ANTHONY GACH & HARMONIC AGGRESSION – ALBUM REVIEW

 

Anthony Gach & HARMONIC AGGRESSION are ending their year in groove heaven. They recently released a new full length entitled Ignite & Elevate which contains thirteen impeccable funk-infused compositions. Gach has covered all the bases. Every song on the album carries its own exotic flavor. Gach powers through multiple genres including funk, jazz, r&b, rock and pop. In many instances he throws multiple influences into the pot and creates the perfect blend of aural incandescence.

Westchester bandleader Gach formed the populous HARMONIC AGGRESSION in 2014. The horn heavy ensemble was created by Gach as a vehicle to incorporate his love of hard rock guitar riffs with high energy funk. His songs contain tightly arranged horn lines with an emphasis on drums and bass grooves.

The band released their first EP entitled Peaceful Observer in 2016 with a follow-up single, “The Game” in 2019. Due to their extensive gigging, HARMONIC AGGRESSION built a sizable fanbase and played throughout the tri-state area. They even had their record release party at the famed NYC hotspot the Bitter End on Bleeker Street. Prior to Ignite & Elevate‘s release in 2021, Gach asked himself what kind of direction he wanted to go. The final answer: “why not all directions”!. While focusing on funk, soul and R&B, Gach explored more ballad writing and did not shy away from including an acoustic side. The end result became Ignite & Elevate!

HARMONIC AGGRESSION contains a large contingent of musicians and vocalists. The quality of the musicianship displayed on the album is impeccable. Gach has assembled an outstanding group of players and singers. This includes Kris Carmello, Nick Chiapparino, Catie Graves, Seth Nicholson, Jeremy James , Wayne Patrik, Ivan Polanco and Gach himself all sharing vocal duties. His horn section is also quite impressive utilizing the talents of Simon Pajaro (Tenor Sax), Joe Natale (Bari Sax), Alex Slomka (Trombone), Corey MacCrae (Alto Sax) and Anthony Gach (Trumpet).Guitars were handled by Michael Simonelli, Jon Chapman, Kevin Myers (Slide Guitar), Jeffrey Velez, Touro Sentado and of course Gach. Drums are handled masterfully by Randy Hill. A myriad of other players dot the record as well.

Ignite & Elevate opens with the swinging “The Happiest Day”. From the get-go the hips are moving and the feet are shuffling to the funky beat. The horns are driving and the backbeat is contagious. Gach‘s vocals fits right in with the sonic magic HARMONIC AGGRESSION is laying down. Pure euphoria. On “Blackslidin” the horns come alive. Every note is dynamic and the vocal play between Gach and Catie Graves is delightful..

On “Fly Away”, the tempo slows and the organic blues song showcases another facet of the band. Nick Chiapparino’s lofty vocals are impressively emotional and gripping. Graves’ backing vocals are celestial. “F-U-N-K Why?” follows next and the power of Graves’ voice is in full force. Her infections and tone are perfect. The guitar has a swagger and the horns blare with righteous funk. “Burn Me” features Kris Carmello on vocals. The track has an audacious flow with a thumping bass line and stellar percussions. Simonelli’s guitar solo is sparkling.

HARMONIC AGGRESSION then offers an extremely unvarnished blues song. “I Dunno Blues” is the band stripped down to Gach on guitar/vocals and Kevin Myers on slide guitar. The gnarly cadence is adventurous and smoothly edgy. “Revenant” brings the band’s soulful demeanor into play. Jeremy James’ vocals are fervently sharp with a rich resonance. ” The horns come blaring back on “Live It Up”. Wayne Patrik’s rap vocal is gutsy and Harmonic Aggression come out swinging. The song is monstrous. Definitely one of the highlights on the record.

“Hold Me, Too” has a melodic panache with an easy gait and up front vocals. “That Shot’ distributes a Latin flavor with lush textures and cinematic beats. The horns and percussions rule. Ivan Polanco’s vocals are memorable with a dynamic flair. “Hiding In Shadows” is a bold R&B treasure with its melancholy keyboards. Graves once again delivers a dynamite vocal performance. “One Step Closer” finds Gach solo with a great vocal and a spectacular guitar. Ignite & Elevate ends with the rocking “Peaceful Observer”. It is a perfect example of the strong songwriting on the album.

Ignite & Elevate is slick, cool, and a spicy tour de force. Anthony Gach & HARMONIC AGGRESION are an entity to be reckoned with. Listen to this record or catch them live. You will not be disappointed.

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To learn more about Anthony Gach & HARMONIC AGGRESION: Check them out Reverbnation

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Stream their music: Spotify / Pandora / Bandcamp 
Purchase: Amazon / Apple Music

 

 

 

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