Michael Falzarano – Sunrise Over The Unknown
Hypnotation Records
13 songs time – 59:11
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Falzarano is a product of the San Francisco music scene, having worked with Hot Tuna, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage and others. That scene is apparent in his music that has accents of The Grateful Dead as well of those previously mentioned. The vast assortment of musicians he assembled support his trippy musical adventures. He wrote or co-wrote all the songs.
The various musical vibes of the sixties’ San Francisco “Hippie” music scene flavor the music, while Michael and friends keep it fresh. Michael possesses a hardy and clear set of pipes. The lyrics are creative and never come off as “dippy”. He comes on full blast via heavily strummed acoustic guitars set against electric guitar on “7 Year Itch”. “My pistols are loaded, and ready to fire”.
Well, I misspoke a bit, “There’s A Rainbow” is a tad hippy dippy. The promised land is spoken of in “Coins In The Fountain”. Really nice guitar as elsewhere throughout the recording. More of the same as “Mighty Mississippi” chugs along quite nicely, thank you!
Robert Hunter co-wrote the country flavored “Cupful Of Rain”, as Kevin Griffin’s pedal steel guitar ups the country vibes. On “Get Up In The Dance” they use the duck-wah-wah guitar tone the Grateful Dead used on “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo” to good effect. “Without A Net (Parts 1 & 2) is a delightful guitar fest. There is a nicely spacey vibe to “Bird With A Broken Wing”. “So, if you can’t fly, sing”. “One Brick At A Time” is upbeat and positive.
A slow and melancholy mood pervades the pedal steel laced “I Had A Dream Last Night”. “Everything Changes In The Universe” is super charged with energy, with Danny Lewis’s Hammond Organ bubbling underneath. Things finish off with a stripped-down version of “Take Back What’s Mine (Acoustic)”, with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, drums and bass.
Influenced by the San Francisco sound, but it is a jumping off point and not a copy. If moving, energetic and well sung vocals over exuberant guitars, keyboards and a sturdy rhythm section are your thing, this must be the place!
