and falter when in nears the ending track, but once that final song (“Army of Reality”) kicks in it rises like a phoenix from the stumbling blocks and uplifts the album back to something enjoyable.
The worst offender on the album is the prog-rock cover - lacking both the talent and skill of those progressive artists, it screams of sci-fi mimicry without the enjoyable cliché. Next time they should probably hire an artist, instead of messing around with 3-D graphics.
DVD Total Magazine (Brazil), 12 March 2005
FALL WITHIN
The Seventh Season
(Independent Records Inc)
http://omedi.blogspot.com/2005/03/ouvindo-seu-dvd.html
http://dvdmagazine.virgula.com.br/Martorelli/ouca_seu_DVD_1.htm
Embora não muito conhecida, a Seventh Season é uma banda veterana: ela surgiu em Moscou, na Rússia, no longínquo ano de 1972! A formação original já se dispersou há 20 anos, mas o grupo retorna � tica com Yuri Batygin e seu filho, Konstantin, misturando rock clássicos, progressivo, new wave e até folk. Imagine os Rolling Stones de “Goat´s Head Soup” com os vocais do B-52´s e você vai ter uma vaga idéia do som do Seventh Season.
"Check out Fall Within and the fun will be contagious!" — Jen Lush, Midwestbands.com, 23 September 2004. "Listen to The Seventh Season on MWB Radio!"
http://www.midwestbands.com/review_page.php?id=186
Musicianship – 7.5 out of 10
I have to gives props to this father/son team on their musicianship. This is a self produced disc and instead of using a lot of keyboard tricks to fill it in, their use of acoustic and electric instruments shows their talents well. A lot of Indie artists take the easy way out and use their ‘keys’ to fill in all the background parts. That is not the case here. However, vocally they used more effects than they needed to! Their harmonies are decent. Their tone is a little whiney, but, I think that is magnified by the high treble effect added in the echo in their vocals. I think on their next disc if they would give a more natural recording to their vocals, my score would rise considerably! They are unique and interesting artists!
Songwriting – 7.5 out of 10
8 out of 12 tracks on this disc were written by the son, Konstantin Batygin. They aren’t complex symphonies by any stretch; however, he has a GREAT pop style of writing that is his OWN. Considering his youth, I imagine his writing will get even better. He has totally grasped the concept of how a good Pop song should flow! From dance to a retro New Wave sound, Konstantin’s music, if put in the right producer’s hands, could surely produce several hits. The lyrics aren’t real deep, but they aren’t shallow either. I feel they are completely appropriate for their style of music. *I’m sure the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree! Yuri’s songwriting ability is highlighted in (New Day)! Great Beatle-esque quality to the song!
Sound Quality/Professionalism – 6.5 out of 10
My score is a little deceiving in some ways. In some parts of this disc the guitar parts really shine! I love how they are recorded; however, the mixing leaves a LOT to be desired! In some of the tracks, the vocals are almost in the background and in others they are really loud with the treble highs almost making it difficult to hear the other instruments in the song—and you WANT to hear the other instruments. Some are very basic, but in other portions there is some great playing that you can barely hear because a simpler recorded instrument drowns it out. For instance: (Save My Soul) is a beautiful track, with a really lovely acoustic guitar WAY in the background. But, you CAN hear the simple keyboard part louder and EXTREMELY SIMPLE drum beat even more so!
With a professional mix done on their individual parts & careful attention to the recorded vocals, this disc would be difficult to find fault with at all. Honestly, there is very little lacking in talent and much lacking in production.
Packaging - 6 out of 10
Interesting sleeve art, simple track listing (with songwriters names) and a picture of the men. Not much to be thrilled with, but nothing offensive either. Of course, my biggest gripe is NO LYRICS!!! They also don’t have lyrics on their website! Such a shame! I think Konstantin especially should be sure they are included in future endeavors. Being able to read and listen at the same time helps us to remember and keep a song in our minds.
Favorite Tracks
Commando
Fall Within
Drag Me
New Day
*Stand Out Track: Army of Reality
Overall Rating - 8 out of 10
The Seventh Season is a refreshing unique ‘team’ of musicians that fits in with the trend that is rising in Pop music today. Pop is becoming more interesting musically. The trend is to not only use electronics to a musician’s advantage, but to bring back real musicianship with REAL instruments! What a concept! Yuri and Konstantin Batygin bring back that wonderful retro New Wave sound adding edge and ROCK to their Pop style and it makes for a fun and satisfying disc. The added bonus is in knowing that they probably had a blast putting it together!
THE EXAMINER, San Francisco, 8 July 2004 by Bill Picture
Weekend Concerts The Seventh Season
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/070804a_concerts
Weekend Concerts The Seventh Season
For their debut album, "Fall Within" (Independent Records, Inc.), South Bay duo The Seventh Season, which consists of Russian Bay Area transplant Yuri Batygin and son Konstantin, puts an intriguing Numan-esque new-wave spin on the '70s prog-rock sound. Read more at www.theseventhseason.net.
SPACE ROCK 15 July 2004 by Stuart aka zeitgeist
http://www.space-rock.co.uk/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=78
The Seventh Season - Fall Within
An interesting one, The Seventh Season were formed in Moscow in 1972, but after a 20 year break, and a move of continent, now consist of Yuri Batygin and his son Konstantin. Theirs is an odd mix of folk, classic rock, prog, and new wave, sometimes in English, sometimes in Russian, veering wildly across genres with nary a backward glance. As is inevitable with something so eclectic, you're areas of enjoyment will vary with the styles, so the more traditional classic rock tracks get my vote with 'Commando' and 'Army Of Reason' scoring highest. The folk rock meld of 'So Insane' is also wel conceived and performed, crossing over into an almost electronic folk blend, but 'Pirate Song' is the out and out winner, one track where all their influences converge into a new fluidity. There is a lull in the middle of the album as neither 'Desire' nor 'Drag Me' manage to lift themselves out of the ordinary, but this is an admirable project, and one to be commended.
Encore, Outrider, The Beat, American Harmonica Newsmagazine, May 2003
Another father/son rock act, this one Russian. Papa Yuri and son Konstantin Batygin have been at this rock and roll thing for some time, and now their equipment and chops are up to a commercial release. Youth-oriented for the youth of the late '70s and early '80s, their stuff's sort of New Wave, angry with a hint of fake Brit accent, which is sort of amusing given the fact that we're talking about two Russians living in Los Angeles.
I like it. It's fantasy-and-testosterone based, with titles ranging from "Commando" to "So Insane" to "Pirate Song" to "Magician" to "Army of Reality." The Batygins obviously love writing and playing rock, and that is an asset to any record. As for their writing and singing, it's not bad and they're not trying to break new ground here, so if the basic patterns are passe, that doesn't hurt the release a bit. If a college dormitory hall had a big party, the room where this record was playing would be the inner sanctum for the most "with it" party attendees.
Recommended for people who've forgotten what they like about rock and for people who haven't.
"They're living out the high-energy, rebellious fantasy." - Jennifer Layton, Indie-Music.com, 21 November 2003.
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2311
The roots of this band formed in Moscow in 1972. Now, The Seventh Season is Yuri Batygin and son Konstantin, performing guitar rock with electronic new wave elements and spastic, aggressive vocals that sound like the B-52s singing from the Rolling Stones songbook.
What really works is that these guys love rock music. They're living out the high-energy, rebellious fantasy. The British accent does sound a little strange from two Russian singers, but the passion and power are there.
For their next recording, I suggest they do something to fill out the sound. It needs more bass, and those voices need to be brought to the front a little more. They sound echoed in the background. But overall, this is an intriguing approach and makes for enjoyable listening.
RadioMike, 07 March 2004
http://thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/comments.php?id=287_0_1_0_C
THE SEVENTH SEASON plays Progressive Russian Art Rock all the way in California. Of course, This all Combines Every kind of Indie and Older Influences, but this Father-Son Duo are Impressing Everyone who comes to their Shows. Since they don’t live Far from the Relatives in Cali, we Wonder if we can get a Few of them to Go to a Show.
Accent on Tampa Bay Magazine, May 2004
Here’s something different — a father and son playing together in a rock band — and from Moscow no less. Thankfully, their singing accent is not heavy at all, just slightly unusual. Their music is of the electronic new wave genre. The SEVENTH SEASON was first established in 1972 by dad, and restarted again in 1998 with his son. Consisting of just the two members, they added a drummer this year. FALL WITHIN is their new CD. (Independent Records - www.theseventhseason.net).
EUFONIA.COM, 27 July 2004, by Ciro Velazquez
http://www.eufonia.net/html/the_seventh_season.html
Recibí este material con una tarjeta que indicaba que la banda The Seventh Season era una banda de progresivo/alternativo/root rock.
Revisando, me daba cuenta que eran dos familiares Yuri (padre haciendo música desde 1972 en Rusia) y Konstantin (hijo) Batygin quienes hacían todo en este disco. Todo seguía bien y pensé que por la longitud de las canciones y algunos títulos quizá estaba frente a la línea alternativa de la producción de Seventh Season, pero siempre hay que escuchar antes.
El disco arranca con un "Commando" que bien podría andar en el alternativo, aunque quizá la voz y coros no ayuden mucho, al igual que la mezcla, donde más bien se sentía un trabajo inicial, siguiendo con todo el material, la sensación se hacía cada vez más justificada... voces que a veces se escuchan procesadas, un buen sonido con una mezcla que por alguna razón no termina de enganchar, quizá muy agudo al final.
Pero la música, es decir, la composición es la que finalmente no concuerda necesariamente con lo que esperabas de la tarjeta recibida. Acordes y ejecución que llamaré prematuros, a pesar de la experiencia que pueda tener Yuri, pero que podría ser un intento en la búsqueda de sonidos propios, pero que no sale airoso esta vez.
"Pirate Song" no quita la sensación de lo prematuro, inicial y primer esfuerzo ni por un momento. Y se acerca, a pesar de los acordes y distorsiones, más a un pop o un teen-rock que a un alternativo o progresivo (con todo y el manejo de teclados), y esto más por la sensación que por lo que realmente se escucha.... difícil de explicar.
El disco sigue el esquema a lo largo de todos los tracks, aunque al inicio de "Like Years Ago" se empiezan a vislumbrar teclados iniciales que dan esperanzas para esperar una evolución o madurez que podrían colaborar al sonido que pudiesen estar buscando los Batygin. Igual sucede con la batería inicial y guitarras de "Fall Within" (hasta que aparecen las voces que saturan) y el inicio de "Desire" rescatable para concordar con el timbre de voz.
"New Day" y su sonido más básico, hasta retro (una de las dos canciones, junto con "Magician" que no es en inglés), da un aire de alivio en el disco, más auténtica, menos elaborada y sin más pretensiones. Curiosamente, las canciones que no son cantadas en inglés rescatan más autenticidad -medida entre otras cosas, por lo cargado, superpuesto, sintético y "arreglado" del sonido y el track mismo-.
Incluso "Save My Soul" basada en piano en un principio padece de la sensación que tiene todo el disco, aunque, de nuevo, hay pinceladas de un sonido que podría empezar a desarrollarse.
Sigue "Morning", pieza instrumental de sonido otra vez sintético que no aporta al disco como podría. Finalmente, el disco termina con "Army Of Reality" con el mismo tenor de todo el disco.
Estaremos a la espera de la evolución de The Seventh Season. Por lo pronto, hay mucho trabajo que hacer.
spunoutcentral.com, 03 November 2004, by Adam Mico
http://www.spunoutcentral.com
Yes, I'm back from an extended siesta (following Election Day, no less). A month or so, I searched for my purpose in a Mojave Desert commune. Disease, drugs and dehydration delivered an altered personal sense. Finally, my testimonial supports anything that provides interest. Honestly, good or bad is irrelevant - the most dreadful can be even more entertaining than the sublime.
If you read their bio, 'why bother' may broach your mind. Yuri Batygin has been with The Seventh Season since 1972. In their original form, they persisted in Moscow (former U.S.S.R.) and then fazed in 1979. In 1998, Yuri opted to re-animate Seventh Season as the only existing original member with his son, Konstantin. In March of 2003 they completed Fall Within.
The Seventh Season consider themselves an experimentally friendly rock band. Fall Within rubs as a midlin late '80's / early '90's alterno-rock album. Outside of 'it's so ugly it's kinda kitschy cute' vocals and some intriguing guitar bridges, the CD sounds programmed and lacks personality. Cuts like "New Day" are so nasal and accented that it deflects as gibberish. When they hit a somber note ("Save My Soul"), they spew with power balladry even inferior to the uningestible Scorpions.
I certainly would not have wasted my time if it were fully intolerable. Plenty of quirky pop surfaces above the written bile. "Commando", "Save My Soul" and "Army of Reality" (ala They Might Be Giants) offer an adapted signature 'signature' that operates as an inaugural point.
Santa Teresa High School Newspaper, February 2004
Originating in Moscow, Russia, The Seventh Season is a two-man show, composed of Chad and dad, Yuri. Bringing back and classic rock and roll style, Chad was inspired by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, a shot of CCR, and Metallica. The two have made a mark already in the industry: Fall Within also can be found on Amazon.com, and most local record stores!
The philosophy of the album Fall Within is inspired by Chad's charming sense of humor and real aspirations for the future. And to clear up any disputes, the song "Commando" has everything to do with flying around without any underwear on. Sophisticated is "Desire," with its groovy beat and wailing guitars. "So Insane" is probably the most funky track where the harmony is stellar and a professional, bluesy mood shines through. The dramatic and soulful "Save My Soul" keeps the album relentlessly entertaining, and "Army of Reality" finally leaves us with a zealous feeling of spirit with its bold guitars.
With a fresh, original approach to a classic genre of music, Chad's strong vocals create a sound and style all his own that catches and keeps your attention. Together, the voices of Chad and his dad create an impressive and sophisticated resonance and harmony that is too good to miss. Around catchy bars and hooks, Yuri keeps it real with cool bass vibes, and Chad's funky guitar solos add class.
Fall Within is not to be missed: Rock and Roll fan or not. With its catchy tunes and light-hearted outlook on life, the Seventh Season will grow on anyone who appreciates good music.
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