PERSONNEL:
Steve Katsikas: Lead Vox, Keyboards, Sax
Rik Bigai: Bass, Synths, Cuatro
Roy Strattman: Elec & Acoustic Guitar, Vox
Diego Pocovi: Drums & Percussion
Additional Vox: Joanna Katsikas
With their third release, Hollow, Little Atlas mines some significantly different ground than their 1st two albums, Surface Serene and Wanderlust, which were playful & hopeful & had a bit of both a Steely Dan & Neal-era Beard feel musically. This time out the band has embraced their inner Darth Vader & come over to the “dark side” for at least a visit. This is a concept album about the dark side of several human conditions, or perhaps even THE HUMAN CONDITION.
What hasn’t changed is the incredible musicianship of LA. All 4 members of this band have some serious chops, folks! They are never boring, with constant fluid shifts in both mood & time sigs. Even Latin rhythms can be heard at times (not surprising since they were incepted in Miami). The lyrics are clever & challenging rock poetry that immediately warn you that you better bring your “thinker” along for the ride.
The music is co-written by the band, and the lyrics are written and sung in 1st Person by Steve K.(more on that later!). Like many other truly fine singers, Steve has a wide arsenal of voices to call on depending on what’s needed.
TRACK BREAKDOWN:
“Hollow” - Less than a minute into the song, the words emptiness inside, suicide, clinging desperation & blackest abyss have made their way into your consciousness. Dark musically indeed as well.
“Silence” - The only mini-epic length track. The gripping lyrics could be applied not only to autism or deafness but also to anyone with such tragically low self-worth that they feel that disconnected. Very tasty musical interlude.
“Paranoiac” - The opening here is a quick return to SB-like controlled frenzy. It’s followed by some chilling spoken word & very nice bass work by Rik.
“Contumacious” - OK I was an English major in the distant past & I still had to look this word up in Webster's. Very nice harmonies from Steve & Roy (NO, LOOK IT UP YOURSELF!
) .
“Preying” – About psychopathic behavior as told from the inside (featuring the warm nostalgic voice of Charles Manson!). Nice sax by Steve at the end.
“Orderly” – A trip down OCD lane perhaps? Another musical nod to Neal M. & a chorus that harkens back to their 1st two albums in style.
“Hiding” – A very poignant song with beautiful melodies about a sad, disconnected man too beaten down & exhausted to change his situation.
“Stage” – A scathing indictment of all the “all style no substance” people on the planet. Great guitar work from Roy.
“Symbiosis” – What can I say? This has more musical twists & turns than a Hitchcock movie (or many prog epics 3 times as long.) A bit reminiscent of V era SB.
“Special” – Closes the album w/ its most peaceful song w/ some nice acoustic work from Roy. The lyrics are sung by someone whom we’ve all met at least once in our lives.
My only criticism is that Diego (IMO a really fine drummer) is undermixed at times (at least to my old ears).
“MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.” Dept: For any of you not aware of this, for perspective, when Steve isn’t busy making music & writing disturbing lyrics, he’s a practicing psychologist currently working in hospital administration. Scary, eh?
With the zeal of a televangelist I say to you bruthas & sistahs, this band will heal any prog afflictions you have (or even think you have).
Steve Kessler
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