​On Leap of Faith: "Alien yet familiar, bizarre yet completely fascinating. Expanding, contracting, erupting, settling down, always as one force..." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG

On Metal Chaos Ensemble: "... ​using unique strategies to yield densely active and eerily surreal music, an incredible excursion through experimental improvisation."   - Squidco website staff

Evil Clown ​

Mekaniks - Getting Down with the Klown

Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA    

                          - 7 September 2016

PEK tweak of a Raffi Photo

Review by Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

PEK tweak of a still from the video

Video

MEKANIKS With PEK / BOB MOORES / DAN O’BRIEN / GREG GRINNEL / KEVIN DACEY / YURI ZBITNOV - Getting Down with the Klown (Evil Clown 9118; USA) Mekaniks is another of the Leap of Faith offshoot projects which features two core members: PEK on multiple single & double reeds, flute, theremin and Yuri Zbitnov on balafon, daiko & assorted percussion plus occasional LoF collaborators: Bob Moores on space trumpet & guitar, Dan O’Brien on clarinets, tenor sax & flute, Greg Grinnell on laptop & electronics and Kevin Davey on balafon, daiko, saxophone & percussion. This is another studio session recorded at Evil Clown Headquarters. Mekaniks are a rare Leap of Faith offshoot sextet that only got together for this particular studio session. I recognize all of the names from assorted Evil Clown discs. Commencing quietly with layers of mysterious percussion, cymbals, metal, balafon (African xylophone) and perhaps electronics, the sound is most mesmerizing. When PEK switches to tenor sax, the intensity level increases, an eruption of spirits takes place. When PEK picks up a double-reed (shenai?), things go even further out as spinning cymbals and bits of echoplex are added for seasoning. There are a series of sections in which certain areas of exploration are dealt with. Tribal drums, other-worldly electronics, saxes and space trumpet all get their due and work well together. This is like a soundtrack to science fiction movie which moves back and forth in time, from ancient villages to modern day free improv madness, all connected to an invisible thread. Alter your reality today! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG 

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9118
Mekaniks - Getting Down with the Klown

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1) Getting Down with the Klown - 1:01:01

      Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA - 7 September 2016


PEK ‐ clarinet, contraalto clarinet, alto & tenor saxophones, dulzaina, shenai, 
     slide whistles, wood flute, siren, [d]ronins, theremin, ms-20, aquasonic,

     metal, voice, electronics

Dan O'Brien - clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, piccolo, metal, electronics​
Bob Moores - space trumpet, guitar, electronics 

Greg Grinnell - laptop, samples, electronics
Kevin Dacey - balafon, daiko, bells, crotales, [d]ronis, daxophone, metal, crank

     siren, aquasonic, ms-20, theremin

Yuri Zbitnov - balafon, daiko, festival drum, bells, crotales, [d]ronis, metal,

     crank siren, voice

Photos by Raffi

Photos by Raffi