|
SEAN MALONE
We're very pleased to bring you this interview with one of the most talented
bassists in metal today, Sean Malone. If you are not familiar with Sean, He played
bass on Cynic's "Focus" album and also appears on the recent Rush tribute album,
"Working Man". This issue also features a special treat for bassists. Sean has
transcribed his solo from the instrumental "Textures" which appears on the "Focus"
album. This is a jazz-based solo and demonstrates Sean's incredible talent.
I guess I'll ask the question everyone wants
to know. Is Cynic still together and if so, have there been any lineup changes?
"As Cynic, no. The group ceased to exist 2 years ago after our last show
which was in New York at the Limelight. There have been many lineup changes but they
have been for different incarnations of basically the same band. The group Portal,
then later Aeon Spoke, was writing more pop-oriented music. After shopping for a
label unsuccessfully, they decided to move on and not play together anymore. After my
solo CD, Sean [Reinert] and I had many discussions concerning the direction that we
wanted to take. We both agreed that our hearts are in a more prog-metal style and
that we need to get back to that. But we didn't want to write music that was as heavy
as Cynic. So we've come to something that's in between. It's aggressive and technical,
but lacks the death metal quality that Cynic had."
I've heard that Cynic was going in a very
different direction musically. Could you elaborate on that?
"I think the nature of the musical direction that the members of Cynic
have pursued has always been to try and create something new."
I heard that you weren't touring with Cynic
on the "Focus Tour". Why?
"There were 2 tours for Focus. The first tour was European and came at a
time when I was teaching at the University of South Florida. Unable to leave for an
extended period of time, I was not able to do that leg of the tour. The next leg
started in Holland at the Dynamo Open Air Festival, then 2 months in the US and
Canada. I toured with them for that."
Who did the first tour?
"A bassist named Chris Kringel did it. He played with the band for a bit
before I recorded on the record, and also played with them after Cynic called it
quits."
Are you currently working with a label?
"The current group is not signed to a label. We are writing and
rehearsing currently and plan to shop a demo by the winter. The lineup is Sean
Reinert, Jason Gobel, Glen Snelwar and myself."
You are currently working on the release of
your own solo album. When is it due out?
"It should be out by mid-October."
Who is it being released by?
"AudioImage Records (airecord@pa.mother.com)"
Can you describe the direction you took with
the solo project?
"The music on this CD has a fusion edge to it, and at times a progressive
flavor as well. There is a lot of diversity. It was basically a collection of music
that I haven't yet recorded, in a style that conflicted with with the different
groups that I've played with."
You and Sean Reinert seem very close. Is he
playing on your solo release?
"Yes, Sean plays drums on the CD. It also features Trey Gunn from King
Crimson and Reeves Gabrels from David Bowie. I enjoy playing with Sean a lot so I try
to make us available as a team. I try to do as much session work as I can, to learn
more and have an opportunity to play with a variety of artists and styles. With the
convenience of the ADAT setup at my house, people that hire me for their records
often just send me a tape and I record it at home, then send the tape to them
wherever they are. That's how Reeves and Trey recorded their parts for my CD."
You and Sean also appear on few other
releases. You are both featured on the Rush tribute album that was released by Magna
Carta. What was the experience like?
"That was a lot of fun. Rush is one of my favorite bands and I jumped at
the chance to do it. We had to do it in a hurry due to the short notice we received
from the record company. So, we got to the studio and got it on the second take. I
overdubbed some bass parts to fix some glitches and the solo, then it was all done.
Then the tapes were mailed off to New York all in a couple hours time."
You both appear on a tape I got from a guy
named Jim Studnicki. It's very different from the stuff Cynic was doing. How did you
end up on Jim's album?
"I've known Jim for a while here in Florida and he asked if I'd like to
play on his demo. It's some cool straight ahead rock stuff and I was happy to play on
it. I recommended Sean for drums and everything went very smoothly."
What other plans are in the works?
"Well, together with the Rush tribute, I've had a few other recent
releases including the Guitars That Rule the World CD that just came out. I played
with members of Cannibal Corpse, Obituary and Death on it. I've played on 2 CDs by
John Wesley, a singer/songwriter that has a deal with CNR in France and has opened
for Marillion on their last few tours. I played with John and Mark Kelly a little
more than a year ago in Paris. He is recording a new CD and I'm hoping to do some
more work with him. Also, guitarist Todd Grubbs (www.Grubbworm.com) released his CD
Combination in Japan and we are recording the follow-up CD right now. I've also been
asked to play on the planned King Crimson tribute CD."
ATTENTION ALL BASSISTS! This
issue is especially special for you. Sean Malone has agreed to transcribe some of his
work for us in this issue of "The Progress Report". Below you will find the
transcription for the bass solo in the song Textures from Cynic's "Focus" album.
|