Malcolm Galloway solo releases (minimalist/contemporary classical)
"Ever so lovely. Great stuff." Featured EP special.
"Hypnotic and engaging minimalism!" - World Of Metal
Malcom Galloway from Hat’s Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate is back on his own, this time with EP. As in “Transitions”, his solo approach embarks more on more minimalist and electronic paths, but that progressive depth remains omnipresent. This is an EP just because it has three themes since as far as duration is concerned, it could very well be an album. The sound of the title theme (and in general) reminds Mike Oldfield of the good old days, something that also the final theme (and bonus) of almost forty minutes transports us to that imaginary. Hypnotic and engaging minimalism!
8/10
Fernando Fereira
"A brilliantly composed neo-classical release" - Homonculus Media
Wasp 76b Review - Progressor.net
UK composer and musician Malcolm GALLOWAY is probably best known for his role in progressive rock band Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate, but for several years he have also released music as a solo artist, and then inside the realm of minimalist classical music. "Wasp 76b" is the most recent of these ventures, and was released through the label Glass Castle Recordings towards the end of 2020.
While this is described as an EP, with the main tracks clocking in at 20 minutes or so, there's a bonus track available with the EP as well, a creation that clocks in at a staggering 40 minutes in length. An album's length worth of music then, even if the core material itself stops at the 20 minute mark.
The opening creation 'Chrysalis' features a delicate strings overlay backed by percussion and piano in a subtle atonal manner, with careful but nervous and intense raindrop style guitar details added in, the latter seguing over to a more fixed and firm mode of delivery that adds a nice bit of tension prior to the conclusion.
The somewhat longer "Wasp 76b', presumably inspired by the discovery of a planet where one can experience wonders such as rainfalls of molten iron, is probably the composition that will interest progressive rock fans more than the rest. The heart of this song revolves around a jazz-tinged drum foundation, an ongoing bass-line that gave me associations to "Church Of..." era Hawkwind and nervous guitar details of the kind that made me think of Robert Fripp, with percussion, string arrangements and the piano weaving in and out and in between. Quite the hypnotic creation, as well as being both fluid and tension-filled.
The bonus track 'The Haber Process' is probably the creation here that will have a more limited appeal. Revolving around percussion, plucked guitar and piano in nervous loose patterns with moments where one instrument solidifies briefly and veers off again, adding a voice effect and orchestral details that will come and go in the first half of the composition, while in the second half a bass is thrown in as well, and the composition gradually solidifying for longer stretches of time as well as instrument details coming and going for more extended periods of time as well, just about completely solidifying into a harmonic whole at the very end. The patterns are hypnotic but repetitive, and despite all the movement from the individual instruments and inside the patterns this is also a one-dimensional beast. Minimalist, subtle and striking: A true gem for the right mind, but also the kind of music that can get on people's nerves in a major way. One might guess that this is the reason for why this is a bonus track on an EP rather than the main track of an album.
A certain taste for minimalist music is needed to be able to enjoy this extended length EP, and while I suspect the total audience for a production of this kind will be somewhat limited in scope, those who get the music and are able to immerse themselves in these more expressive yet also relatively minimalist landscapes will find a lot to enjoy here. Progressive rock fans with a taste for expressive, minimalist and avant-garde oriented material is to my mind the most likely key audience for this production, and I'd recommend those who recognize themselves in such a description to have a listen to this one, starting with the title track 'Wasp 76b'.
*****
Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, January 2021
"A very well crafted piece of music." Review by Jonny Bakes, Uber-Rock
Having already reviewed the Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate EP, it would be incredibly rude of me to overlook the solo release from one of the main men, Malcolm Galloway. Now Malcolm’s solo stuff is significantly different to the creations of Hats Off, so if you come into this expecting more of the same then you will be in for quite a shock! Instead, Malcolm composes intricate pieces of minimalist/classical music for his solo releases such as this latest effort, ‘Wasp 76b’.
If you go in with the right expectations, it’s a lot easier to appreciate the subtleness of the work. The intent for these is not to produce music that’ll storm the charts or be a regular song on your gym playlist, instead this is music for those who really appreciate music in its core forms. You could almost go as far as to say that this is music for musicians.
‘Wasp 76b’ consists of two new tracks and a bonus addition of the 40-minute epic ‘The Haber Process’ from the album ‘Still Life’. As the latter has been around for quite a while, I’ll just be focusing on the two new tracks in this review as I’m sure you can listen to ‘The Haber Process’ and make up your own minds about that one.
The EP opens with the aptly named ‘Chrysalis’ which is a gentle piece that expresses the serenity of being cocooned in the protective environment of the chrysalis before it begins to take a more foreboding turn as it heralds the emergence of the wasp and ultimately ending with a sense of relief and freedom. The strings dominate the sound of ‘Chrysalis’ and it’s through the effective use of these instruments that you really can feel the changes in mood as the song develops. Now the title track, ‘Wasp 76b’ is something completely different. It’s a fast and complicated piece of music that has this intense hectic feel to it, much like the erratic flight of a wasp. With the use of futuristic synthesizer samples it feels almost like a space-age answer to ‘The Flight of the Bumblebee’ in the way it combines that frantic pace with futuristic elements.
If you combine both of these tracks with the visual elements provided on the album cover, which closely resembles the work of M.C. Escher, this helps complete the picture and allows you to simply sit back and visualise the elements as the album plays through. Now obviously this isn’t going to be something you’ll crack out at parties (unless you and I go to very different parties) but it is a very well crafted piece of music that deserves a listen. And as far as contemporary classical/minimalist music goes, this is one of the better examples I’ve heard. Although I would admit that my experience in that field is somewhat limited, ‘Wasp 76b’ is an album that encourages me to delve deeper into that rabbit hole to see what else is out there!
https://uber-rock.co.uk/malcolm-galloway-wasp-76b-self-released/
"Utilising his dab-hand with the studio and its technology, Malcolm Galloway produces moving and energetic electronic compositions. This award-winning musician and his headline-grabbing music work together to continue the journey into artistic sound destinations. Abstraction greets form and beauty in a shimmering dance of juxtaposition in emotion. This phenomenal and room-filling sound knits together a soundscape which tingles the mind.... The Electro Review
Malcolm Galloway - Wasp 76b
Let's take a trip back to the beginning of the month when Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate's Malcolm Galloway released a brand new solo work on Bandcamp. Not afraid to push the boat out, this side-project takes a whole new direction. Utilising his dab-hand with the studio and its technology, Malcolm Galloway produces moving and energetic electronic compositions. This single establishes a vein that began in the thread of his previous album, which no-longer stands quite so alone. This award-winning musician and his headline-grabbing music work together to continue the journey into artistic sound destinations.
With an ensemble of phonics on horn and string, the classical swish of orchestrated pleasure generates its mood. Splatterings of bell reminisce while dappled notes form a spongy bed. Abstraction greets form and beauty in a shimmering dance of juxtaposition in emotion. Raindrops of harmony scatter through twisting clouds which strain against the natural flow of the sky. A musical adventure unfolds as new horizons shape themselves in hidden moments now alive. Terrain awash with poignant humdrum and peaks of interest fly past in moments of photographic charm. This is Chrysalis and it's like the birth of a flying fraction of the universe incarnate. Building molecules together according to predetermined instructions in order to experience the life of a separate individual.
Next is Wasp 76b. This starts like a daydream, piano-like tones dance and fluoresce within neat corners that are enchanted by mirrors. As extra dimensions spill from the narrow perspective and the seemingly eternal quality of light, passages and perspectives align themselves according the the fundamental portioning system within space and time. A masterpiece of progression, the music gradually forms new layers and platforms within, from which fountains of sound are able to flourish. Sparkling melody and lively harmonics joyously adorn a smooth tempo with quick and spritely compositions. A wave of sound builds as it travels through the bars and atop the body of kinesis sits a continually changing scene of exchange and complimentary adjustment.
We are talking a decent 20 minute release despite there being two tracks. This phenomenal and room-filling sound knits together a soundscape which tingles the mind while letting it wander into its own agenda. Not too little, not too much.
https://www.electroreview.info/the-electro-review-2020/malcolm-galloway-wasp-76b-the-electro-review
"Packed to the rafters with endlessly dovetailing segments that whizz and whirr with pulse-quickening excitement. Harnessing the power of Reich-like repetition there's both depth and warmth that builds to deliver a coercive momentum. The key components running throughout the three pieces over 47 minutes consist of trickling rivulets of piano and keyboard motifs, which ripple and funnel through chattering marimba, twinkling guitar harmonics, plucked chords, the slow undertow of cello-like strings and woodwind, and the ebb and flow of cymbals and kit drums. The latter especially adds a certain fluidity and useful metrical focus. While accepting that a lot of systems-orientated pieces are often relegated to the status of aural wallpaper, Galloway's ingenious flow of rhythm and melody ensure these tracks are anything but background music." Sid Smith, Prog Magazine
Sid Smith - Pick Of The Year list, Prog Magazine 2019
"Malcolm Galloway "Social Astronomy"
Good morning/afternoon/evening fellow progheads! These past two weeks with Inside Out Music was nothing short of stellar as the search for all things prog brought you two fantastic new releases from the prog garden. This week The Concert Closet hosts something a bit different--as is my modus operandi for those new to the Closet Concert Arena. Malcolm Galloway has graced the the Concert Closet previously...February 2016 to refresh your memory. Malcolm is the founding force behind Hat's Off Gentlemen It's Adequate; more than just a thinking person's prog band, they have the distinction of possessing the longest band name in the prog garden. Malcolm is constantly evolving the band and taking bold steps with his music which is but one reason I find myself being drawn to this flame. Malcolm's latest solo release is called "Social Astronomy" and resides in the minimalist section of the prog garden. Minimalist interpretation of music and sound has always been intriguing to me; a section of the prog garden where I can find solace and relief from all the skulduggery of the working world...
"Social Astronomy" is a 76 minute piece of music that develops as it plays, musical patterns building on themselves and painting a picture that is as delicate as it is intricate. Much like Philip Glass, Steven Reich, and Brian Eno, Malcolm takes the listener on a journey that looks at music and its creation through an entirely different lens. There is even a sense of Abstract Aprils and Bang On A Can filtering through the headphones... The album is but a 76 minute plus track moving through sound and building a mood much the way Robert Fripp took the listener on bold adventures during his Frippertronics days. At the time there was nothing in the prog garden to hold up as a comparison or starting point to relate to; Fripp was venturing into new and uncharted territory. So too, Malcolm is carving his own trail through the prog garden and "Social Astronomy" is merely a continuation of that trajectory. While comparing Malcolm's solo work to his musical output with Hat's Off Gentlemen It's Adequate may not be exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, there are striking similarities. Malcolm seems to enjoy tinkering on the logical side of the garden...deconstructing sound as it were and following a different set of instructions to rebuild it in such a way as to lead you on a journey through a crystalline kaleidoscope..mysterious at first but quite remarkable in its simplicity.
This is music for those who want more from their music; nothing here is ever going to make airplay on mainstream radio. Of course if we are honest and radio sounds are what we chase all the time there would be no point in traipsing through the prog garden in the first place. If you are a fan of soundscapes and enjoy music that does not force you to sort through lyrics, wait for the bridge to come around, or keep a steady 4/4 beat, Malcolm Galloway may be a soothing balm for your ears. Malcolm's music can be found at Malcolm Galloway CD Baby and Hats Off Gentlemen. He as well as his band also have Facebook pages at Malcolm FB and Hats Off Gentlemen FB, and the proverbial Twitter @itsadequate.
You know how I feel about supporting the artists here in the prog garden, so I will refrain from ranting--if you promise to make a purchase. The search for all things prog continues to go off on different tangents each week, exposing more music to the loyal prog faithful. I believe it is important to shine a light on artists, bands, and music that might otherwise be overlooked for no other reason than the arena is crowded. Both Malcolm's solo work and his music with Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate are excellent additions to the prog garden and, while similar, occupy their own acreage. Flying solo Malcolm tends to be more"cranial" while within the confines of a band he flexes and pushes the prog paradigm. To say "Social Astronomy" is the thinking man's prog is to sell both the artist and the listener short. Yes the music tends to bore deeper into the mind, but it does so in a genteel, refined way. Malcolm challenges the listener to expect more from the music he/she chooses and offers an alternative that drops the gauntlet with a friendly grin. To accept the dare is to step out of one's routine and into a dimension that is both provocative and encompassing--without being the condescending prude. The search for all things prog continues to peel away layers of the genre, exposing a multitude of moods, experiences, and styles. I hope you enjoy...until next week..."- Vincent Iacocca, The Closet Concert Arena