Love is Pop, January 2016
Gary Lucas & Jann Klose - "Stereopticon"Sometimes when two artists get together and collaborate it's a labor of love that's largely enjoyable only to the two of them. That is not the case with Gary Lucas and Jann Klose's just released album Stereopticon; their songs are not only accessible but a whole lot of fun. This is what you get when the magic happens.
Although I was familiar with eclectic singer/songwriter Jann Klose before discovering this album, I must admit that I was unfamiliar with Gary Lucas. Turns out he's quite the prolific artist, having over twenty five solo albums under his belt. In addition to being a renowned guitarist, he's a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and soundtrack composer. Some of the artists he's written songs with include Captain Beefheart, Joan Osborne and Jeff Buckley. He even co-wrote Jeff Buckley's "Grace" and "Mojo Pin," two of the most praised songs from the singer's double platinum album Grace.
Regarding the title of the album, Jann explains, "A Stereopticon is a classic slide projector that combines two images to create a three-dimensional effect. The title fit since there are the two of us and the album was recorded live on two-inch tape, the classic analog recording technique."
The record is certainly what you'd call an "acoustic album," being that many of the songs simply consist of Gary's vibrant acoustic guitars and Jann's warm vocals. To be honest, I tend to get bored with percussion-less albums, but the two manage to create plenty wonderful rhythms here without bass or drums. This is evident from the start of the record, which opens with "Fair Weather," a catchy, finger-snapping, mid-tempo tune about two-faced people. "You're my fair weathered friend / Go our own way in the end," Jann sings, channeling Paul McCartney, whose influence is all over Stereopticon. "Fair-weather follows / Follows tomorrow / Cool come rain or shine."
A few of the songs were written by Gary and Jann with Dan Beck, who has worked with Dion DiMucci, the Iron Cityhouse Rockers, and the Rascals' Felix Cavaliere. (The three also co-produced the record under the moniker Dr. Tre.) One of those songs is "Let No One Come Between Us," an uppity love song that finds Jann singing, "Ain't this some strange attraction? / A slave for your reaction / Obsessed, don't let me be denied." The trio also co-wrote is "Jewel Julia," which overflows with kinetic energy, and starts off sounding classic-country influenced but soon has a delightful air of Billy Joel.
While most of the songs on the album sport blues, jazz and folk influences, "Well of Loneliness"—another track written by the trio—has pop written all over it with its grand melody and the most infectious chorus on hand. It's one of those songs that simply demands you sing along to it. It also features a glorious tenor sax solo by Jason Candler (Queen Esther), who co-engineered Stereopticon with Jack McKeever. Candler also plays soprano sax on "Nobody's Talking," which cooly splits the difference between Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, particularly during the verses.
Whether you're fond of guitar-oriented albums or songs with endearing melodies, this album is sure to please. Each of its songs is a sweet candy to be sampled; it's not unlike a box of chocolates in that respect. To that end, it would make an excellent Valentine's Day gift. Or, you know, you could just treat yourself. Bottom line? If you need a new fix of upbeat songs to freshen up your life, you can't go wrong with Stereopticon.
—Michael McCarthy
Short and Sweet NYC, January 2016
Gary Lucas & Jann Klose - "Stereopticon"Gary Lucas & Jann Klose's "Fair Weather" opens their new album, Stereopticon, and instantly we realize both what a stellar guitar player Lucas is and what a top-notch singer Klose is. Between them, this songwriting pair have played with Captain Beefheart, Graham Parker, Pat Benatar and Pete Seeger, to name just a few. Here, the pair come off sounding outstanding. There's more spot-on Lucas acoustic dexterity on "Let No One Come Between Us," a bluesy "Well of Loneliness" mines a very commercial sing-along vein, as the duo harmonizes perfectly (something they do a lot here). "Mary Magdalene" sees more perfect picking from Lucas and the pair harmonizing wonderfully again, probably the best they do on Stereopticon. "Overture," with its simple hard strumming from Lucas, has Klose singing, warbling his falsetto and otherwise kicking the vocals to the stratosphere on this last of the eleven. Along the way, Lucas and Klose infuse these acoustic ditties with well-seasoned feel, expert songwriting and spectacular playing and singing. Stereopticon is simply a high-class collection from two masters at the game combining their talents seamlessly.
ThatMusicMag.com, January 8, 2016
Gary Lucas & Jann Klose - "Stereopticon"Reviewed by: Jane Roser
"A stereopticon is a classic slide projector that combines two images to create a three-dimensional effect. The title fit since there are the two of us and the album was recorded live on two-inch tape, the classic analog recording technique."
I honestly had no clue what a stereopticon was until I read this quote by vocalist Jann Klose, which also gave me a new appreciation for the work that went into creating this album. Three years after beginning this collaboration, guitarist Gary Lucas and Klose, along with songwriter Dan Beck, completed ten songs and recorded them in The Maid's Room in New York City.
Stereopticon is produced by Lucas, Klose and Beck and engineered by Jack McKeever (Joan As Police Woman, Anna & Kate McGarrigle) and Jason Candler (Queen Esther); Candler also plays soprano and tenor sax on two tracks. The album's first single (as well as the duo's first collaboration) "Secret Wings" gives the listener a distinct sense of claustrophobia. The song speaks of "walls closing in" and how "the city wore me down" so much that the storyteller wants to run away to escape the screaming and the sirens. I was reminded of how I could never spend more than five days in New York whenever I visited my sister who lived in Brooklyn—the city that never sleeps can definitely induce insomnia. The hauntingly beautiful "Mary Magdalene" is on ode to the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy and has garnered support from several New York City stations for its heartfelt lyrics and sincere respect for the people struggling to get their lives back to normal.
A treasure trove of musical influences, including jazz, blues and folk, permeate throughout and the end result is a cohesive, thought-provoking record.
Rating: Bad-Ass
DC Rocks, December 2015
Gary Lucas & Jann Klose - "Stereopticon"This is quite an exciting collaboration that makes a lot of sense. Lucas is more the veteran creative songsmith and Klose the younger, though well beyond rookie status, singer songwriter. They both understand the trippier original aspects to song structures with Lucas' resume bordering on unbelievable as he has worked with Beefheart, Peter Hammill, and Bryan Ferry, to name but three out of the dozens of amazingly original talents. He and Klose keep to the core in these songs with just voices and acoustic guitars, aside from a saxophone once. It has the feel of some of those excellent fingerstyle guitarists of old collaborating at the common starting point of the blues and then venturing out into their own trips and excursions into other musical territory. I would follow each of these artists separately, so together, well...try it and see.
Songs to start with first:
Secret Wings - Deep beginning smooths out into a sharp little song.
Jewel Julia - Spritely guitar melodies and a fine vocal line make the magic seem so simple.
Overture - Somewhere between Roy Harper and Tim Buckley, this one sends me into orbit.