Album review: GIZMODROME (Stewart Copeland, Adrian Belew, Mark King, Vittorio Cosma)

GIZMODROME

earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.17]

What do high profile musicians do when they’ve experienced sustained success and are staring at the twilight zone? Gizmodrome. That’s what. Spearheaded by one-time Police alumni Stewart Copeland who has co-opted PFM progster Vittorio Cosma, Adrian Belew (erstwhile Zappa acolyte, King Crimson, Bowie) and Mark King (bass thumper of pop fusionists Level 42).

This should be a brilliant album and the one instrumental piece – ‘Stark Naked’ – shows what might have been. But the album is dominated by Copeland’s idiosyncratic vocals (and to a lesser extent Belew’s idiosyncratic guitar). At times, the album sounds like The Tubes in the mid-1970s but lacking their innate humour.

If you doubt these observations, check out the cod-reggae ‘Man In The Mountain’ with the weighty words ‘I’ve got the keys to your horse…so giddy up, giddy up, giddy up…’ What were they thinking of?

Tracks like ‘Ride Your Life’, ‘I Know Too Much’ and, in particular, the world flavours of ‘Zubatta Cheve’ are not without their merit, but I am sure this album will alienate as many as it attracts.

I suppose if they take this on the road they can respectively sell some more CDs, but surely it won’t be of Gizmodrome? Conceived in Milan, it was no doubt fun for these ageing rock stars to wig out in between the Bruschetta and the Barolo whilst torching the tonsure but, really? Even the presence of Mark King cannot redeem it. Pass me the Borsa Malata. ***

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)