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  Kan'Nal
Dreamwalker (Physiks Records [no number], 2005)
Difficult to label yet strangely compelling because of that very difficulty, the
music of Kan'Nal is a tightly coiled mixture of global and rock textures with
Amerindian imagery, abstract lyricism and a shamanic sensibility. The publicity
materials for their debut CD Dreamwalker would have you believe that
their live shows are where the band's ritualistic presentations really catch
fire, but a good amount of that intensity comes across without visuals.
The music ranges from the thrashy but melodic assault of songs like the
opening "Gypsy" to fragile balladry ("Time") and dream-like visions that explode
into pan-global jams where Latin, Arabic, Indian and African textures grab hold
("Iris"). Some of the guitar work and vocal screeching veer a little too close
to heavy metal for my taste, but in less hardcore moments there is a lot that's
good about this group's sound. Extended meditative passages provide chill
between the often impressionistic lyrics (most clearly on the three live cuts
included), an obvious respect for the spiritual traditions of varied indigenous
cultures is evident and genuine musical ability balances the parts where things
tend to crank out more than some might find necessary.
Recommended for world music listeners who may have not left their rock roots
behind. And hey, I would like to experience these guys in concert should the
opportunity arise.
[Buy
Dreamwalker].
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