Dreadnaught is a loosely composed group who play music in the borderland between jazz, prog, and groovy rock, something which is en vogue in USA these days with bands like Critters Buggin and Galactic as the main representatives. You combine instruments from 70s fusion with modern beats and rhythms, and create (especially in the case of Critters Buggin) an extremely exciting synthesis of genres which resulted in a very original expression. I don't think Dreadnaught manages to do it that well. Melodies are not interesting enough, actually, from time to time shey sound rather amateurish. A thin production does not help either. Quite a few good attempts, indeed, but none of the ideas are brought to the finishing line. When they try a bit more orchestrated stuff, they sound promising, but there is not enough of this to carry the album. In a world of exciting music, Music en Flagrante is not a record you really need to own.

©2004 Tarkus Magazine

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