JOHNFISH SPARKLE – Flow

They have got the Blues. They have got the Rock. Most of all, They have got the right sound of diverse ’70s-oriented Hard Rock music. The Italian trio Johnfish Sparkle has been running around all hazy and obscure since 2008. Flow, their second vintage-like release, is another fine addition to the ongoing flow of ’70s Rock music that will never seem to end. Johnfish Sparkle is no copycat, but their direction is utterly close to the British giants Led Zeppelin. The vocalist / guitarist might not have the awesome old vocal ranges of Robert Plant, but he sure has great guitar playing techniques that would make for a fine tribute to Jimmy Page. John Paul Jones will also be proud that there is such a great bass player that follows his older musical lines, and the same goes for John Bonham (R.I.P.).

The band’s loyalties to vintage Hard Rock were mashed with aspects of that era’s Progressive Rock and Psychedelic Rock. Several moments of the album cause you to undertake a long voyage through a weird kind of spiritual world. Every time a song steps out from its normal orbit, it enters a different drug-induced realm that has its own story to tell. Those frequent moments had Pink Floyd references along with the rocking Blues of Zeppelin… and intriguing results.

On the other hand, Flow isn’t a perfectly smooth ride through the ’70s. Part of the reason was the vocal line, which seemed too tired at times and lacked energy… he seemed at times to be the antagonist of the whole Flow story.

The likable outcomes of this release were sort of an eye opener. “Spiral Confusion” has that feeling of get high ’til you drop. This is a true Psychedelic experience in almost every section, and the main passage with its percussion use and the wild guitar insured the right impact. The great thing was that even though it had an organized structure, the overall feeling spoke otherwise as it gave the idea that nothing was constant. “Not Alone” has some amazing riffs and a good solo moment. Its opening was plainly a classic overture. The song, on its whole, is pretty much simple with several obscure additions. It is a worthy track that sums up the greatness of ’70s Hard Rock with finesse. “Crazy Lady”, such a ’70s name for a song, is one of the coolest Blues-meets-Rock marriages heard in a while. Here the vocals sound a bit livelier and even slightly crude. While the guitar was privileged with tons of attention, this track emphasizes the bass rhythms, while the guitar flamed with its crazy licks. This is an awesome track with an astounding vibe.

Flow offers tribute to Led Zeppelin, yet the album always showcases the additional realities this band lives in. It came out a nice release and it is recommended, even it has a few bumps along the way.

Lineup

Dave Perilli – Bass
Rob Gasoline – Drums
Al Serra – Vocals / Guitars