LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT – Liquid Tension Experiment (1998 Magna Carta)
Liquid Tension Experiment is a supergroup on Magna Carta, which should tell you much.
Featuring not one, not two, but three guys from Dream Theater, plus Tony Levin, Liquid Tension Experiment is the progressive fan’s dream band. Granted, keyboardist Jordan Rudess wasn’t in Dream Theater yet when they did this CD, but that’s where people know him from today. Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci are the other driving forces behind Liquid Tension Experiment.
To use phrases like “mind blowing”, “insane”, “incredible” or “the shredder’s wet dream” don’t even begin to touch what the album Liquid Tension Experiment is about. The liner notes by Mike Portnoy reveal that this project was assembled based on a wish list of players and their availability. Rudess and Levin were on the list but guitarists just weren’t available, so that’s how Petrucci stepped in. Together they had six days to write and record this album. That it turned out so incredibly well says volumes about these guys as musicians.
Liquid Tension Experiment is not just an instrumental album with wicked playing. The compositions are strong enough to make the album rise well above similar projects. Magna Carta is loaded with insane projects by the best players in the world, but how many of those albums are good for repeated listenings? The melodic and tonal sensibilities of Petrucci in particular really keep the album grounded, in a way that even lay people can enjoy. Levin adds the Chapman Stick and a new agey flavour to the lighter material. Check out “Osmosis” for a fine example of this.
Most of the album is heavy jammin’. It’s Mike Portnoy, and he does that so well. Together, they create a challenging sound but one with enough hooks that anyone can get into it. You might not realize how many time changes, weird chords and tempos you’re being exposed to, but you are, and you’ll be far better for it.
Together the album consists of nine songs and one spontaneous jam that exceeds 28 minutes! In fact, the tape ran out while recording, so the tail end of the song is from a DAT tape that Portnoy always runs when rehearsing. According to the notes, this piece ironically called “Three Minute Warning” was 100% improvised. “Not a single beat or note was discussed beforehand.” And no fixes or overdubs were made after the fact. It’s over 28 minutes of pure improvisation, and it came out brilliant. Everybody needs some of that in their life, to experience what pure free-form musical genius sounds like.
Must-hear pieces include “Paradigm Shift”, “Osmosis”, “Freedom of Speech” and “Universal Mind”. It goes without saying that the 28 minute jam is essential as well.
This self-produced album also just sounds incredible. The sonics are huge, but when the layers are peeled back, you can hear everything so clearly. The Chapman Stick also adds a huge palette, sometimes heavier than lead and others lighter than a feather. I’m sure the excellent audio is partly due to the mixing skills of one Kevin “Caveman” Shirley. Don’t hesitate to pick up Liquid Tension Experiment if you see it. There was also a second album made called 2, but this is the one to get if it crosses your path.
5/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
I think there’s sometimes an advantage to having tight deadlines.
They have 6 days to record an album? That creates some urgency and it looks like it worked out well here!
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Urgency — great choice of word. Like athletes, these guys were warmed up and ready. And they performed! And we get to listen to the fruits of it!
PS – did you get my Disturbed mp3 the other day?
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And I finally listened to it this morning – admittedly didn’t make it through the entire cover song, but I was pleased you ended the segment on a positive note with the original!
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I see! So I assume that means you didn’t care for Disturbed’s version very much?
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Perhaps if I gave it a few listens it might improve? But your intro didn’t really convince me that it was worth investing the time in multiple listens!
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Eh, it’ll come as no surprise that I’ve never heard of this one… sounds good, though. The Way albums should be made… banged out in a few days. None of this month’s in the studio over rehearsing and such nonsense!
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When you can play like these guys, I guess you don’t need rehearsal!
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I have never heard of this. I will be on the lookout for it.
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You should! Uncle Meat was supposed to join me for a Meat’s Slice on this one, but couldn’t get the words. But it’s 5/5 steaks from him, trust me.
Oh and in answer to your email — he has not done the Sheavy review yet.
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Meat’s Slice.
Hahahaha. Awesome tagline.
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Shhh. Mum’s the word. Ixnay on the Heavshay.
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Just heard from Uncle Meat. He has a screw loose. In his leg! Baseball injury aggravated a steel plate in his ankle!
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Oww. That sucks for him. Wish him well.
A screw loose…. in his leg.
I thought that was going a different direction.
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Hahah no kidding! So yeah right now he’s in a bit of pain waiting to see what happens next. I hope he’s not screwed.
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Ba dum bump.
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I lose count of all these bands….glad u dig it Mikey….
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A stone cold instrumental prog metal shredding classic. This was an unsurprisingly jaw-dropping album from the moment I heard it (the week it was released, of course). You summed up its magnificence beautifully, Mike. Sorry you’re not as much a fan of the second album. It seemed a little more “composed” but the chops are just as amazing. Are you familiar with the multi-CD/DVD/Blu-ray box set of live recordings? I don’t own it but I have copies of the discs from a friend who bought it and it’s pretty great. Seems like the kind of collectable that should be in your collection. Happy shopping. :-D
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Tony Levin has got to be one of my favorite bassists ever. The work he did with Peter Gabriel is unparalleled. Listen to his sound on “Don’t Give Up”, nice and wet.
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Listened to the track, that’s what I call cool chill out music.
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I really rather liked that ‘Osmosis’ track, right up my alley. Sounds a bit like Ozric Tentacles too and that’s a very good thing indeed.
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Hot damn, that’s awesome.
Also, I agree that “Liquid Tension Experiment” is a much better band name than “¾ Of Dream Theater And Another Guy.”
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