Project-43 Worldwide Talent United

As I continue my writings for the 'All Indie- All The Time' Internet Radio Station www.ilike2rock.net, DJ Tom turned me on to a fantastic new band. Their music is special, not only in the way it is being created, but there is certainly a aura of musical magic going on. Read on:

Project-43

Worldwide Talent United

by Robert Benson

Can a heavy metal rock group release a CD without having ever being in the same room together or to have never met face to face? Amazingly, it is being done; and quite remarkably. Project-43 is one of the first “Internet” groups to record, mix, produce and engineer a CD from three different countries and five locations around the world.

Meet Project-43, five exceptionally talented musicians from different parts of the globe. After band mates Charlie Wardick (who hails from the state of Arizona, USA) and Steve M. Mann (from Wisconsin, USA) hooked up on Usenet in the alt.guitar newsgroup, they knew that they had happened upon something special.

Using this framework, the two enlisted other musicians to join in their cyberspace journey. When Antti Heikkinen (Finland) was added on vocals, things began to gel. The group then added Scotland’s Scott Wallace to play drums and the NYC guitar virtuoso Christopher Bell-Boudreaux to complete the quintet.

Their debut CD “Silence The Quiet” was released and met with rave reviews. But it is their follow up CD called “Ticket To Infinity” that proves that this is not a novelty act and that creating intoxicating heavy metal music in this unique process can not only be done, but accomplished with awe inspiring adventure.

Logistics make it difficult to all get together, but that is not an obstacle. As Steve explains:

“We have really progressed on this new CD; it shows our growth and improvement as a group. One person may come up with an idea for a song, then the others download this ‘model’ and start to add their parts and the mixing process begins. We don’t have some of the personality issues or conflicts that other bands have; our process is very accommodating to growth and helps us move forward. We feel we are on the cutting edge of recording and marketing and like to feel that we are moving forward in the right direction; kind of a modern spin as well as a new model of music creativity.”

After a listen to their new CD, one can hear elements of some of the band member’s influences, such as the Scorpions, Judas Priest, Queensryche or even a heavy set from Foreigner. But what Project-43 does so eloquently is meld these aforementioned groups, classic rock qualities, and heavy guitars and move them progressively into the new millennium.

The cut, “Bye Bye” has a classic blend of eerie lyrical content blended perfectly with instrumental mastery, fast guitar licks and the powerhouse pipes of lead singer Antti Heikkinen. “Secrets Never To Be Told” would be right at home on any classic rock album by Uriah Heep, complete with rich vocals, heavy rock guitars and a rapid-fire lead that adds a unique harmony to the lead vocals.

The cut “In Exile” could remind some if Alice In Chains unplugged, with smart lyrics and crisp acoustics, with tasty contributions from all five musicians. “Silence The Quiet” is full of classic Scorpions-like riffology, with complex instrumental structures and superlative vocals and I could see it bolting to the top of the heavy metal charts.

Their whole CD is full of energized music, heavy guitars and bass lines and expert musicianship. Comparing Project-43 to other bands may be a compliment, but it is their unique methods of making emotionally charged rock and roll that makes them genre defining and captures the essence of their collective musicianship.

Could Project-43 be called musical experimentalists? If so, the group has definitely laid the groundwork for others to attempt to make music in this intuitive manner. But I doubt that any group can match the hard-edged, slashing guitar riffs and seminal melodic invention that Project-43 has already mastered. Cyber group, novelty act? Not a chance- their songs are a musical collective of hard, heavy rock that will soon take the music world to a whole different level.

Visit the band:

www.ilike2rock.net/members/128/

www.project-43.com

This Date In Music History- May 5

In 1962, The Shirelles were presented with a gold record for "Soldier Boy", a song that was recorded in one take and originally intended as an album filler. It was the second million seller for them, following their first number one hit, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". The girls would later find the US Top 10 again with "Dedicated to the One I Love", "Mama Said", "Baby It's You" and "Foolish Little Girl".

Buffalo Springfield performed their final concert in Long Beach, California in 1968.

The late Johnnie Taylor ("Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone") was born in 1937.

Michael Murphey ("Wildfire") turns 70.

In 1986, Cleveland was named as the site for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

Carnegie Hall opened its doors for its first public performance in 1891.

Today in 1979, the song "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

At Tampa Stadium in Florida in 1973, 56,800 Led Zeppelin fans see Led Zeppelin. The band grosses $309,000. At the time the show set a record for the largest paying crowd at an American rock concert.

The Rev. Gary Davis, who taught Ry Cooder to play guitar and can count Bob Dylan among his disciples, died in Hammonton, NJ in 1972. Although considered a legendary guitarist, he spent most of his time preaching and playing on Harlem, N.Y., street corners.

Scott McKenzie released the come-one, come-all hippie anthem, "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" in 1967.

Ian McCulloch, the singer we always thought was Echo in Echo & the Bunnymen, was born in Liverpool, England in 1959. Echo was actually the nickname for the drum machine.

In 1956, Elvis Presley's album, simply titled "Elvis," became the first rock record to top the albums chart.

The First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette, was born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Itawamba County, Mississippi in 1942.

Philosopher of Soul Johnnie Taylor was born in Crawfordsville, Ark in 1938. He became Sam Cooke's successor in the Soul Stirrers and went to No. 1 in 1976 with "Disco Lady," the first single to be certified platinum.

If you like the blues, then you'll be pleased to learn that today is Blind Willie McTell's birthday. The blues guitar genius is born in Thomson, Georgia in 1901.

Legendary songwriter and early Rock ‘n’ Roll linchpin Otis Blackwell died in 2002. Blackwell’s creations include Elvis hits “Don’t Be Cruel” and “All Shook Up” and Jerry Lee’s blazing “Great Balls of Fire.”

The Billboard, a magazine for the music and entertainment industries, began weekly publication after six years as a monthly in 1900. By midyear it was calling itself "The Official Organ of the Great Out-Door Amusement World."

Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" was released in the US in 1969, where it will reach #2.

The one thousandth edition of Britain's music show, Top of the Pops was broadcasted on BBC-TV in 1983.